Dell 15 Laptop DC15250-15.6-inch Review

The Dell 15 is a basic laptop that gets one big thing wrong. It's trying to be an 'everyday' machine, but with only 8GB of RAM in 2024, it's already struggling with modern Windows 11 and a few browser tabs. The 120Hz screen is a nice surprise on paper, but everything else feels like it's from a budget laptop from five years ago.

Don't let that 120Hz refresh rate fool you. The Intel 100U CPU lands in the 30th percentile, and the integrated Intel UHD Graphics are in the 42nd. That means it's fine for streaming video and basic documents, but you'll see stutters if you push it. The real bottleneck is that 8GB of RAM, which is in the dismal 4th percentile. You'll be managing your tabs and apps carefully to avoid slowdowns.

At $375, it's cheap. But it's not a good value. You're buying a laptop that's hamstrung from day one by its lack of RAM. Spending a little more money gets you a machine that will last years longer without frustrating you.

Forget the gaming laptops on the competitor list—this isn't for that. The real comparison is against other budget machines. The ASUS Zenbook Duo, while more expensive, offers way more versatility and power for a student. Even a last-gen Apple MacBook Air with an M1 chip, if you can find a deal, will run circles around this Dell in performance and battery life, making it a much smarter long-term buy.

Skip it. The 8GB of RAM makes this a non-starter for anyone who needs a reliable daily driver. It's a spec sheet designed to look okay on a store shelf, but you'll feel the compromises every time you use it. Save up another $150-$200 and get a laptop that won't drive you crazy in six months.