The best Dell laptops 2020

Opting for one of the best Dell laptops 2020 has to offer is a wise move, whether you’re looking for a more powerful replacement to your aging laptop or you’re just looking to invest in your first laptop. The best Dell laptops are built to last and boast components powerful enough to see you through your computing needs, whatever that is.

Dell has a variety of laptops as well, from impressive gaming laptops that can handle AAA games to some of the best Ultrabooks on the market, so whatever it is you need, you’ll find something from Dell.

To make your hunt for a Dell laptop easier, we gathered the best Dell laptops 2020 has to offer and put them on this list. We’ve tested and reviewed each one as well, so you know you’re getting good value for your money, whichever one you choose.

Best Dell laptops at a glance

1. Dell XPS 13
2. Alienware Area-51m
3. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
4. Dell Latitude 7490
5. Dell G5 15 5590
6. Dell Alienware 17 R5
7. Alienware m15
8. Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 (3181) 2-in-1
9. Dell G3 15

Dell XPS 13 now boasts the new Intel Whiskey Lake processors.

The Dell XPS 13 has been our favorite Dell laptop for a few years now, but it’s also easily one of the best laptops on the market in 2020. There’s a lot to love here. While there was the issue of the webcam placement, the Dell XPS 13 2019 has fixed that. It’s also now boasting the new Intel Whiskey Lake processors, which means its faster. If you’re looking for a premium Ultrabook that hardly makes any compromises, the Dell XPS 13 2019 is certainly one of the best Dell laptops around today.  

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

Alienware Area-51m is a performance beast fitted with high-end processors and high-end graphics cards.

Hands down, the Alienware Area-51m is a stunner of a gaming laptop, with a beautiful yet unique chassis and a comfortable keyboard to complement it. But it goes beyond looks; it’s also by far the most powerful gaming laptop on the market right now (and obviously, one of the best Dell laptops). Not that it’s perfect, as it does get really hot and its fans can get very loud. However, it’s a performance beast fitted with high-end processors and high-end graphics cards, and your gaming experience with it will be an absolute pressure.

Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m

The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is a beautiful device with ample grunt for gaming.

The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 cuts no corners, bringing in some serious power within a thin and light package that flits easily between its laptop and tablet modes. The XPS 15 2-in-1 weighs a shade under 2kg and is only 16mm thick, which makes it easy to travel with as well as use on the move. It's also a beautiful device, and although it doesn't have the XPS 13's discrete graphics card, it still has ample grunt for gaming.

Despite those sleek lines, it also offers an impressive array of ports: two Thunderbolt 3 and two USB-C, plus a headphone jack and MicroSD card reader. The XPS 15 2-in-1 has come down in price considerably since launch, and is amazingly affordably-priced considering its specifications. It’s easily one of the best Dell laptops you can buy.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Dell Latitude 7490 has many of the makings of a great computer. (Image credit: Dell)

Despite the derivative design, the Dell Latitude 7490 has many of the makings of a great computer and one of the best Dell laptops 2020 has on offer. It’s all thanks to its excellent performance, a long battery life, and more than decent memory and storage options. It isn’t the cheapest, but it’s definitely worth the price.

Read the full review: Dell Latitude 7490

Dell G5 15 5590 will see you through 1080p gaming and last you up to 10 hours of battery life as well.

A gaming laptop that delivers a solid performance without costing you a pretty penny is key when you’re a gamer looking to upgrade on a somewhat limited budget. Dell’s 15-inch G5 may not have the highest end specs, but it will see you through 1080p gaming and last you up to 10 hours of battery life as well. All while boasting a robust, appealing, arguably thin chassis and a port selection that’s up to par.

Read the full review: Dell 5 15 5590

You'll be hard pressed to find a better machine for serious gaming.

The Dell Alienware 17 R5 is a mighty gaming machine in more ways than one. Equipped with an Intel Core i9 processor and overclocked GTX 1080 GPU, it’s incredibly powerful. It tips the scales at 4.4kg so this certainly isn't a laptop you'll be tossing into a work bag. However, you'll be hard pressed to find a better machine for serious gaming. It's a sound investment, as that top-end processor, which runs the latest AAA titles with ease, ensures it'll serve you well for several years to come. It's certainly at the higher end of the price scale, but factor in the trademark Dell build quality, and it's definitely worth the outlay.

Read the full review: Dell Alienware 17 R5

Alienware combines incredible performance, stunning display and gorgeous design in the m15.

If you're willing to shell out a bit more money on your gaming laptop, then you'll be impressed by Alienware's combination of incredible performance, stunning display and gorgeous design in the Alienware m15. That's impressive considering this laptop's thin and light packaging. And, that's without mentioning its decent battery life. Plus, as far as premium gaming laptops go, this one's actually cheaper than its main rivals.

Read the full review: Alienware m15

Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 (3181) 2-in-1 is affordable, easy to use and durable.

While the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 isn’t the most powerful Chromebook or Dell laptop on the market, it is what Chromebooks need to be: affordable, easy to use and durable. It’s great for doing all your web browsing, movie watching and minor productivity tasks with, all while being rugged. What more can you ask for? This small Chromebook is one of the best Dell laptops to consider, especially for kids and students.

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1

Dell G3 15

When it comes to gaming, more often than not, you have to invest in premium parts to get that gaming edge you want. That’s especially true if you’re going for smooth 1440p or 4K gaming. In other words, while there’s a number of budget gaming laptops out there, very few really get you to where you want to go. Among those few is the Dell G3 15 gaming laptop, Dell’s affordable answer for gamers who want solid performance without splurging. It's all thanks to those latest yet economically-priced internals it's fitted with. It's probably not going to get you competitive level, but if you want a cheaper laptop to game on for the sake of gaming, this will go a long way.

Read the full review: Dell G3 15

• Check out our list of the best laptops of 2018