Dell XPS 15 9500
1. Performance & Hardware
- Processor: The Intel Core i7-10750H is a 6-core/12-thread 45W chip, turbo-boosting up to 5.0 GHz. It delivers solid multi-threaded performance for demanding workloads
- Memory & Storage: With 32 GB of DDR4-2933 RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD, this laptop handles intense multitasking and storage-heavy applications with ease
- GPU: The NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti (4 GB GDDR6) brings mid-range gaming and content creation capabilities
2. Display, Design, and Build
- Display: A stunning 15.6-inch 16:10 Infinity Edge panel (either FHD+ or 4K UHD+ depending on your configuration). It’s vibrant, bright (~434 nits), and color-accurate—sRGB > 132%, full Adobe RGB
- Design: Redesigned chassis featuring: Slim bezels on all sides, CNC-machined aluminum, carbon-fiber palm rest, Expanded keyboard and trackpad area
- Weight: ~2.05 kg with the touch + 86 Wh battery
- Audio: Strong quad-speaker setup (two top-firing on the deck, two downward) with crisp sound and improved bass
3. Connectivity & Features
- Ports: Three USB-C ports—two Thunderbolt 3 and one USB-C 3.1 with Power Delivery. Full SD card reader included; Dell bundles a dongle for HDMI and USB-A
- Other features: Fingerprint reader, quad-speaker audio, and competitive battery options—either 56 Wh or 86 Wh depending on GPU inclusion
4. Battery Life & Power
- Equipped with the larger 86 Wh battery to support the power-hungry GTX 1650 Ti
- Battery life is quite impressive: Wi-Fi web browsing: over 9 hours, Idle: ~23 hours, Full load: ~2 hours, Charging takes just over two hours
- In a real-world video streaming test, brightness-max video playback lasted ~6–7 hours
5. Gaming & Creative Workloads
Gaming benchmarks:
- Dirt 3: ~135 fps at 1080p
- GTA V on very high: ~42 fps
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider highest: ~29 fps
- Far Cry New Dawn ultra: ~48 fps
- 4K gaming is possible but requires lowered settings for playability
- Creative work: Excellent for photo/video editing. Some users report impressive Photoshop and image-processing performance
6. Thermals, Throttling & Reliability
- Reviewers acknowledge good but not groundbreaking thermals. The performance-per-watt is solid, but under sustained load CPU and GPU power can decrease due to heat
- Many users report thermal throttling and noisy fan behavior under load:
“The GPU especially seems to do pretty well without throttling. The CPU performance is a bit disappointing as the temperatures over 90 are out of control.”
Others mention:
“The fans ramp up a lot, yet the laptop thermal throttles like CRAZY.”
-
Hardware reliability issues have also been flagged by users—ranging from random shutdowns and battery/charging problems to faulty trackpads or buzzing speakers
7. Pros & Cons at a Glance
Pros:
- Sleek, premium build and refreshed design
- Gorgeous, color-rich 16:10 display
- Strong overall performance—CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage
- Good battery life for its class
- Great audio for an Ultra book
- Expandable RAM and storage.
Cons:
- Thermal behavior under load can be problematic, leading to potential throttling and noise
- Some units experience hardware glitches (trackpad, speakers, boot issues)
- GTX 1650 Ti limits very high-end gaming—especially at 4K
- Noise and heat can be intrusive during intense tasks.
8. Final Thoughts
The Dell XPS 15 9500 with Core i7-10750H, 32 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, and GTX 1650 Ti offers a compelling blend of performance, portability, and aesthetic polish. It’s ideal for professionals and creators who need a powerful, premium laptop that’s still travel-friendly. The display and audio are highlights, and battery life is strong for a system of this class.
However, it’s not without caveats: thermal management under sustained load can be a concern, and there is some user-reported instability in hardware. If you’re planning heavy gaming or long rendering sessions, a more robust cooling setup or external cooling pad could help—but still, the laptop is more workstation-oriented than a gamer rig
There are no reviews yet.