If you’re planning to buy a new laptop there are many to choose from, including models from Dell and HP.
These two brands are well established in the tech world and both produce quality products.
Before you make a decision, it’s worth looking at some key features of the products from both of these companies.
Both Dell and HP will have a laptop in their range that suits your needs and budget. Whether you’re a student, journalist, designer or an avid gamer, you’ll find a machine that will cope with your tasks.
Build quality and components used are important, as well as design, price and customer support.
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BEST DELL LAPTOPS
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Dell
Dell is an American tech company based in Round Rock, Texas.
They were founded by Michael Dell in 1984. They are now one of the largest tech companies in the world and produce desktops, laptops and other hardware.
Components
Due to the fact that Dell produce such a large range of laptops, they use different processors, including AMD and Intel. Dell tend to favor dual-core processors in their budget machines and quad-core processors in their higher spec models.
In the higher end business machines and gaming laptops, Dell use NVIDIA graphics processors and the AMD Radeon, which are both proven brands.
If screen size is important to you, then Dell have you covered: their screens range in size from 11 to 17 inches. Many of the smaller screens are not full HD, but some of the larger ones are. The larger screens on Dell laptops also have a good resolution and picture quality is clear and bright.
Battery life is important to many laptop users, and if you need a portable laptop, it’s worth checking out the battery type. Dell seem to favor 3-cell batteries in their machines, which may not hold a charge as long as other batteries.
Design
It appears that Dell concentrate more on functionality than a sleek design, as their laptops have a basic look. They do, however, produce laptops in a huge range of colors which other manufacturers, such as HP, don’t.
The Alienware gaming machines made by Dell have had a little more thought put in at the design stages. They have a unique look that appeals to gamers, and they’re aesthetically pleasing on the eye.
Dell is well-known for producing laptops with efficient cooling, and their attention to air flow is second to none. If used correctly, it’s rare that the cooling fan on a Dell machine will kick in, unlike HP laptops, which can get hot.
Price
Dell laptops have always been competitively priced and if you have a limited budget then you should seriously consider buying from their range. The company sell their products through authorized retailers, which helps them to keep prices down.
Dell have a wide choice of laptops at prices to suit all budgets, from basic notebook machines to high specification gaming ones.
Dell will also build you a machine to your specs if you don’t find a suitable model in their current range.
Support
When it comes to customer support, Dell is one of the best companies in the world to deal with. All machines are sold with a warranty that the company backs up with no quibbles.
If you call the Dell technical support line you’ll get your own personal assistant to help you fix the problem. The support assistant will talk you through how to fix the problem if it can be rectified.
If you have a fault that cannot be fixed over the phone, your support technician may be able to connect to your machine and remotely diagnose the problem. If all these measures fail you’re directed to the nearest Dell repair center.
Innovation
Dell are constantly monitoring customer needs and adding new features to their laptops, and their range of laptops reflects this. Some of their machines now have borderless screens, also known as infinity edge.
Some of the machines in the XPS range of Dell laptops feature a single chip that houses both the CPU and the GPU. This cutting-edge thinking is one of the things that keep Dell as one of the market leaders.
Why Dell Stand Out
The main thing that sets Dell apart from their rivals is the vast range of products they have to offer consumers. The tech world is highly competitive but Dell remains at the top of their game, thanks to customer satisfaction.
Other factors keeping Dell as one of the market leaders are their prices and their excellent customer service. All of these factors are important to the consumers who are spending their hard-earned cash on a brand new laptop.
What Other People Say
Dell has received good reviews over the years from the experts and they continue to do so. PCMag voted the Dell XPS 13 9370 the best general purpose and portable laptop of 2018 and awarded it their editor’s choice. They particularly liked its compact design, build quality and strong performance.
The reviewer was impressed with the design, bright display and the comfort of the keyboard. They also praised this gaming laptop for its graphics, performance and long battery life.
Dell has won numerous other awards and not just for the products they make. The company is committed to environmental causes and improving the workplace.
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Some of the awards Dell has received include:
- CES Innovation award for its packaging program
- Ethisphere award for being one of the world’s most ethical companies
- CSR Impact award for youth opportunities in India
- Human Rights Campaign named Dell best place to work in 2018
HP
Hewlett-Packard (HP) is another American tech company, with headquarters in Palo Alto, California.
The company was founded by Bill Hewlett and David Packard and they are one of the world’s leading computer hardware manufacturers.
Components
HP uses both Intel and AMD processors across their range of laptops, and speeds are generally good.
In the lower-priced machines, HP use Intel HD graphics processors which perform well.
In their higher specification gaming machines, HP are now fitting the latest generation Intel processors and NVIDIA graphics processors for optimum performance.
Screen size varies on HP laptops from 13 inches to over 17 inches on the OMEN gaming machine. Screen resolution on the budget-priced machines is average, but it is much higher on the more expensive models.
Battery life on many HP laptops is excellent and you can expect 6 to 12 hours, depending on which machine you buy. HP use both 3-cell and 4-cell batteries, which are both reliable when used correctly.
Design
Having a laptop that looks sleek and stylish is important to many laptop users and it influences their decision when buying. HP has a number of good-looking laptops in their range, but color choice is limited to only a couple.
HP use different materials to Dell to make some of their laptops, including all-metal casings. These casings are sometimes etched to customize the laptop, which you can’t do with a plastic case.
HP has also invested time and money into the sound quality delivered by their machines and they fit high-quality speakers. Many of the laptops in the current HP range feature Beats audio technology for a superior sound.
Price
HP laptops are usually more expensive than Dell machines and there are a couple of reasons why. Some of the materials and components used by HP are more costly than Dell, and this expense has to be passed on to the consumer.
HP laptops are only available from dedicated retailers and you are unable to buy directly from the company. The middle vendors need to make a profit as well as the manufacturer, which again increases the sale price of each laptop.
Support
HP offers a number of ways that laptop users can contact them for technical support. All HP laptops are sold with a one-year warranty against hardware failures as well as a 90-day free phone support.
You’re able to use social media to get in touch, or use the HP Support Assistant. Alternatively, you can call them. HP now has a YouTube channel featuring videos that show you how to rectify some of the most common problems.
The phone support is not as good as that offered by Dell and most of it is outsourced. Customers have reported that they had to spend a lot of time on the line before their problem was fixed. It seems that some of the HP assistants are more concerned about anti-virus software than your actual problem.
Innovation
HP has been one of the leaders in hardware development for many years and they continue to develop new and exciting kit.
They are known for their development of printers, scanners, desktop machines, and laptops. From notebooks to the powerful OMEN gaming machine, the company maintains their place in the market.
Touchscreen technology is now the norm, and the 2-in-1 machines from HP are some of the best on the market. These versatile machines appeal to a large number of consumers and their attractive design makes them very popular.
Why HP Stand Out
HP continue to produce stylish laptops at affordable prices. From budget laptops to 2-in-1 touchscreen machines, there’s an HP machine for you.
We also like the attention to detail that HP give to their machines, such as sound quality and number of ports. The majority of HP machines deliver excellent sound and use third-party technology to improve their audio.
What Other People Say
In 2017, Engadget reviewed the HP OMEN 15 laptop and described it as a “gaming laptop for everyone”. They were impressed with the design as well as the functional keyboard and mouse. The reviewer particularly liked the display and the fact that the machine is VR ready.
The HP Spectre x360 they described it as a “head turner”, due to its design and appearance. They rated the performance of the machine highly and were impressed with the display. The reviewer also liked the fact that the laptop had a separate numeric keypad.
Additionally, HP has won awards over the years, including the following:
- 2005 Web award for best computer hardware website
- Working Mother Magazine award for top 10 companies to work for
What Are the Main Differences Between Dell and HP?
Dell and HP are both respected in the tech world for producing well-made laptops that are reliable.
They both offer a range of machines for different applications, but Dell beats HP on the number of laptop variations they offer.
At the budget end of the scale, there’s not a lot between the companies’ laptops. They both have similar processors, screens and other hardware.
HP machines look stylish and are more suited to the business world but that’s a matter of choice.
When to Choose Dell
If you’re on a budget and need an everyday laptop that’s not going to let you down, you should choose Dell.
Their range, build quality and reputation are all factors that lead us to this decision.
If you’re in the market for a gaming laptop it’s worth looking at the Alienware range of laptops from Dell. These high-performance machines get good reviews from gamers and they look great.
All of the points we’ve mentioned combined with the excellent customer support you get from Dell make their laptops serious contenders.
When to Choose HP
If you want a stylish laptop that’s going to carry out your tasks with ease, it’s well worth choosing an HP laptop.
Superb build quality, decent components and good looks are all things you’ll get from an HP laptop.
HP laptops are also more robust and durable than Dell machines due to the materials used to make the casings. If you travel a lot or your laptop is subject to heavy use, then a hard wearing machine is a must.
Although you don’t get as much choice when buying an HP laptop as you do with Dell, there will definitely be one to suit your needs.
Final Thoughts
After comparing the two brands you now have all the information you need to select a suitable laptop to fulfil your needs.
Work out your budget, look at the specifications and you’ll find a laptop that fits the bill from one or both of these market leaders.
