Dell’s $1,850 XPS 15 laptop may seem expensive, but it’s a bargain compared another laptop with almost identical specs: Apple’s MacBook Pro

When I first caught wind of a laptop with an OLED screen, I jumped on the chance to try it. 

There are few laptops that come with OLED screens — the pinnacle of TV and smartphone screen technology with the richest colors and supreme contrast that makes everything pop.

You’ll most often find OLED screens on LG TVs and premium flagship smartphones from Samsung and Apple. So why shouldn’t laptops get them, too? Many of us arguably spend more time in front of a computer screen than TVs and smartphones, after all. 

As with premium TVs and smartphones with OLED screens, the XPS 15 with a 4K OLED screen demands a larger chunk of your bank account — a minimum of $1,850, to be precise. 

But, in several respects, this isn’t the worst deal in the world — not by a longshot. Other Windows 10 laptops with similar specs hover around the same price tag. And compared to Apple’s $2,400 MacBook Pro with the same specs, the $1,850 XPS 15 feels like a bargain. 

The Dell XPS 15’s size and weight seemed daunting at first, but I had no problems carrying this thing around as if it was a slim and light 13-inch laptop.

If you’re checking out the XPS 15, I’m going to assume you’ve made peace with the fact that 15-inch laptops aren’t as light and portable as smaller 13-inch laptops. Fans of 15-inch screens will take the hit in portability for the extra screen space.

Having just used slim, light, 13-inch laptops for a while, the four-pound, 15-inch Dell XPS 15 seemed massive and heavy at first. 

Still, after using it day after day, I realized I didn’t have to make any changes to accommodate the XPS 15’s extra heft. I carried around the XPS 15 around in my hands and backpack like any of the 13-inch laptops I’ve recently used without noticing much of a difference. I even use it during my train commute without missing a smaller laptop. 

The XPS 15 and its variety of ports makes my USB-C-only MacBook Pro feel a lot less useful.

Right off the bat, I’m not a major fan of laptops that don’t come with regular USB ports. I still own several devices that use regular USB connectors, and new accessories and peripherals are still coming out with regular USB connectors, which means I need to fetch or bring a dongle wherever I go with my MacBook Pro. The Dell XPS 15 is a great antidote, and requires no dongle.

It has:

2 regular USB ports (USB 3.1 Gen 1)

1 HDMI port (2.0)

1 USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 (for docking and connecting to several accessories and peripherals)

1 SD card port

1 headphone jack

A non-standard power port

You even get a battery gauge that lets you see how much battery is left without opening the lid and waking up the laptop. 

The keyboard and trackpads are good, but they could have been better.

The XPS 15’s “top case” where the keyboard and trackpad lies looks great with the signature XPS carbon fiber design, but it feels a little empty. There’s plenty of space, and it doesn’t feel like Dell made the most of it. 

The backlit keyboard is good, and my nitpicks include slightly wobbly keys, and the keys could have been bigger. Oddly enough, the smaller XPS 13 with a 13-inch screen has larger keys, and it offers a better typing experience as a result. Still, no matter what, the XPS 15’s keys offer a better and quieter typing experience that Apple’s controversial “butterfly” keyboards.

Also, I’m not sure why Windows 10 laptop makers are letting Apple get away with the largest and best trackpads. The XPS 15’s trackpad is very good, accurate, and smooth, but it could have been bigger. There’s certainly enough room. 

Dell and other Windows 10 laptop makers still let Apple laptops have the best speakers, too.

The XPS 15’s speakers are fine. They’re a little hollow and don’t have much punch or bass. They’re fine-enough that I’m not reaching for headphones every time I want to watch a casual YouTube video, but Apple still dominates the laptop speaker game. 

The XPS 15 model I’ve been using has a 4K OLED display, and it’s absolutely glorious, to put it lightly.

OLED is the peak in screen technology, as it delivers superlative colors and contrast compared to any other screen technology. Every app, website, and video on the XPS 15’s 4K OLED screen looks amazing.

Still, OLED isn’t absolutely necessary. LCD screen technology has come a long way, and I’ve seen some LCD laptop screens that come incredibly close to the OLED screens, like Dell’s own XPS 13 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. 

Unfortunately, the 4K OLED screen option is only available starting with the $1,850 XPS 15 that comes with an Intel Core i7 and 16 GB of RAM. If $1,850 isn’t within your budget, your only option is a regular LCD 1080p resolution screen on the XPS 15s.

There is one thing you compromise by going with a 4K laptop, and that’s battery life.

4K screens often mean less battery life.

The downside of 4K resolution screens is that they invariably gulp more battery power than lower-resolution displays, like 1080p. Dell says the 4K OLED model gets about 10 hours of battery life, and the 1080p models get 20 hours.

It’s tough to say if I’m getting exactly 10 hours of battery life for a mixture of video streaming and regular work. By Windows 10’s estimates, the highest battery life I’ve seen so far with the Windows “Battery Saver” setting is about eight hours. Currently, at 81% while only switching between a few Chrome tabs and the screen at about 80% brightness, Windows 10 is telling me I have six hours and 31 minutes left. 

Still, regardless of Dell’s accuracy with its battery claims, the 4K XPS 15 models will drain the battery life significantly faster than 1080p models. 

Another thing I should point out: The XPS 15 comes with a non-standard charger rather than a USB-C charger. It’s not because Dell is late in adopting USB-C for charging. It’s because USB-C chargers, capped at 100W, can’t deliver the 130W of power the XPS 15 demands.

I’ve been using the $2,550 Core i9 model, and most of us don’t need so much power. But it sure is nice …

The Core i9 9980 “HK” processor in the XPS 15 model that Dell sent me absolutely flies through everything I do on it. It’s absurdly fast, smooth, and far more responsive than the lower powered “U” series chips you’d find on smaller 13- or 14-inch laptops that are designed for ultra-light and slim designs. 

Dell’s XPS 15 laptops are also available with the performance “H” series of Intel’s 9th-generation Core i5 and Core i7 chips, which are also inherently faster than the “U” series you’d find on smaller, thinner, lighter laptops. The i5 and i7 are much better suited for those of us who don’t need the power of the Core i9 for intense video and photo editing. 

The XPS 15s also come with an Nvidia 1650 graphics chip, which professionals will appreciate more than gamers. 

For video and photo editors: a quick stress test with the AIDA 64 software showed that the XPS 15 with the Core i9 can stick at about 2.7GHz without thermal throttling, but it won’t maintain its 5GHz boost for very long. That boost is designed for shorter bursts to open files and apps at a boosted speed rather than rendering your photos and videos. Other reviews I’ve seen for the Core i9 have suggested that the XPS 15 may thermal-throttle to a lower speed over long periods of intense usage. 

I’ve loved the OLED experience of the Dell XPS 15, and starting at $1,850, it’s not an unreasonable recommendation. Here’s the bottom line:

If you just like the extra screen space of a 15-inch laptop and you’re not looking to do a lot of intensive work, the base $1,050 XPS 15 with a Core i5 should suit you just fine. It’s still a powerhouse. (However, Microsoft has just announced its new Surface Laptop 3 laptops that look mighty tempting, and I’d wait to read the reviews for Microsoft’s new offering.)

For power and a 4K OLED screen — including an Nvidia 1650, if that matters to you — the Core i7 models starting at $1,850 will handily meet your demands. 

For unbridled power and a 4K OLED, the Core i9 will do the trick. But starting at $2,550, it’s more of a professional’s option rather than something most of us actually need. 

Microsoft Surface Pro X vs. Surface Go: Which should you buy?

These two Surface devices are built with mobility in mind, and they’re both built to a high standard. The Go is more of a casual device that you can tuck under your arm and take to the cafe, while the Pro X is more of a professional’s tool with better performance and a larger display. Let’s take a look at the specs that make up these two devices.

The Surface Pro X is a bit of a departure from the Pro design we’ve come to expect. It still has roughly the same footprint as the Surface Pro 7, but the display has been stretched out to 13 inches thanks to slimmer bezel along the sides. It’s also quite a bit thinner than the Pro 7, and it even manages to come it a hair thinner than the ultraportable Surface Go.

The Surface Go still reigns when it comes to weight, starting at just 1.15 pounds (522g), but the Pro X isn’t far behind at 1.7 pounds (774g). Both devices should prove to be welcome travel companions, but if you want the most mobility, opt for the Go. It also provides a more rounded selection of ports, including one USB-C 3.1, a microSD card reader, Surface Connect, and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the other hand, the Pro X comes with two USB-C 3.1, Surface Connect, and a Nano SIM slot. Note also that the Pro X is capable of handling two external 4K displays at 60Hz through USB-C (Gen 2), while the Go is only capable of a single external 4K display with USB-C (Gen 1).

While the front-facing camera on both devices is essentially the same at 5MP (1080p), the rear-facing camera on the Pro X bumps things up to 10MP (4K). The Go’s rear-facing camera is stuck at 8MP (1080p), so if you’re concerned about image and video quality, the Pro X is no doubt the better choice. Both devices offer LTE connectivity to keep you connected even when there’s no Wi-Fi, but only the Pro X offers eSIM and physical Nano SIM options.

Both the Pro X and Go employ a folding kickstand on the back to keep the tablet propped up, and combined with an attachable keyboard and touchpad, you can turn either into a productivity machine. However, keyboards for both models are sold separately, and you’ll also have to shell out extra for an active pen. The Surface Go’s Type Cover offers a comfortable (if slightly cramped) backlit keyboard and Precision touchpad, and the Surface Pen connects magnetically to the side of the tablet when not in use.

The Pro X’s keyboard is larger to match the overall size of the tablet, and it has a backlit keyboard and Precision touchpad. Built into the hinge portion is a storage bay for the new Surface Slim Pen, which keeps the pen charged and better protected when you’re on the move.

Display and inking

The Surface Go has a smaller 10-inch touch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 1800×1200 resolution. Pixels-per-inch (PPI) measures out to 217, which is really not bad at all. The picture is quite beautiful, and the Surface Pen can be used with it for a quality inking experience. If you’re interested in multi-tasking, though, the Pro X’s larger 13-inch display is probably better suited.

It also has a 3:2 aspect ratio for a boxy look, and it has a 2880×1920 resolution for a 267 PPI. The picture is going to be sharper, and it reaches up to about 450 nits for easier outdoor work. The Surface Slim Pen is likewise going to offer a natural feel. Overall, artists or design pros are likely going to want to opt for the Pro X thanks to the larger display and better performance from the Adreno 685 graphics.

Performance and price

All models of the Surface Go cost less than even the introductory Pro X model, but for a good reason. While the Go is using an Intel Pentium 4415Y CPU, the Pro X is ARM-powered with a custom SQ1 CPU that’s essentially a beefed-up Snapdragon 8cx. The Pentium chip has two cores and a base clock of 1.60GHz, while the SQ1 boasts a 3GHz clock and eight cores. You’re going to get far better CPU performance from the Pro X, and it also boasts an Adreno 685 GPU with two teraflops of power. Again, this easily trounces the Go, so if you want the best performance possible, you have to stick with the Pro X.

However, ARM-based PCs do have some limitations. OpenGL games won’t work on ARM, and the device is overall better suited for web and scripted apps. Despite ARM chips having to emulate x86 apps, they should still run better on the Pro X. In terms of fun, we’ll have to do our own testing to see precisely how well the Pro X runs, and don’t expect it to be your next gaming machine. Keep in mind that Project xCloud, Microsoft’s upcoming game-streaming service, can turn almost any device with a steady internet connection into a quality gaming platform.

Storage is another point of contention, with the Go offering either 64GB of slow eMMC storage or a speedier 128GB SSD. The Pro X can be had with up to 512GB of SSD storage, and the hardware is removable if you want to upgrade in the future. Finally, the Pro X can be configured with up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM, while the Go is capped at 8GB of LPDDR3.

Bottom line? Introductory Pro X models start at about $999, but they’re going to offer far better performance and battery life than you get with the Surface Go. If you just want a casual 2-in-1 for light productivity work, web browsing, and a bit of light gaming, the Go starts at about $390.

The Surface Pro X is better cut out for professional performance

The ARM-powered Pro X brings a thin and light chassis, knockout 13-inch touch display with pen support, and LTE connectivity to keep you connected everywhere. It beats out the Surface Go in raw performance and battery life, making it the better pick for anyone who has more professional goals in mind. It does, however, cost significantly more than the Go.

The Surface Go is an affordable and portable 2-in-1

This miniaturized Surface Pro doesn’t match up to the performance in the Pro X, but it’s much more portable and will still offer an excellent 2-in-1 experience. Optional LTE connectivity can keep you connected anywhere, and the 10-inch touch display is brilliant, especially combined with a Surface Pen. It’s also a much cheaper option compared to the Pro X.

Apple is finally fixing its dreaded MacBook Pro keyboard design once and for all

Over the past few years, whenever a friend would ask me for advice about buying a new MacBook, I’d tell them that it was probably worth waiting a bit. It wasn’t that Apple’s MacBook lineup wasn’t compelling, but rather that the butterfly keyboard design Apple first introduced on its 2016 MacBook Pro was prone to causing all sorts of typing nightmares.

Over the past few years, Apple implemented a few changes which did manage to improve the overall reliability of the butterfly keyboard design. Still, even the third iteration of the design caused problems for a number of users. And hardly a point of speculation, Apple itself conceded this point earlier this year via a rare apology.

“We are aware that a small number of users are having issues with their third-generation butterfly keyboard and for that we are sorry,” an Apple spokesperson said this past March.

The good news is that Apple has finally seen the light and is planning to say goodbye, once and for all, to its butterfly keyboard design. This past summer, a rumor surfaced claiming that Apple is planning to launch a 16-inch MacBook Pro with a scissor mechanism keyboard design. Not only will this design shift improve reliability and performance, it should also increase the travel for each individual key, thus fixing two longstanding complaints regarding the old design.

Beyond that, reputed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently issued a fresh investor note claiming that Apple plans to migrate the entirety of its MacBook line to the scissor mechanism keyboard in 2020.

Kuo now predicts that Apple’s refreshed MacBook models will arrive in the second quarter of 2020, suggesting they will feature the much-anticipated scissor mechanism keyboards that the company is adopting wholesale.

If Kuo’s prediction pans out, it will mark an unceremonious end to what many people categorize as one of the worst Apple designs in the company’s history.

Of course, all this begs the question: why did Apple implement the butterfly keyboard design in the first place?

Well, when it was first introduced, Apple boasted that it was 40% thinner than a traditional keyboard and allowed for “greater precision” when striking keys. Interestingly, word of Apple’s transition away from the oft-criticized design appeared shortly after Jony Ive announced that he was leaving Apple. Ive, it’s worth noting, was reportedly obsessed with making devices impossibly thin, which is to say that he was likely the driving force behind the new keyboard design in the first place.

MSI Announces Alpha 15, The First 7nm Powered Laptop With AMD Under The Hood

MSI, one of the best gaming brands, has just announced its latest Alpha 15 gaming laptop. Armed with the new AMD Radeon RX 5500M graphics, the Alpha 15 is the first gaming laptop to feature 7nm technology, bringing cutting-edge hardware to the mainstream. MSI even created a dedicated category and a new logo for a unique yet innovative segment. The new logo takes the form of a thunderbird with rising wings, representing strength, innovation, and prosperity. Being the first and dominant of its kind, MSI has presented the new beast with the name “Alpha”.

Making Triple-Digit Framerate More Accessible

Typically, “budget gaming” means made do with simply okay graphics and framerates. However, MSI is here to challenge that belief with the Alpha 15, proving that cutting-edge hardware doesn’t always cost a fortune. Featuring the AMD Radeon RX 5500M, the 1st 7nm gaming graphics, and Ryzen 7 processor, the Alpha 15 has made triple-digit framerates more accessible than ever. The new graphics also brings enhanced game visuals at virtually no performance cost with the new AMD FidelityFX technology.

Paired with a 15.6” 144Hz Radeon FreeSync display, gamers will be able to enjoy the smooth, tear-free, stutter-free experience within popular competitive titles like CS: GO, Dota 2, Overwatch, and more. The secret behind the performance is the exclusive Cooler Boost 5. The 7-Heatpipe cooling module has been redesigned to take full advantage of the new hardware. With full cooling capability combined, gamers can take on the intense competition at their peak.

MSI Alpha 15 7nm Notebook Specifications:

Up to AMD 2nd Gen. Ryzen 7 3750H processor

Windows 10 Home / Windows 10 Pro

AMD Radeon RX 5500M 4GB GDDR6 Graphics

15.6″ FHD (1920×1080), 144Hz IPS-Level Thin Bezel Display, support AMD Radeon FreeSync technology

15.6″ FHD (1920×1080), 120Hz IPS-Level Thin Bezel Display, support AMD Radeon FreeSync technology

Per-Key RGB gaming keyboard by SteelSeries (optional)

5X bigger Upgraded Giant Speakers

High-Resolution Audio ready

MSI App Player for seamless gaming experience between mobile and PC

Sound is crucial to completing the immersive gaming experience. Whether gamers prefer blasting out sound through speakers or closed off in their headphones, the Alpha 15 has both aspects covered. The Giant Speaker design shines where most laptops compromise by fitting a 5x bigger speaker chamber, effectively taking up almost ¼ of the chassis, generating both higher volume and clarity. On the headphone side, the Alpha 15 also supports Hi-Res Audio for the best fidelity. In either case, gamers will be able to enjoy their battle at the fullest with both visual and audio immersion.

As a typical MSI gaming tradition, the laptop also packs ample gaming features from a powerful cooling system, per-key RGB keyboard, Giant Speaker, High-Res audio, and more. Gamers who purchase the Alpha 15 via selected channels will also be eligible for a complimentary copy of either Borderlands 3 or Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint.