Exceptional performance and features for a knock-down price

Dell recently refreshed its XPS line up of laptops, slotting in two new models and updating its XPS 13 ultrabook to Ivy Bridge. The XPS 15 is in some ways the odd one out of the lineup.

The Dell XPS 15 is one of the best laptops we have tested in a long time. It's hard to fault, as its weaknesses – such as the trackpad taking some getting used to and the chassis being prone to scratches – aren't too significant. The real caveat here, though, is the price.

Flawless performance; premium design; great keyboard

Price tag; chassis prone to scratches; not the most intuitive trackpad

The XPS 15 is an impressive premium 15.6-inch notebook that we're happy to recommend. Its Quad HD+ (3200 x 1800) display has outstanding picture quality; no corners were cut with the lightweight (4.44 lbs) aluminum and carbon fiber construction; it has ample performance for just about any...

Gorgeous display; Excellent build quality; Good touchpad; High performance; Good battery life

Keyboard layout needs improvement; Gets warm under heavy workloads

These days there's a bewildering amount of computing choice – almost too much in fact. There is an army of desktops, all-in-ones, tablets, Ultrabooks, laptops, phablets… Most of us opt for a type of device that suits our lifestyle and budget, but businesses generally have to be more pragmatic to...

Don't buy this product (or any product) from Dell if you care about service and quality. I purchased 2 XPS laptops with 3-Year Next Business Day + Complete Care for this product. It took 7 weeks to get a keyboard fixed!

sleep and relatively powerful for footprint

if you have issues you may be without a laptop for a very long time

The Dell XPS 15 is and remains a showpiece. When it comes to the notebook's case and input devices, Dell sets the bar high, but the main focus of attention here is the new 4K display.

High brightness; Good color representation out of the factory; Display calibrates very well; High resolution; High-quality case

Possible scaling problems; Heats up under load; Reflective display; Higher energy consumption compared to predecessor

But what's most interesting about the upgrades is that the firm added an edge-to-edge 'Infinity edge' display to the XPS 15, fitting a 15.6in screen into the size of a typical 13in notebook, making what Dell claims is "smallest 15in laptop on the planet".

Better suited for use on your desk rather than on the road, despite Dell's best intentions, but still a good laptop

Stylish; Sturdy; Extremely bright; high quality screen; Fast; Comparatively light and compact

Keyboard and battery life could be better

Consider the bezel. That humble landing strip of plastic or metal that frames the screen in almost every high-tech device. Televisions have largely done away with the the wide bezels of old, at least in mid-price and better sets, extending the screen nearly all the way to the very edge for a...

An eye-catching 15-inch 4K display in a nearly bezel-free frame; plus high-end processor and graphics options; all in a slim; professional-looking body

The better configurations can cost a lot; while the keyboard could be bigger and the touchpad has a floaty feel