The Dell XPS 15 is more expensive and offers better performance for intensive engineering and 3D tasks thanks to its dedicated GPU. It's lighter and boasts a higher screen resolution, making it more portable and sharp for everyday use. Conversely, the HP Envy 17 is less expensive, has a larger screen with touch capability but lower resolution, and relies on integrated graphics, which suffice for general use but fall short in demanding applications. Deciding between the two depends on your need for portability and performance versus screen size and touch functionality within your budget. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
The HP Envy 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 excels in general use due to its higher screen resolution and brightness, which supplements its strong CPU and RAM capabilities, leading to a more pleasant visual experience and smooth operation; it also stands out with a more portable design and longer battery life, making it suitable for frequent travelers who need a powerful and long-lasting laptop. In contrast, the HP Envy 17 offers a larger screen and includes a touchscreen, which could appeal to those preferring a bigger display and touch interaction, but it compromises on portability and battery life, and while it matches the Dell in CPU strength and RAM, its screen quality and speaker performance aren't as impressive..
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a higher-end GPU suitable for demanding engineering software and superior screen quality which benefits design work, while the HP Envy 17 provides a larger screen size for expansive viewing but compromises on GPU power and screen resolution which may affect visual detail in design tasks.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.1/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the HP Envy 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell XPS 15 and HP Envy 17 offer screens with crisp resolution, robust panel quality, and good brightness, making them suitable for daily tasks like browsing the web and watching videos. Engineers and designers would appreciate these laptops for their wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation critical for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can limit the smoothness of motion and responsiveness that these scenarios demand.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and HP Envy 17 both have good portability, though the Dell XPS 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the HP Envy 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Dell XPS 15 and HP Envy 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 is equipped with a dedicated Intel Arc A370M GPU, which typically offers better gaming and 3D performance than the integrated Iris Xe graphics found in the HP Envy 17. While both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, the dedicated GPU in the XPS 15 can handle more graphically intense tasks, making it more suitable for gaming and 3D applications.
Cost
$1,000
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 15 and the HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the HP Envy 17
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
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