Dell vs. HP Laptops: Which Brand Is Superior?
The main difference between DELL and HP is that DELL generally have better build quality and offer top-of-the-line laptops meant for gamers, businesses, and professionals. HP places more effort in design and aesthetics, their high-end laptops are cheaper and offer a better battery life.
Dell and HP are reputable laptop brands. Choosing between the two can be strenuous and that’s why I’m hosting this “Dell vs. HP laptops” debate.
I’m going to give you an in-depth look at both brands. I’ll even show you some laptops to choose from!
Hopefully, my article helps in making your choice easier!
The Dell vs. HP Laptops Duel: An Overview
I’ll introduce you to Dell and HP first. Both are American companies headquartered in Texas (Dell) and California (HP).
HP (formerly Hewlett-Packard) was founded back in 1939 (around World War II) and Dell was founded in 1984.
Trivia: Did you know that Hewlett-Packard won its first big contract from Walt Disney? It was for HP to provide test and measurement instruments for Fantasia’s production!
Dell produces some of the best laptops available. They’re considered to be better than HP!
You can’t discount HP though. Throughout their portfolio of laptops, they boast impressive machines!
Trivia: Both companies have at least one manufacturing unit in Asian countries like China and Malaysia!
That’s where this debate stems from and that’s why I’m writing this article. It’s time to decide which brand is superior.
Dell vs. HP Laptops: Their Strengths and Weaknesses
I’ll start by pointing out their strengths and weaknesses.
Why They Stand Out
Firstly, here’s why these laptop brands are great.
Dell Laptops
Firstly, Dell produces the BEST high-end laptops on the market! The laptops they produce for this segment can serve any of your desired purposes (take the Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15 as examples).
Secondly, Dell covers many segments! Their wide range can easily cater to gamers, students, professionals, even business owners!
Lastly, they don’t stick to a singular formula! Having a proven and successful pattern is good, but Dell is known to try something new whenever possible!
HP Laptops
As for HP, they excel in design and innovation! A common opinion you’ll hear from users is that their designs are excellent!
Fun fact: HP even makes use of premium materials like leather for their laptops!
HP also pushes innovation through unique leaps in technology. They’re called market makers when it comes to laptops!
Fun Fact: Did you know that, during a time of bulky laptops, HP came up with the world’s slimmest laptop? It was the HP Spectre!
Why They Fall Short
Up next, I’ll show you where they’re lacking.
Dell Laptops
One fault you’ll find in Dell is they’re known to be pricey! If you’re a customer that prioritizes value-for-money, you should look at other brands.
Another area that needs improvement is their bad customer support! They have a history of customers experiencing long wait times and paying high repair costs!
Wait times have lessened over the years, but they tend to unnecessarily charge customers for technical support!
HP Laptops
A similar flaw HP shares with Dell is lackluster customer support. They normally overcharge customers for easily solvable issues!
They have a track record for delays too. Customers have to deal with long waiting lists before submitting their laptops!
Dell vs. HP Laptops: A Closer Look
With the general information out of the way, I can give you a more in-depth look at both brands. I’ll be talking about their design, components, etc.
I won’t be talking about their operating system though since Microsoft Windows is the norm.
Dell Laptops
I’ll give you my breakdown of Dell first.
Design
It’s obvious that Dell doesn’t place emphasis on design and physical appearance. It’s also noticeable their laptops follow a certain style pattern.
That doesn’t take anything away from Dell though. They emphasize reliability and convenience which is the reasoning for a shared style pattern.
Dell has improved in its designs recently. In their XPS Series, they incorporate a sleek design into a visually pleasing chassis.
The biggest exception in terms of aesthetics is their Alienware models, laptops in Dell’s gaming category. Each Alienware laptop is sleek, slim, has a fancy logo, even a backlit keyboard!
But boy is it pricey!
Components
It’s in this category that Dell shines. They’re known for their high-level build quality and they use top-of-the-line laptop components.
Processors
Dell’s processors cover an array of choices. Since they produce budget laptops up to high-end devices, they make use of Intel and AMD CPUs.
For their cheaper options, AMD processors are available. You can choose from 3rd-generation Ryzen 3 processors, even up to beastly Ryzen 9 CPUs for a gaming laptop!
Their pricier laptops use Intel processors. Choices range from the latest Intel Core i3 CPUs and max out at the latest Intel Core i9 processors!
RAM
RAM determines how many applications you can open and whether or not they work smoothly.
How much RAM each application needs is subjective though. Basic applications eat up less, games and professional applications consume so much more.
In terms of options, a Dell laptop could start at 4GB of RAM and max out at 64GB. As for RAM speeds, you can get a laptop starting from 2666MHz and reaching up to 4267MHz!
Graphics
Dell provides various graphics options to users. Gamers and people who do multimedia work will definitely love an impressive graphics card on their laptop.
For budget options, Dell offers an Intel integrated graphics card or its AMD counterpart. This is determined by the processor you choose though.
As for Dell’s heavier-duty devices, you can choose an Nvidia RTX 3050 up to the powerful RTX 3080! All of them are perfect graphics cards for a gaming laptop!
Dell, meanwhile, offers Nvidia Quadro GPUs in their Precision lineup. These are mobile workstations for professionals!
Storage
The storage standard for Dell laptops is an NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD. These are high-speed storage options that allow faster data transfer, boot times, and load times for applications!
Options start from 128GB and reach up to 4TB of storage! For their cheapest options, you get a 1TB SATA HDD.
Display
Dell offers various display sizes. From low-end to high-end, they range from 11 to 17 inches.
Take note some of their low-end laptops don’t have Full-HD resolutions. Their pricier laptops can reach up to a 4K screen resolution though!
Battery Life
Dell uses 2-cell to 6-cell lithium-ion batteries in their laptops. The 6-cell batteries are available in pricier models.
An issue with these batteries is they get swollen when exposed to heat and high usage though. As for the battery life itself, they’re close to other premium devices.
A full charge nets you around 7 to 8 hours. The life expectancy of Dell’s batteries is 18 months to 2 years, which isn’t bad.
One great feature they have is they don’t get overcharged though!
Battery Trivia: A laptop battery’s life should average two years. The battery backup is also affected by battery consumption, charging, and the age of your laptop.
Innovation
This is an area where Dell needs improvement, but they are trying. If you’re wondering why, it’s because their recent innovations revolved around their high-end devices.
Since they serve a broad customer base, developments in their lower-end laptops are lacking.
They have made developments in their Inspiron lineup for better performance, design, and construction though!
Customer Support
Dell’s customer support is also lacking. I’ve mentioned beforehand that it’s one of their weaknesses.
Connecting to their representatives takes time whether online or via phone. Reaching out via social media is also difficult since you get replies from a bot!
Tip: Try finding a solution on Dell’s community page before getting in touch!
Price
I’ve also mentioned earlier that price is one weakness for Dell. They produce high-quality and reliable laptops, but value-for-money is better with cheaper brands.
If budget isn’t an issue for you and reliability is what matters, choose Dell. If you want a good price though, try other brands.
Popular Dell Laptops
Now that you have an understanding of Dell laptops, I’ll talk about their popular lineups.
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Dell Inspiron laptops are perfect for average users. They offer ideal budget laptops, even a model that can handle light to medium gaming!
If you want something for checking emails, browsing the internet, multimedia consumption, Inspiron can handle it! They even offer 2-in-1 laptops!
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Curious if this Dell model is the right laptop for you? Have a look at the No products found.!
Dell XPS Series
Laptops in the Dell XPS series are designed for creatives, professionals, even gamers! They’re built with powerful processors, graphics cards, and stunning displays!
These high-end devices provide impressive performance, sharp images, and are crafted from premium materials like aluminum and carbon fiber!
If you think an XPS laptop fits the bill, check out the Dell XPS 15 !
Dell Precision Series
Laptops in the Dell Precision Series are serious workstations. Offering splendid performance and customization options, this laptop is perfect for businesses and professionals!
With options like top-of-the-line Intel Core processors, up to 64GB of RAM, and Nvidia Quadro GPUs, these laptops can easily handle professional applications!
Want to see if a Dell Precision laptop is your ideal workstation? You can peep the Dell Precision 7550!
Dell's Alienware Laptops
This lineup is for serious gamers. Dell’s Alienware laptops stand out because of their iconic designs, high performance, and premium features.
With powerful components to stylish backlit keyboards, any gaming laptop by Alienware is sure to be loved by gaming enthusiasts the world over!
If you’re an avid gamer yourself, the Alienware m15 R4 is the gaming laptop for you!
HP Laptops
Now that I’ve covered Dell, HP is up next.
Design
You now know that design is one of HP’s strengths. Their laptops may be standard-looking, they sure are visually pleasing.
One great example of HP’s design prowess is their Specter x360. It’s a sleek and stylish 2-in-1 laptop with a silver aluminum chassis.
Even their budget options are eye-catching! HP has the upper hand in this area.
Components
In terms of components, HP offers a respectable array. They offer good quality and performance but are a notch behind Dell when it comes to build quality.
Processor
In terms of processors, HP uses AMD and Intel processors. It depends on the lineup and model though.
For cheaper variants, AMD Ryzen processors are available. You can get an AMD Ryzen 3 up to an AMD Ryzen 7 which are still powerful processors!
Their Intel options start from the Intel Core i3 (dual-core processors) and max out at the Intel Core i7 (quad-core processors).
RAM
In terms of memory, HP has a decent baseline of 8GB of RAM. Most of their devices I’ve seen max out at 16GB of memory though.
Their memory speeds also offer a nice touch since the standard is 2666MHZ to 4266MHz across HP laptop lineups.
Graphics
HP also offers a decent spread when it comes to graphics.
Their cheaper laptops can come with an integrated graphics card, but what you get depends on the processor brand you chose (Intel or AMD).
For pricier devices, it starts from the Nvidia GTX950M (HP Pavilion Gaming) all the way up to an Nvidia RTX 3070 (HP Omen gaming laptop)!
Storage
HP offers a wide variety in terms of storage.
For some devices, an NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD is the standard. 256GB is the least you can get, but it maxes out at only 1TB.
They offer an Intel SSD with a good baseline of 512GB and spaces of up to 1TB for other laptops. It may not be as fast as an M.2 SSD, but it includes 32GB of Intel Optane storage acceleration!
For their basic HP Pavilion devices, they offer an 128GB SSD option accompanied by a 1TB HDD!
Display
As for display, HP laptops possess a screen size of 13.5 inches to 15.6 inches. This seems to place an emphasis on portability seeing they don’t go past the 15.6-inch mark.
As for screen resolution, they cover options with Full-HD displays of up to 4K resolutions!
Battery Life
HP also makes use of lithium-ion batteries. However, they have a slight edge on Dell.
A full charge does not only last you 8 hours (at least), but the battery’s average life expectancy ranges from 24 to 48 months!
Disclaimer: That’s not the case ALL THE TIME. Some users found their battery to get weaker before then.
Innovation
This is HP’s forte. Making touchscreen technology commonplace, they set the bar high with their 2-in-1 laptops!
They also continue to pump out features like fingerprint readers for added security and even develop more sophisticated designs!
Customer support
In terms of customer support, HP is also lackluster. It’s a shared weakness between the two companies.
It’s nice they have the HP Support Assistant, that you can get in touch via social media, and that they have a support center you can call. But at the end of the day, HP customers still deal with drawbacks.
Customers experience long waiting times. In other instances, HP assistants recommend solutions that aren’t even helpful!
Price
HP doesn’t punch you in the face with exorbitant prices. In fact, their laptops are cheap compared to their Dell counterparts.
This may be true, but there are still brands that offer better value-for-money than HP. So if you’re budget-conscious, just keep scanning the market for better options.
Popular HP Laptops
We’ve gone in-depth about HP laptops, now it’s come to see some of their popular lineups.
HP Pavilion
The HP Pavilion is the laptop lineup for everyday users. It’s the perfect budget laptop for people who need a device to handle light tasks.
From simple work applications, e-mails, multimedia consumption, to even gaming, an HP Pavilion easily covers them for you!
Are you looking for a budget option to take care of basic tasks? Try the flagship HP Pavilion!
If you’re a gamer strapped for cash, you give the HP Pavilion Gaming a whirl!
HP Envy
The HP Envy range of laptops is more for creatives, professionals, and is capable of light gaming! It offers mid-range to high-end processing power, it can even include its own dedicated GTX 1650 GPU!
Some HP Envy devices even have a touchscreen and fingerprint scanner for added functionality and security!
Think an HP Envy is the right fit for you? Here’s the HP Envy 13!
HP EliteBook
The HP EliteBook lineup is HP’s take on business notebooks. These high-end laptops are sleek, ultralight, and fast-charging devices!
Boasting powerful processors, seamless wireless connections, and strong security, the HP EliteBook allows secure connections with your colleagues and clients!
Need a great laptop for your work or business? The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7!
HP Omen
HP’s venture into the world of gaming laptops is spearheaded by their HP Omen brand.
Armed with the latest Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors and Nvidia RTX 30 Series graphics cards, these gaming laptops are meant to deliver unbridled gaming performance.
Featuring a simple, yet stylish, design and backlit keyboards, gamers would surely appreciate these machines!
Looking for a gaming laptop to scratch that gaming itch? Try the HP Omen X 2S!
Dell vs. HP Laptops: A Head-to-Head Comparison
We’ve looked at both HP and Dell, now it’s time to compare both brands head-to-head and see which one is superior.
1.) Design
Firstly, I’ve already pointed out that Dell computers place less emphasis on design. They’re more known for reliability and build quality.
Dell also follows a certain pattern when it comes to design, so devices in certain lineups look uniform. However, they have made improvements which were evident in their XPS series.
HP on the other hand excels in design. Most HP laptops seem to follow a standard aesthetic, like Dell, but their devices are visually pleasing nonetheless.
A lot of their devices were designed to be sleek and sophisticated making them more attractive to customers.
Winner for Design: HP
This was an easy choice since HP exerts a lot of effort in producing aesthetically pleasing laptops. Some Dell models look good, especially in their Alienware brand, but HP takes the cake.
2.) Components
Let me break it down by comparing both brands per component. All these components help determine whether or not you’ve got a beast of a laptop.
Processor:
- Dell – AMD Ryzen 3 to Ryzen 9; Intel Dual-Core i3 to Intel Core i9
- HP – AMD Ryzen 3 to Ryzen 7; Intel Dual-Core i3 to Intel Core i7
RAM:
- Dell – 4GB to 64GB; 2666MHz to 4267MHz
- HP – 8GB to 16GB; 2666MHz to 4266MHz
Graphics:
- Dell – Integrated graphics (Intel or AMD) to dedicated Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU
- HP – Integrated graphics (Intel or AMD) to dedicated Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU
Storage:
- Dell – 128GB to 4TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD; 1TB SATA HDD
- HP – 256GB to 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD; 512GB to 1TB Intel SSD (with 32GB Intel Optane); 128GB to 1TB SSD
Display:
- Dell – 11 to 17 inches; less than Full-HD to 4K resolution
- HP – 13.5 to 15.6 inches; Full-HD to 4K resolution
Winner for Components: Dell
Overall, Dell offers you a plethora of choices that can let you get up to a beast of a laptop. In some components, HP may have come close.
But every component considered, the quality and power of the components Dell provides places them a notch higher than HP.
3.) Battery Life
Excellent battery life is important in every laptop. It’s a pretty close match if you’re comparing Dell vs. HP.
Dell sells laptops that can net you 7 to 8 hours of life on a full charge. However, in terms of life expectancy, the batteries of Dell laptops can only live for 18 to 24 months!
HP, on the other hand, can give you AT LEAST 8 hours on a single charge. They also beat out Dell with their battery’s life expectancy of 2 to 4 years!
Winner for Battery Life: HP
This is a pretty obvious choice. The life you get on a single charge may be close between both brands, but the almost-double life expectancy of HP’s batteries got them the win in this category.
4.) Innovation
This is a category that Dell is still lacking in. That’s because a lot of their innovation revolves around the top Dell laptops.
If they placed more development efforts into their lower-end lineups, they’d be giving HP a run for their money.
HP, meanwhile, has no problem with innovation. They continue to develop new features and more sophisticated designs!
Winner for Innovation: HP
This was an obvious choice in the Dell vs HP laptops debate. HP is known to have made touchscreen technology commonplace and they still keep making improvements to their laptops!
5.) Customer Support
In terms of customer support, Dell and HP have something in common. Both brands need better customer service.
Dell and HP customer support have a track record of long wait times and bad customer experiences. So in my opinion, nobody wins here!
Winner for Customer Support: None
Like I said, both brands are known for lackluster customer support. So there’s no need to expound here.
6.) Price
Does Dell or HP come out on top in terms of price? Truthfully, it depends.
Let me just highlight these two points:
- Dell has a wider array of cheap options, but their high-end laptops are pricier than HP’s.
- An HP laptop in the upper end is cheaper than Dell’s, but HP’s budget options are more limited.
Winner for Price: It depends
In terms of price, the Dell or HP battle yielded no winner. It highly depends on what you’re looking for!
Dell vs. HP Laptops: Key Differences
I’ll point out how Dell or HP stand out from each other here. These are just simple points to easily differentiate the two.
What Sets Dell Apart
- A plethora of choices in terms of components
- Better build quality
- Emphasis on reliability and performance
- Covers a wider range of segments
Why HP is Different
- Places more effort in design and aesthetics
- Leader in innovation
- Better battery life
- High-end devices are cheaper
Who Won the “Dell or HP” Debate?
To tell you the truth, there is no REAL winner in the Dell vs. HP comparison. Choosing a brand is a matter of what you need or want.
Let me conclude by pointing out some reasons to choose between Dell vs. HP.
Why Choose a Dell Laptop?
If your budget isn’t an issue and you want a high-end laptop, choose Dell! They offer splendid top-of-the-line laptops meant for gamers, businesses, and professionals!
They also have devices for those who are strapped for cash. So if it’s a low-end device you need, Dell has it!
Their build quality is something worth noting too!
Why Choose an HP Laptop?
If aesthetics and new technologies play a role in your purchasing decisions, choose HP! They’re leaders in terms of laptop innovation!
Does value-for-money tickle your fancy? If you’re after a new laptop in the mid-range to high-end segment while on a budget, HP can cater to your needs.
Excellent article and easy to understand. What would you suggest for an all in one desktop for seniors for home use. Little if any gaming?
Our 13 yr old hp pavilion bit the dust and I need to purchase asap.
Thank you.
Carol Scheel