Microsoft Inspiron Dell Inspiron 15.6" Review
The Dell Inspiron 15 packs 32GB of RAM into a budget package, but its slow CPU and heavy design make it hard to recommend for most people.
Overview
The Dell Inspiron 15 is a solid, no-frills workhorse. It's got a massive 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which is way more than you usually get at this price. But that's where the highlights end. It's built for basic tasks, and that's about it.
This laptop is clearly aimed at students or business users who need a big screen and lots of memory for multitasking. The 120Hz display is a nice touch for smooth scrolling, but the rest of the specs tell a different story. It's a budget machine dressed up with a couple of premium features.
Performance
The Intel 1255U CPU lands in the 29th percentile, so don't expect much speed. It'll handle web browsing, documents, and video calls just fine, but anything more intensive will make it sweat. The integrated Iris Xe graphics are predictably weak, scoring in the 18th percentile, so gaming is a non-starter. The 32GB of RAM is the star here, letting you keep a hundred Chrome tabs open without a hiccup.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Huge 32GB of RAM for heavy multitasking. 93th
- Large 1TB SSD for plenty of file storage. 77th
- 120Hz screen makes everyday scrolling feel smooth. 76th
- Windows 11 Pro is included, which is a bonus for business features. 75th
Cons
- The CPU is slow, ranking in the bottom third. 9th
- Integrated graphics are terrible for any kind of gaming or creative work. 20th
- It only has WiFi 5, not the newer, faster WiFi 6. 32th
- It's surprisingly heavy for its class at over 2kg.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i7 1255U |
| Cores | 10 |
| Frequency | 1.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Iris Xe Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 5 |
Physical
| Weight | 2.1 kg / 4.6 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
Value & Pricing
At $840, the value proposition is tricky. You're paying for the 32GB of RAM and the 1TB SSD upfront. If you need that specific combo for basic work, it's an okay deal. But if your needs are more balanced, you can find laptops with better overall performance, a better screen, and a more modern design for the same money. You're buying specs on paper, not a great overall experience.
vs Competition
Compared to a Lenovo ThinkPad P14s, you lose out on build quality, port selection, and likely better battery life. Next to an ASUS Zenbook Duo, you miss out on innovative dual-screen functionality and a much more portable design. And against any modern gaming laptop like the MSI Vector, this Dell isn't even in the same universe for performance. It's a basic laptop that wins on RAM and storage capacity alone, while losing everywhere else.
| Spec | Microsoft Inspiron Dell Inspiron 15.6" | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M5, Nano-Texture Glass, | ASUS ROG Zephyrus ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" 3K OLED 120Hz Gaming | Lenovo Yoga Lenovo - Yoga Slim 9i - Copilot+ PC - 14" 4K 120Hz | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Samsung - Galaxy Book5 Pro - Copilot+ PC - 14" 3K | MSI Prestige MSI - Prestige 13”AI+ - Ukiyoe Edition 13.3"OLED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 1255U | Apple M5 | AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V |
| RAM (GB) | 32 | 24 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 1024 | 2048 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Screen | 15.6" 1920x1080 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 14" 3840x2400 | 14" 2880x1800 | 13.3" 2880x1800 |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Apple (10-Core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | - | 75 | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Screen | Compact | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Inspiron Dell Inspiron 15.6" | 41.8 | 19.9 | 76.6 | 8.9 | 54.8 | 32.2 | 75.7 | 74.9 | 93.3 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14" Compare | 81.9 | 19.9 | 67.8 | 90.1 | 96.7 | 74.3 | 94.9 | 94.8 | 95.2 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 14" 3K Compare | 90.1 | 89.3 | 94 | 96.6 | 93.8 | 76.1 | 71.2 | 54.2 | 95.2 |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14" Compare | 64.3 | 65.2 | 94.3 | 90.1 | 99.9 | 85 | 71.2 | 74.9 | 89.8 |
| Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Galaxy Book5 Pro 14" 3K Compare | 67.4 | 65.2 | 86 | 90.1 | 93.1 | 85.2 | 71.2 | 74.9 | 96.3 |
| MSI Prestige 13”AI+ Ukiyoe Edition 13.3"OLED Compare | 64.3 | 65.2 | 86 | 98.2 | 90 | 95.5 | 71.2 | 54.2 | 87.4 |
Verdict
Buy this only if your entire workload is defined by needing 32GB of RAM for basic apps on a big screen, and you're on a strict budget. For everyone else—students who want portability, business users who need reliability, or anyone who does more than just word processing—there are better, more balanced options out there. This is a one-trick pony.