Blog

In this article, I give you my DELL XPS 15 9510 (2021) review with specs included. Same physical design as the previous year’s model (2020), but what’s new inside is Intel 11th-gen CPUs, which so far have actually been pretty good, and Nvidia RTX 3050 and 3050Ti dedicated graphics.

So, we’re starting to talk about some serious performance here, and I often feel like the XPS 15’s every redesign takes a couple of revisions before they really get to where Dell envisioned they would always be in terms of performance and thermals and stability and all that stuff.

Even better here, we have a 3.5 K OLED touchscreen display. So the XPS 13 got OLED; now so does the XPS 15.

As ever, the beauty of the XPS line is the fact that you can get it starting at an affordable price tag. Granted, for enthusiasts, it’s not the configuration that you’re probably going to want.

DELL XPS 15 9510 (2021) Specs

DELL XPS 15 9510 (2021) starts around $1200 to $1299 MSRP, a little bit lower in the United States, and that gets you a full HD plus display with a 16 by 10 aspect ratio (standard with XPS line) and a Core i5, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD, and only integrated graphics.

If you move up the line and spend around $1700-$1800, you’re getting into a Core i7, and more RAM, a bigger SSD, that sort of thing.

My OLED model is sort of a pre-configured higher interior, so you can’t go with the Core i5 and get the OLED. It’s an Intel Core i7 11th-gen, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD, and that 3.5K OLED display for $2299. So, $2300 or less if you find it on sale, and some retailers sell for less than Dell’s list price.

Given the fact that this is a premium unibody CNC aluminum machine with good specs and all that sort of thing, that price isn’t bad for a nice OLED display on top of that, and it’s a touchscreen.

The Dell XPS 15 9510 offers several display choices depending on your needs. The entry-level option is a Full HD+ IPS panel rated at 500 nits, featuring full sRGB coverage and a non-touch finish. It’s an excellent choice for users who prioritize battery life over ultra-high resolutions.

For creative professionals, Dell also offers a 4K+ IPS touchscreen display with the same 500-nit brightness but expanded Adobe RGB coverage, making it ideal for photo and video work. The standout option, however, is the 3.5K OLED touchscreen panel. While it falls slightly short of true 4K resolution, the image quality is stunning. Dell has applied an effective anti-reflective coating, reducing glare compared to many glossy OLED competitors such as certain HP Spectre models.

The OLED display delivers exceptional color accuracy right out of the box thanks to excellent factory calibration. Unlike some earlier OLED screens that suffered from oversaturated colors, yellow tinting, or poor viewing angles, this panel offers vibrant yet natural colors and excellent consistency. Whether you’re watching movies, editing photos, or gaming, the visual experience is outstanding.

For light gaming, the XPS 15 performs surprisingly well. Equipped with Intel’s 11th-generation 8-core processors and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, it can handle games like Apex Legends at roughly 45–55 FPS at its native high resolution. Lowering settings or resolution can push frame rates even higher for competitive gameplay.

Thermals have historically been a challenge for the XPS 15 due to its slim chassis, but Dell has improved cooling significantly. Temperatures remain reasonable during gaming and demanding workloads, making occasional gaming entirely practical. While it’s not intended to replace a dedicated gaming laptop, it’s more than capable for users who primarily focus on content creation but enjoy gaming occasionally.

Processor options include Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 configurations. While the Core i9 delivers the highest performance, it also generates more heat and carries a higher price tag. For most buyers, the Core i7 strikes the best balance, offering nearly the same real-world performance with fewer thermal compromises.

Cooling is handled by a dual-fan, dual-heat-pipe system, along with thermal insulation materials designed to keep the chassis comfortable to touch. Unlike many thin-and-light laptops, the XPS 15 retains two user-accessible memory slots, supporting up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 RAM.

Storage is equally flexible. Dell offers fast NVMe SSDs with either PCIe Gen 3 or PCIe Gen 4 support. While PCIe Gen 4 drives provide significantly faster transfer speeds, many users may find Gen 3 drives more than sufficient. A second M.2 slot is also available, allowing for future storage expansion.

Multimedia performance is another strong point. The quad-speaker setup delivers impressive audio quality with surprisingly good bass and clarity. While it won’t replace dedicated speakers or premium headphones, it’s excellent for streaming movies, listening to music, or casual content consumption.

The large Microsoft Precision touchpad feels similar in size to those found on premium Apple laptops. Early firmware issues occasionally caused missed clicks, but Dell addressed these with updates, resulting in a much smoother experience.

The keyboard remains largely unchanged from previous generations. Key travel is relatively shallow at around 1.3mm, though Dell has refined the feel with improved cushioning and responsiveness. Some users appreciate the shorter travel, while others may prefer deeper, more tactile keyboards.

Wireless connectivity comes via Killer Wi-Fi 6 hardware, which is based on Intel technology, along with Bluetooth support. The built-in 720p webcam remains average, providing acceptable video quality for meetings but nothing exceptional.

Port selection is minimal but modern. The XPS 15 includes multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader, which is particularly useful for content creators. Since traditional USB-A ports are absent, Dell includes a USB-C adapter with HDMI and USB-A connectivity in the box. Thunderbolt docking stations, USB-C displays, and DisplayPort adapters are all fully supported.

Performance overall is strong. Dell carefully balances power and thermals, allowing the 45-watt Intel processor to deliver excellent performance without excessive heat buildup.

Battery life depends heavily on the display configuration. Most models feature a large 86Wh battery, while the lowest-end configuration with integrated graphics includes a smaller 56Wh battery. OLED models generally consume more power, especially at higher resolutions, while the Full HD+ model delivers the longest runtime.

In everyday mixed-use testing—including productivity work, web browsing, email, video streaming, social media, and occasional Photoshop use—the OLED model typically achieves around 7 to 8 hours of battery life at 200 nits of brightness.

Accessing the internals is straightforward. Removing the Torx T5 screws allows the bottom panel to be lifted off, revealing the internal components. Inside, you’ll find the dual-fan cooling system, two RAM slots supporting up to 64GB, the primary NVMe SSD, and a second M.2 slot for additional storage.

The large 86Wh battery sits between the speaker assemblies, while the Wi-Fi 6 card is soldered to the motherboard. Dell also incorporates substantial copper and thermal materials throughout the chassis to help manage temperatures.

Available in Arctic White with a woven palm rest or the traditional silver-and-black carbon fiber finish, the XPS 15 9510 remains one of the most premium Windows laptops on the market. Despite its powerful hardware, it stays relatively portable at under 2 kilograms (around 4.3 pounds).

For users seeking a Windows equivalent to the MacBook Pro, the XPS 15 continues to be one of the best-built and most attractive options available. The OLED display elevates the experience even further. While dedicated gaming laptops and mobile workstations offer greater raw performance, the XPS 15 excels as a premium all-rounder for creators, professionals, students, and anyone who values a combination of power, portability, and exceptional design.