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".

Dell's XPS 15 is proof that iterations-no matter how small-still matter. Externally, even owners of the previous XPS 15 would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between new and old.

Dell has hit a rich seam of form in recent years. Now, it's taken the elegant carbon-fibre and metal design of the XPS 13 and again scaled it up to bring the company's stylish 15in laptop, the Dell XPS 15, into 2017.

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.

Power. Class. Endurance. The Dell XPS 15 ($999.99 to start, $1,499.99 and $1,999.99 as tested) offers them all. Dell's premium mainstream notebook is a reliable, solid choice with its attractive design, vivid display options and long-lasting battery life.

Vivid display; Long battery life; Strong performance; Premium design

Webcam looks up your nose

Even though they don't look much different than a lot of other hybrid laptops, the release of the Dell's XPS 15 2-in-1 and HP's Spectre x360 15 is an important moment for today's convertible PCs.

These 2-in-1s are good at almost everything

The Dell's webcam is in the wrong place; the HP has big bezels and its screen isn't as bright

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...

How do you go about making the ultimate 15in Windows laptop For Dell, the formula turned out to be disarmingly simple: take the smaller XPS 13, make it bigger, add a discrete GPU and a gorgeous 4K display, and Bob's your uncle.

Premium look and feel; Stellar 4K InfinityEdge display; Core i7; SSD; DDR4 is a potent mix; GTX 960M has some gaming potential; Comfortable keyboard and trackpad; Keeps quiet during everyday use

Disappointing battery life; 4K upgrade is pricey; Webcam position not ideal