Dell vs. HP laptops – which should you go for?

Let’s delve into Dell vs HP laptops – who comes out on top?

Laptops are an important pillar in our day-to-day lives. Whether you primarily use your laptop for work, pleasure or gaming, we can all agree that it’s an essential tool to get things done. 

Indeed, when it comes to two giants like Dell & HP, it’s worth knowing a bit more about what each brand does well so you can find the best laptop for your needs – so let’s dive right in.

Dell laptops

Dell has been manufacturing laptops since 1984, earning a well-deserved reputation for making premium products at competitive prices. If you’re looking to spend less than $800 on a good quality laptop, Dell has no shortage of laptops to choose from. Dell also excels when it comes to gaming laptops, thanks to its popular Alienware brand responsible for producing some of the best gaming laptops on the market.

HP laptops

So where does that leave HP? Well, they’ve been around 50 years longer than Dell and have a great reputation for producing attractive business laptops with powerful, durable hardware. They also pioneered touchscreen technology, so you may want to prioritise HP’s range of 2-in-1 laptops if that’s what you’re looking for. 

But is there a deciding factor between these two laptop brands? We’ll consider important categories including price, design and gaming performance to help you decide. After, you should have gained an insight into whether a Dell or HP laptop is better suited to your needs.

Dell vs HP laptops – gaming

If you’re intending to use your laptop for gaming, then you’ll need to prioritise a laptop that can deliver on performance, display and battery life.

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This may be news for some, but Dell is behind the brand Alienware which is a specialist company that truly excels when it comes to gaming. Only recently Dell announced new M16 and M18 models heading to shelves later this year which marks the beginning of a new generation of gaming laptops.

Generally speaking, recent Alienware laptops feature 12th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia’s 30-series graphics cards. Though this does unfortunately ramp the cost up, you are paying for a premium laptop here that uses some of the best components available.

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Though HP does make gaming laptops, it could be argued that they appear to be a little behind Alienware’s powerhouse range. That being said, not everyone needs to go for a premium gaming laptop. For example, HP’s Victus 15.6 inch gaming laptop features as the best budget laptop in our pick for one of the best laptops under 1000.

Overall though, Dell definitely has the best reputation when it comes to gaming.

Dell vs HP laptops – design & appearance

Overall, we think that HP has the edge here in terms of design though this potentially comes down to personal preference.

When we think of stylish laptops, we think of laptops like the HP Elite Dragonfly which in our opinion is one of the most aesthetically pleasing laptops from HP’s entire range, featuring a shiny blue metal chassis with silver detailing.

In comparison, Dell’s laptops are characterised by their clean design. We are big fans of Dell’s XPS range which come in metallic silvers, blues and pinks, though we still think that HP takes the cake in terms of design and aesthetics.

Dell vs HP laptops – price

Cost is inevitably an important factor for most people in the market for a new laptop. There’s some considerable variation between Dell and HP.

We think Dell provides pretty reasonable prices for all their laptops considering the diverse range of products available. There’s also the option for greater personalisation with Dell, meaning you can set up your own operating system, keyboard and more. Though this will add additional costs to your laptop, it at least allows you to pay for exactly what you want.

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HP laptops can include some expensive components and materials, especially for their premium ranges, which can drives the price up. Additionally, customers have to buy their HP laptop through an authorised retailer rather than direct from HP, which could also contribute to those higher costs.

Final word

Overall it’s impossible to reach a definitive decision in the toss-up between Dell vs HP laptops. The final choice you make will ultimately come down to personal preference, so the best thing you can do is know exactly what you want to use your laptop for.

That being said, we’d go for Dell over HP if we were looking to find the best laptop for gaming performance. Dell’s Alienware range is also the only time we get excited about the design and appearance of their laptop ranges.

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We’d say HP laptops can be characterised by their reliability, sleek design and unique features, though they do appear to be a little pricier than some of their competitors.

We’d say opt for HP if you’re after an attractive, higher-end laptop for work and entertainment usage. If you’re a gamer, or after a reliable budget laptop, then Dell will probably be more suited to your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Is HP more expensive than Dell?

Yes, HP laptops are generally more expensive than Dell laptops. HP generally uses high-end hardware components which is a significant factor that drives up the price.

Is Dell or HP better for gaming?

Dell’s Alienware gaming range of laptops easily comes out on top against HP, providing powerful performance to cope with the most graphically intensive games.