Dell 15 Laptop DC15250-15.6-inch Review
The Dell 15 laptop's fatal flaw is its 8GB of RAM, making it a frustrating choice for daily use despite its low price.
Overview
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.
Performance
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.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The 120Hz display is smoother than expected for the price. 95th
- The 512GB SSD is a decent amount of storage for the money.
- Wi-Fi 6 is a modern connectivity feature you don't always get at this price.
- The full keyboard with a number pad is great for data entry.
Cons
- Only 8GB of RAM is a deal-breaker for a new Windows 11 machine. 6th
- The Intel 100U processor is slow and will feel outdated fast. 27th
- Build quality and reliability scores are low (27th percentile). 31th
- It's heavy for a 15-inch laptop at 1.9kg.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core 3 100U |
| Cores | 6 |
| Frequency | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | UHD Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 1.9 kg / 4.2 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
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.
vs Competition
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.
| Spec | Dell 15 Laptop DC15250-15.6-inch | Apple MacBook Air Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4, Sky Blue) | ASUS ZenBook ASUS - Zenbook 14 14" FHD+ OLED Touch Screen | Lenovo Yoga Lenovo - Yoga Slim 7x - Copilot+ PC - 14.5" 3K | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Samsung - Galaxy Book5 Pro - Copilot+ PC - 14" 3K | Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC (7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core 3 100U | Apple M4 | Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 24 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 16 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 512 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1024 |
| Screen | 15.6" 1920x1080 | 13.6" 2560x1664 | 14" 1920x1200 | 14.5" 2944x1840 | 14" 2880x1800 | 13.8" 2304x1536 |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics | Apple M4 10-core | Intel Arc Graphics | Qualcomm X1 | Intel Arc Graphics | Qualcomm X1 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS Sequoia 15.1 | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 53 | 75 | 70 | - | 54 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Screen | Compact | Storage | User Sentiment | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell 15 Laptop DC15250-15.6-inch | 43.8 | 49.1 | 6.4 | 27 | 44.2 | 45.1 | 49.1 | 50 | 30.5 | 94.6 |
| Apple MacBook Air 13" Compare | 75.1 | 20.6 | 68.5 | 93.6 | 85.4 | 90.2 | 49.1 | 67.3 | 94.8 | 99.4 |
| ASUS ZenBook 14" Compare | 89.2 | 66.6 | 94.1 | 99.3 | 75.6 | 84.5 | 72.3 | 81.3 | 55.8 | 97.4 |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14.5" 3K 90Hz Compare | 98.6 | 42 | 94.7 | 97.2 | 95.6 | 73.1 | 72.3 | 67.3 | 75.6 | 97.4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Galaxy Book5 Pro 14" 3K Compare | 69 | 66.6 | 86.9 | 90.6 | 93.5 | 84.9 | 72.3 | 78.2 | 75.6 | 96.5 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" Compare | 98.6 | 42 | 60.9 | 95.9 | 81.2 | 87.1 | 84.7 | 50 | 75.6 | 99.4 |
Verdict
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.