The best 15-inch laptops are perfectly sized and configured for those who want a bit of extra screen real estate and some extra performance. The Dell XPS 15 is our top overall pick and one of the best Windows laptop options available today. The 9510 model has 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs, NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and OLED display, plus there are still 9500 models available for less money. If you'd like something a bit different, we've rounded up a bunch of other great 15-inch laptops right here.
Best overall: Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 (9510) comes with 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400H, i7-11800H, and i9-11900H CPUs. as well as up to an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti discrete GPU with 4GB of VRAM. You can deck it out with up to 64GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM and 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. The XPS 15 now has ray tracing and DLSS capabilities thanks to the new GPU, but you'll still want to check out the best gaming laptops for a true gaming machine.
The two Thunderbolt 3 ports have been upgraded to Thunderbolt 4, and there's a new 3.5K OLED touch display option with anti-reflective finish and 400 nits brightness. You can still also get it with the FHD+ non-touch or UHD+ touch displays, as well as Dolby Vision support. Check out our comparison if you'd like to see some of the major design changes between the 9500 and 9570 versions that have carried over to the latest 9510 model.
Check out our Dell XPS 15 (9500) review for a deep dive into what makes this older version of the laptop so great. And also note that the XPS 15 9510 models are now shipping with Windows 11 already installed.
It looks like Dell has recently begun getting rid of XPS 15 (9510) stock at its official website, with configuration options being pared down. This is likely to make room for the next XPS 15 refresh, which we're expecting this year. Details are still slim, and it's unclear whether the XPS 15 will take on some of the design changes we've seen in the XPS 13 Plus. The XPS 15 (9510) is still a great choice if you need a laptop right now, and third-party retailers do have different configs on offer.
Pros:
- 16:10 aspect ratio displays, now with OLED
- Powerful Intel 11th Gen CPU options
- Dedicated NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti GPU
- Premium aluminum chassis
- Huge 86Wh battery
Cons:
- Not as versatile as a convertible
- Less expensive options available
Best overall
Dell XPS 15
Beautiful display options, stellar performance
Dell's XPS 15 is one of the slimmest 15-inch laptops out there, boasting impressive performance and now an OLED display option for the 9510 model.
Best gaming: Razer Blade 15
The Razer Blade 15 should not leave wanting those who love portable PC gaming, and the laptops are now even more powerful than before. Razer announced new Blade 15 models at CES 2022, with up to 12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs, NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU, DDR5-4800MHz RAM, and PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD storage.
Displays have also been refreshed, with three options from which to choose. The FHD model has a 360Hz refresh rate, the QHD model has a 240Hz refresh rate, and the UHD model has a whopping 144Hz refresh rate. All have excellent color reproduction, with thin bezel for a modern look.
All of this is contained in a symmetrical metal chassis with squared edges and overall thin design. It's one of the best-looking laptops out there, and it's built to withstand daily use. The keyboard has RGB lighting, and the enormous Precision touchpad is ideal when not using one of the best PC gaming mice plugged into one of the many ports.
Have a look at our 2019 Razer Blade 15 Advanced review for more information about this gaming laptop. There are still plenty of older 11th Gen Intel (and even 10th Gen Intel) models available, which deliver an awesome gaming experience and are generally more affordable now that the new models are available.
Pros:
- Unreal FHD, QHD, and UHD displays
- Outstanding audio
- Excellent gaming performance
- Premium build quality
- RGB keyboard
Cons:
- Keyboard has short travel
- Very expensive
Best gaming
Razer Blade 15
The right Ultrabook for gamers
The Razer Blade 15 has the right performance for heavy gaming, as well as beautiful display options.
Best design: Surface Laptop 4 15
Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 is available in a 15-inch form factor with either AMD or Intel hardware working behind the scenes. This was a rather mild refresh, focusing on internal performance rather than design changes.
The Surface Laptop 4 moves up to Intel 11th Gen or AMD Ryzen 4000 Mobile CPUs, as well as Iris Xe or Radeon graphics. There's no more 128GB SSD option, with models starting instead at 256GB. New Dolby Atmos spatial audio improves the laptop's speakers, ideal for those who don't often use a headset. Battery life has also been improved.
Like the Laptop 3, there's no Alcantara finish option for the 15-inch version. You're looking at either Platinum or Matte Black colors. As always, the 15-inch touch display has a 3:2 aspect ratio and 2496x1664 resolution with Surface Pen compatibility. Check out our Surface Laptop 4 15 review for more information.
New Surface Laptop 4 models come preloaded with Windows 11, and older models get a free upgrade to Windows 11. If you're looking for a different Surface product that's just a bit newer, ships with Windows 11, and has a unique new design, check out the Surface Laptop Studio.
Pros
- Stunning design and craftsmanship
- Wi-Fi 6 and Instant-On
- Comfy keyboard and touchpad
- 11th Gen Intel and Ryzen 4000 CPUs
- High-res touch display with inking
Cons
- No Alcantara finish
- Ports still limited
Best design
Surface Laptop 4 15
A worthy upgrade
The Surface Laptop 4 15 upgrades performance hardware and adds some extra features.
Best for media: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360
The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 fills a gap in the convertible market. It's super lightweight and thin, but it has a larger 15.6-inch display, super performance, and good battery life. Not only that, but the AMOLED screen is also absolutely stunning, with 100% sRGB, 85% AdobeRGB, and 96% DCI-P3 color reproduction and VESA DisplayHDR 500. However, it could be brighter and the 16:9 aspect ratio is stale when a lot of competitors are moving to 16:10. An included Samsung S Pen makes for a quality inking experience, and Samsung's suite of apps only helps on this front.
You can expect strong performance from 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and Intel Evo certification, plus the battery is going to last more than 10 hours with regular use. The camera and speakers could be a lot better, but the keyboard and touchpad are solid. If you'd like to move up to a 15-inch convertible but don't want any of the associated weight, this is a great pick.
You can get the Galaxy Book Pro 360 with Windows 11 straight from the factory, but it costs more than Windows 10 models.
Pros:
- Outstanding AMOLED display
- Excellent inking experience
- Thin and light with top performance
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- Bad webcam and speakers
- Still using 16:9 aspect ratio
- Display could be brighter
Best for media
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360
If you need a super-thin laptop that is also a convertible, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is for you.
Best budget: ASUS VivoBook 15
The ASUS VivoBook 15 won't stand up in a direct comparison to the other laptops in this list, but that's OK. It costs far less, and it can still deliver quite a few positive features. It's so good in relation to its price that it makes the cut for best budgets laptops.
It has plenty of ports — including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader, and the keyboard with full number pad is comfortable for typing thanks to 1.4mm key travel. The 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU isn't particularly powerful, but it can still handle standard productivity work. This is an excellent laptop for the kid's homework or for answering email and browsing the web.
A fingerprint reader adds some security through Windows Hello, and the front-facing 720p camera is surprisingly good. The RAM and SSD can both be upgraded to keep the laptop running longer if required. If you're on a tight budget, this is one of the best 15-inch laptops out there.
Pros
- Lots of ports
- Lightweight build
- Fingerprint reader
- Backlit keyboard with numpad
- Decent performance from Core i3
Cons
- Display isn't overly colorful
- Battery life doesn't impress
- Speakers on the quiet side
- Slow SSD
Best budget
ASUS VivoBook 15
One of the best for less than $500
The ASUS VivoBook 15 does it better than many other budget laptops. It has a comfy keyboard and touchpad, fingerprint reader, FHD display, upgradeable RAM and SSD, and tons of ports with USB-C. Battery life is disappointing, and the display isn't particularly powerful, but I would recommend this over the IdeaPad 3 15 and Acer Aspire 5.
Best convertible: HP Spectre x360 15t
The 15-inch HP Spectre x360 received a mid-gen refresh for Intel's new 11th Gen hardware. It comes with a Core i7-1165G7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, and three display options. It's still a beautiful convertible laptop, and it's one of the best 15-inch laptops if you like to split time between notebook and tablet modes.
Three 4K touch displays are available no matter the CPU. Two IPS options differ in brightness (340 nits compared to 400 nits), while the AMOLED option brings BrightView tech and 400 nits. AMOLED costs the most, but it's the right choice for anyone who wants the best picture possible. All displays are compatible with the included active pen. The bezel has been shrunk down considerably, but you're still getting a 16:9 aspect ratio.
A sizable Precision touchpad makes productivity a breeze, and the full keyboard includes a number pad. The chassis has the same gem-cut design as the smaller 13-inch Spectre x360, and it makes for an ornate laptop.
The latest 11th Gen Intel model includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader. Ports on the older model include Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, USB-A, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack. An IR camera for Windows Hello sits above the display, and there's a webcam kill switch if you're worried about anyone looking in on you. Wi-Fi 6 connectivity is included.
Go ahead and have a look at our HP Spectre x360 15 review for more details about performance, design, and display. And note that Windows 11 now comes installed as standard with new Spectre x360 15 models.
Pros:
- Wi-Fi 6 compatibility
- Awesome 4K display options
- Powerful hardware configurations
- Ornate gem-cut chassis
- IR camera and camera kill switch
Cons:
- No FHD option
- Still using 16:9 aspect ratio
Best convertible
HP Spectre x360 15t
Tons of power in a beautiful chassis
The Spectre x360 15 is an excellent convertible laptop with powerful hardware, brilliant display, and unique gem-cut design.
Best business: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4)
The ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4) is now sporting up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11950H CPU. This chip puts out some serious performance, and it only gets better with up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 laptop GPU with 16GB of VRAM. Add up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, and you have a laptop ready for a heavy workload. Like all ThinkPads, it's designed and tested to ensure it'll put up with a hard life.
You can get the new 16-inch display in a few different versions, all with a 16:10 aspect ratio. There's standard QHD+, UHD+ with Dolby Vision HDR 400 and 600 nits brightness, or UHD+ touch with Dolby Vision HDR 400, 600 nits brightness, and anti-reflective finish. An FHD webcam with a privacy shutter sits above the screen, and you can add an IR camera for extra security. You also get a fingerprint reader, FIDO authentication, and a Kensington lock slot for further security.
The body measures just 0.70 inches thin, weighing in at about 3.99 pounds (1.81kg). It has a lot of power, but it remains relatively portable. Ports include two Thunderbolt 4, SD card reader, HDMI 2.1, two USB-A 3.2, SIM slot, and 3.5mm audio jack. Wi-Fi 6 is included, and you can add a 5G adapter for wireless connectivity everywhere.
Note that a refreshed ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 5) was announced at MWC 2022. It's not expected until June 2022, but if you can hold out it will deliver better performance. It has 12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs, DDR5 RAM, PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti GPU, and a new 165Hz FHD+ display option.
Pros:
- New 16-inch display with 16:10 aspect ratio
- Thunderbolt 4, 5G LTE
- Top-firing speakers, Dolby Atmos
- Best keyboard
- 1080p camera, IR sensor
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Battery life suffers
- Chassis picks up fingerprints
- Some display light bleed
Best business
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme (Gen 4)
Your next business partner
The fourth-gen ThinkPad X1 Extreme is more powerful than ever before, yet it remains portable enough to tag along with you.
Bottom line
Smaller 13- and 14-inch laptops might be more popular, but that doesn't mean there aren't many great 15-inch laptops available right now. Any of the options rounded up above should please, but if you're looking for a well-rounded option for any task, we recommend checking out the Dell XPS 15 9510. It's a great 15-inch laptop, and it's also one of the overall best Windows laptop options available today.
The new models have been upgraded with 11th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs, NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti discrete GPU, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and there's a new 3.5K OLED touch display option. It's all wrapped up in a compact, light chassis made from aluminum and carbon fiber, making it easy to take with you wherever you go. An enormous 86Wh battery keeps going through a day, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity allows for fast wireless speeds.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, accessory coverage, and the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.
Daniel Rubino is the executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
source https://www.windowscentral.com/best-15-inch-laptop
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