[Updated February 2017] Yes, this time we’re going to compare Dell vs. HP laptops! If you have been window shopping for a new laptop, I am sure you have come across these two behemoth brands, known as Hewlett Packard and Dell. Aside from visiting an Apple store, if you visit any other computer store, you will find Dell and HP dominating many displays. There are several reasons for their strong market presence.
Check Out Our Favorite Dell Laptop: Alienware 17 Inch Laptop AW17R4
Check Out Our Favorite HP Laptop: HP Spectre Pro
To start with, they make excellent laptops with superb technology that is long lasting and stable. When it comes to choosing between Dell or HP, however, it becomes a tough choice. Dell vs HP laptops is a neck in neck battle. Your choice of laptop should be based on your budget and specifications that you need depending upon usage. You need to assess the potential of the laptop you are about to buy. This post is going to check out what’s the real story of Dell vs HP laptops to help you in deciding which one is right for you!
Dell Vs HP: Let Us Compare
If you want to buy typical business style laptops then HP Elite Book and Dell Latitude would be your most likely choices. If you have to carry your laptop around for work, both models have that strong, built to last while traveling ability. Performance wise both offer top class performance required from a business oriented laptop. Dell Latitude has bagged an Editor’s Choice Award but you get similar specifications and rugged build in HP Elite 8460P at about half the price.
If your goal is high end performance from a media laptop and like gaming, both brands have their own media niche designed laptops. Dell Inspiron 17R special edition and HP Envy 17 will take your breath away. They are packed with interesting features that include a dynamic 17 inch desktop replaceable screen and the computer also comes with a stunning 1920 by 1080 screen resolution. The HP Envy 17 will cost you a little more but it is also an Editor’s favorite. One of the big reasons for that are the blu ray speakers – these speakers are Beats Audio.
In some other areas Dell takes the lead. For example, in gaming, Dell knocks it out of the park with the super gaming line from its Alienware brand. Alienware is not the only gaming brand but the Alienware M17 × R4 has won top spot due to its impeccable performance and jazzy game extras. So if you are a game lover nothing can beat Dell’s options.
If portability is something that you are looking for then HP Envy’s line of sleek ultrabooks is going to bowl you over. The options range from the stylish Envy 4 to the glass covered Envy 14. The portable business laptop HP Folio again bagged the Editor’s award. On the other hand Dell is not that far behind. Honestly, the company has recently come out with several desktop replacing laptops. Two excellent examples are the Dell Inspiron 15R special edition and Dell XPS 15.
The bottom line is that both Dell and HP have some special feature that will work for just about any buyer. In addition the range of price points for these two brands means that they are affordable options for many. That is probably why both brands are favorites with buyers. Now let us take a glimpse on some of the top models:
DELL LAPTOPS REVIEWS:
1. 2017 Newest Dell Inspiron 14 Inch Laptop
Here’s the latest offering with the newest contender for Dell Inspiron 14 inch laptops for 2017. This flagship model is laded with high quality features. It’s a solid performance laptop that you can use it for all your basic needs and typical needs. However, if you are gamer, this may not be the right choice for you.
Features:
- 14.0-inch HD – 1366 x 768 – LED-Backlit Display
- Intel Celeron Processor N3050 1.6 GHz(2M Cache, up to 2.16 GHz)
- 2GB DDR3 1600 MHz (up to 4GB) 32GB eMMC
- Waves MaxxAudiom 3-in-1 Media Card Reader and USB 3.0, HD Webcam, Bluetooth
- 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI, headphone/mic jack
- Windows 10 Home
- Battery Life should go up to 6 hours
2. 2017 Newest Dell Inspiron 17.3 Inch Full HD
This is another amazing Dell laptop that comes with loaded with some incredible features and pretty good price point for most buyers. Although it’s a bit on the heavy side compared to some other HP vs Dell laptop options, it’s still portable. Aside from being a full HD laptop it’s also one of the touchscreen signature edition models.
Features:
- The laptop features 17.3 Full HD LED touchscreen, Windows 10 and 1.00 x16.69 x11.02 Dimension ( HWD).
- It comes with 2 x USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 port, HDMI, stereo speakers and headphone & microphone.
- 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6500U dual core, 2.5 GHz and up to 3.1 GHz.
- DDR4 RAM, 1TB SATA 5400RPM , Intel HD Graphics and a Backlit keyboard.
3. Dell 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop
While not a lightweight computer, it’s built to last and performs as one expects and needs if you are a gamer. Boot speed and performance get high marks from end users – even from those that used to have desktops for their games!
“The Best of CES: Best Gaming Laptop Inspiron 15 7000 Series.” –PC Magazine
When you combine these specs with the price point, it’s a hard laptop to pass up if gaming ability is part of your laptop need criteria.
Features:
- 15.6 screen and 1920×1080 pixels
- Intel i5-6300HQ 2.3 GHz Quad-Core
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB GDDR5
- 8 GB DDR3L and a 256 GB Solid-State Drive
- 15.6-Inch FHD IPS, Wide-Angle, Anti Glare Screen
- Weight – 6lbs
- Available with Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro
- Average battery life approx. 4.5 hours
4. Dell XPS 15
It is aptly called one of Dell’s top machines as it delivers praise worthy performance and blazing productivity. The 15″ display is a special mention for those that enjoy larger screens (like myself). In fact, I really, really want one of these (or an Alienware…).
This Dell XPS 15 laptop comes in an attractive aluminum and carbon-fiber chassis. It’s also an amazing multimedia powerhouse with an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU and powerhouse speakers. Heavy duty gamers might want to look elsewhere but those at a lower level of gaming should be just fine. There are 2 versions, one of which has a touch screen. So if that’s of interest to you in your laptop, this is a great option to consider. Ratings and reviews showcase this one as both popular and well built.
Features:
- 15.6 inch screen – 4K Ultra HD and an Infinity Edge
- 6th Generation Intel Core i5-6300HQ Quad Core (6M Cache, up to 3.2 GHz)
- 8GB DDR4-2133MHz
- 256GB PCIe Solid State Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 2GB GDDR5
- Backlit keyboard, Bluetooth, Audio speakers
- Weight: 3.9 lbs
5. Dell Latitude E7250 Business ULTRABOOK
This one is a complete professional’s laptop. The rugged build and the top of class performance is hard to beat. It is worth the money that you will spend. Sturdy construction is backed by a long lasting battery life, super fast solid state drive performance and a sleek, thin design. For road warriors that need a laptop that holds up, this is something to check out!
For those wanting a backlit keyboard, this isn’t one that you want to consider. Note that there are 2 versions, one with a touchscreen and one without. Obviously “with” means a price difference.
Features:
- Intel Broadwell-U 5th Gen Core i5-5300U 2.3GHz with 3M Cache, up to 2.90 GHz
- 8GB DDR3 Memory (Max support 16GB) and comes standard w/ 256GB SSD Drive
- 12.5″ (1920×1080) Touchscreen of Corning Gorilla Glass
- Windows 10 Professional & a 2 Year Warranty
- Bluetooth; Webcam; Smart Card Reader; Wireless AC
- Weight: 2.76lbs
6. Dell XPS 13 13.3″ Infinity Notebook
It is one of the latest editions of Dell XPS line and comes with impressive performance and a ton of raving reviews. This Dell computer was an Innovation Awards Honoree and was awarded Best Laptop by The Verge for the 2in1 model. It comes with top quality hardware and wonderful screen resolution.
With a touchscreen in most models, Nvidia Graphics card and Intel ‘s HD makes graphics a breeze. The silver case gives a sleek look and the Intel processor certainly boosts the over all performance of this laptop over some competitors.
There are a few different versions of this Dell 13 inch notebook, so make sure to choose the one that has the features & looks that you want & need!
Features:
- Customized Dell XPS 13 – 13.3″ Notebook
- UltraSharp QHD+ (3200 x 1800) Infinity Touch Display Notebook
- Battery: Up to 11 Hours
- 5th Generation Intel Dual-Core i7-5500U Processor 2.4GHz (turbo 3.0GHz) , 4M Cache
- 8GB DDR3 1600MHz, Upgraded SanDisk 512GB SSD M.2 SATA Sequential Read (540MB/s) and Write (520MB/s) Speeds
- Intel HD Graphics 5500, Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0, Webcam, 3-in-1 Media Card Reader, Backlit Keyboard
- Windows 10 Professional 64Bit, 2x USB 3.0, 1x Mini DisplayPort, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo Port
7. Alienware AW15R2-6161SLV 15.6-Inch FHD Laptop
This Alienware laptop has the blend of Intel core processor and Nvidia Graphics to make it almost the best gaming laptop chassis in the competition. This new, thinner model with its aluminum body that manages to handle just about any game without getting hot is a complete change from older Alienware versions.
Add in the solid state drives and super speed USB of 10Gbps and you’ll be able to load your game maps faster than you thought possible! Overall, gamer reviews and buyers give this Alienware 15.6 inch laptop model high marks and rate it a BUY!
Features:
- Intel Quad Core i7-6700HQ 2.6 GHz Processor
- 16 GB DDR4 GTX 970M NO G-SYNC
- 1 TB HDD + 256 GB SATA SSD Storage; Optical Drive Not included
- 15.6 Inch FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) LED-lit Truelife Screen
- Windows 10 Home Operating System; Stylish Silver Chassis
- Weight: 7.1 lbs
8. Alienware 17 Inch Laptop AW17R4-7352SLV-PUS
Yes, we had an Alienware laptop listed already! But this addition to Dell’s Alienware gaming laptops had to be added in after we saw it. It’s just too cool not to consider. Plus, I absolutely think that I need to get this to add to our household.
The new Alienware 17 with it’s stylish silver case is designed for consumers looking for an elite gaming notebook that gives large screen gaming capability in a laptop version as well as high performance, and the ability to get caught up in whatever is on your screen. And the answer to the never ending gamer’s question? Alienware upgraded the entire ventilation system which out to allow your system to stay cool under extreme graphics pressure.
The newest flagship computer from gaming company Alienware, it’s also VR-capable and includes support for optional Tobii eye-tracking technology. That opens up a new way to experience gaming and your PC. This computer was a CES 2017 Innovations Award Honoree, beating out some good competition!
- Intel Core i7-7820HK – Quad-Core -8MB Cache – Overclocking up to 4.4GHz
- 32GB DDR4 at 2400MHz (2x16GB) 32GB Maximum
- 256GB PCIe SSD (Boot) + 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s (Storage);
- Does not include an Optical Drive
- NVIDIA GTX 1080
- 17.3 inch QHD (2560×1440) 120Hz TN Anti-Glare 400-nits NVIDIA G-SYNC Enabled w/Tobii Eye-tracking
- Windows 10 Home
- Weight: 9.7 lbs
HP LAPTOP REVIEWS:
1. HP Envy 17t UHD Touchscreen
HP Envy 17t is powerhouse touchscreen and comes with up to 16GB of RAM, the latest Intel i Processors and 512GB of optional PCIe Solid State Storage. So, accessing your entertainment and any of your documents is lightning-fast. This is a performance enhanced workhorse. One of the favorite features of this HP laptop is the quality and resolution of the screen. The 17 inch screen size makes it easier to work or for any application.
Graphic designers, artists and anyone that uses large amounts of resources or multiple applications and screen will appreciate this computer.
Features:
- The laptop is a 17.3 diagonal UHD with a cutting edge glass touchscreen.
- Intel 7th Gen Core i7-7500U (2.7 GHz, up to 3.5 GHz) Kaby Lake Processor + NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
- 16GB RAM, HP TrueVision HD IR Camera with Dual Digital Microphone
- 1TB SSD, Full-size island-style backlit keyboard, 802.11ac (2×2) and Bluetooth 4.0 combo
- SuperMulti DVD burner & Bang & Olufsen play with 2 speakers
- Windows 10 Pro
- Weight: 7 lbs
2. 2017 HP Chromebook Laptop
If you are looking for an affordable, well made and solid performer the HP Chromebook laptop is a great one to consider! It’s performs well and has great functionality for light users. If surfing the web, email and student school work, this ought to be perfect! And at an extremely affordable price point, it’s hard to beat.
If you are a gamer, your opportunities are limited with a Chromebook. There are a ton of apps for various uses as well as some games that you can play, but nothing heavy. And for those Microsoft Office lovers, Google Docs or an app is going to be your best bet there.
Features:
- Intel Celeron 2955U processor with Intel HD Graphics (1,4 GHz)
- 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM 1600 MHz – 16GB Internal Storage
- Screen: 14-Inches diagonal HD SVA WLED anti-glare (1366 x 768)
- 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 headphone/microphone combo jack, HD Webcam
- Weight: Approx. 3.8 lbs
- Chrome OS
3. HP Envy 17 Touchscreen
This is truly one of the most stunning laptops out there right now. It is a super fast and high performing laptop with arguably one of the best 17.3 inch screens currently available.
It has the Radiance full HD infinity display and 4 speakers to make this a great entertainment computer.
Additional feature that some love is the touchscreen functionality.
Features:
- Intel Core i7-4710MQ 2.5 GHz Processor
- 16GB DDR3L RAM
- 1TB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Backlit Keyboard – HD Webcam
- Integrated Digital Microphones – Bluetooth
- 1 TB Storage; SuperMulti DVD Burner
- 17.3-inch WLED-backlit Full HD Touchscreen Display w/ Intel HD 530 Graphics
- Windows 10 Operating System; Silver Chassis
4. HP Spectre Pro
This laptop has a beautiful sleek case, a long lasting battery life and a smooth keyboard. If you are looking a status symbol laptop, this should be a contender. You will definitely appreciate and experience elegant performance with the HP Spectre Pro.
The keyboard gives is easy for typing and the touch pad is quite sensitive to touch. With the 2in1 features, this eliminates most people needing a tablet AND a laptop. You get a high resolution display screen with a gorgeous full wrapped case.
Features:
- 13.3″ 1920×1080 LED Touchscreen with a 360 degree hinge movement that allows you to fold it like a tablet
- Intel Dual Core i5-6300U 2.40 GHz (up to 3.0 GHz) and 3 MB SmartCache
- 128 GB M.2 SATA TLC SSD | 8 GB LPDDR3 1600 MHz RAM
- Integrated Intel HD 520 Graphics | Intel 802.11a/bb/g/n/ac (2×2) + BlueTooth 4.0
- Windows 10 Professional – ENERGY STAR Certified – Back-lit Keyboard
5. HP EliteBook 8460p
The first plus point of this laptop is that it offers a big burnished button to unlock the security latch, yet has a classy design with a solid construction. It has a spill resistant keyboard with a drain hole button. If you have kids, this is certainly something worth considering! The screen delivers fine details and color and you get HP’s twin speaker audio for those media lovers.
Features:
- Intel Core i5-2520M Processor (2.50 GHz, 3 MB L3 cache, 2 cores/4 threads, 35W), Up to 3.20 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology
- Windows 7 Professional 64-bit operating system
- 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM memory, 320 GB 7200 rpm SMART SATA II Hard drive, DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN, 6-cell lithium ion battery
- 14.0-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD anti-glare (1366 x 768 resolution), Intel HD Graphics 3000
6. HP Envy 15t
This ultrabook offers a plethora of fine features like Beats Audio, up to 6.25 battery life, 3 USB ports, 1TB hard drive and more. This HP computer provides a generous warranty offer and with the latest third generation Intel that offers a complete performance boost.
Features:
- Genuine Windows 8 64, 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.5GHz, 6MB L3 Cache).
- 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive with HP ProtectSmart Protection; 16GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM (2 Dimm)
- 16-inch diagonal Full HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1920×1080) .
- Intel HD Graphics 4600, 802.11b/g/n WLAN with Bluetooth 4.0, 4 SuperSpeed USB 3.0, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ45, 1 headphone-out/microphone-in combo
7. HP Folio 13
This HP computer has won the Editor’s Choice Award so it definitely ranks among the best. It offers the sleekest and most attractive design and is a superbly engineered ultrabook. You get such a stunning laptop at under $1000, making it a reasonable and affordable option.
Features:
- Intel Core i5-2467M processor 1.60GHz, 3MB L3 Cache
- 4GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory; 128GB solid state drive
- 13.3″ HD BrightView LED-backlit display; HP TrueVision HD webcam
- Bluetooth; Dolby Advanced Audio; 6-cell lithium-ion battery, up to 9 hours battery life
- 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, 1 x headphone-out / microphone-in combo port, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port, 1 x HDMI port.
You May Be Interested In: Best Laptop Brands for 2017 with Reviews
Conclusion:
Any time you compare Dell vs HP computers, you are going to have a ton of options to choose from. Both brands have their fans and whether you choose Dell or HP laptops, you can easily find one that meets your requirements whether that is for home, work, travel or gaming. And just in case you were curious…..we have both in this household! We’re a family, with working parents/grandparents, gamers and kids in school – these computers cover just about anything we could want! So let us know which you think is the best computer brand as well as which computer your chose! Let us know your favorite pick below!