TechRadar Verdict
The Dell XPS 17 is everything one could want out of a larger laptop.
Of course, it also keeps the elegant trappings set out by the XPS laptop line.
The Dell XPS 17 9730 reviewed here, certainly does that.
Its a fantastic laptop in almost every aspect.
This is on the heavier, bulkier side.
In fact, its powerful enough that you might prefer it over a desktop.
And, you’re able to customize it to compete with some of thebest gaming laptopson the market.
The one big downside here is that upgrading tends to inflate the price quite a bit and quite quickly.
Just be prepared to pay for it… and, maybe invest in an external webcam.
After all, theDell XPS 13is the standard bearer for the category.
Still, the price of entry is nowhere near budget.
Specifically, youll have to spend $1,949 / 3,099 (about AU$2,990).
Now, thebest 17-inch laptopsusually aren’t cheap.
But, youre still spending around $1,400 on one.
But, theres plenty of customization to add even more power and/or storage.
you might even upgrade to an 8TB SSD (technically two 4TB SSDs).
Beyond the internal specs, you also can choose between two different panels.
Theres the more basic non-touch 1920x1200p screen or the one reviewed here thats 3840x2400p with touch capabilities.
The Dell XPS 17 is not for that person.
Instead, it offers the kind of components that typically cant fit in those smaller models.
Its like a BMW version of a laptop.
Since its on the bigger side, that means it comes with a large 17-inch screen.
On that note, the panel feels very high quality when using the touch functionality.
Since Im used to using smaller laptops, the large keyboard and trackpad are a bit of an adjustment.
Probably the biggest adjustment is that the keyboard is set further back than I would like.
But, again, thats just personal preference.
So, when booting up the Dell XPS 17, I can honestly say that I was surprised.
Frankly, it might be more power than you might need, depending on what youre considering this for.
At the very least, watching the latest streaming series is a pleasure.
Interestingly, the only issue I have performance-wise is the fact that Dell only included a 720p webcam.
In our battery informant benchmark, for instance, it last just over nine hours.
Thats not bad at all, all things considering.
Just be aware that theres a bit of a trade-off for powering the high-res display and GPU.
While I wont hold that against the XPS 17, it something to keep in mind.
Since it receives power via Thunderbolt however, it doesnt take long to charge back up.
Should you buy the Dell XPS 17 9730?
Buy it if…
You want powerThis laptop has some serious power behind it.
You want a premium looking and feeling laptopTrue to the Dell XPS name, this laptop exudes elegance.
Everything about it looks and feels like a lot of thought went into its design.
If youre on a budget, there are plenty of other options out there.
You need portabilityAs good as the Dell XPS 17 is, its not a portable computer.
In particular, I wrote this review on it.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed February2024
