Dell XPS 15 9510 Laptop | 15.6" 2021 Review

Paying $2429 for a 2021 laptop with an RTX 3050 is a hard sell. Its gorgeous 4K touchscreen is a top-tier standout, and 32GB of RAM is great, but the aging specs and high price sink its value. Look at newer alternatives unless you find this one heavily discounted.

The Dell XPS 15 9510 is a refurbished powerhouse that leads with its stunning 4K touchscreen, landing it in the 94th percentile for display quality. It's a machine built for creators and entertainment, scoring a 77.6 and 75.5 in those categories, backed by 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. But at $2429, you're paying a premium for a 2021 model with an RTX 3050, which makes the value proposition a bit of a head-scratcher right out of the gate. This is a classic case of fantastic core components wrapped in a design that's starting to show its age, especially when you consider the competition.

This laptop's party trick is its screen. That 15.6-inch 4K panel is one of the best on the market, perfect for photo editing or just watching movies. Under the hood, the Intel 11800H CPU and RTX 3050 combo is solid, placing it in the middle of the pack for both CPU and GPU performance. It'll handle creative workloads and light gaming just fine, but don't expect to max out modern AAA titles at that 4K resolution. The 32GB of RAM is a standout feature, well above average and future-proof for most users. Where it stumbles is in portability and connectivity; it's heavier than many modern ultrabooks and only has WiFi 5, which feels dated.

Here's the rub: at $2429, this refurbished 2021 model asks for a lot of money. You're getting a top-tier screen and great RAM, but you're also locking in a last-gen CPU, a mid-tier GPU, and older connectivity. For a similar or lower price, you could find brand-new laptops with more current specs. The value entirely depends on how much you prize that specific 4K display and need 32GB of RAM right now. If those are your non-negotiables, it might work. Otherwise, the price per performance ratio is tough to justify.

Stacked up against current rivals, the XPS 15 shows its age. The Apple MacBook Pro 14" offers better CPU performance and efficiency in a more compact chassis. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 provides far better gaming performance with a newer GPU, often in a smaller, lighter package. Even the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i would demolish it in gaming and raw power for potentially less money. The XPS 15's main advantage is its beautiful 4K touchscreen and premium build, but you're trading a lot of modern performance and features for that.

Gamers should look elsewhere. The RTX 3050 is a bottleneck for the high-resolution display. Anyone who prioritizes portability should also skip this; its compactness scores are low, and there are lighter, more modern 14-inch and 16-inch options. Finally, budget-conscious buyers will find better performance for the money with current-generation laptops from ASUS, Lenovo, or even Dell's own newer models.

We can't give this a blanket recommendation. The Dell XPS 15 9510 is a competent, well-built creator laptop with a genuinely fantastic screen. But its 2021 specs, particularly the RTX 3050 and WiFi 5, feel out of place at a $2429 price point in today's market. It's a good machine that's simply too expensive for what you get. We'd only suggest it to someone who finds it at a steep discount and whose workflow absolutely depends on that 4K touch display and 32GB of RAM.