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Dell XPS 15 2018 9570 (8300H, GTX 1050, 97Wh) Laptop Review

On the fast lane. Dell's XPS 15 has entered a new year and we have begun by testing the entry-level model. Will the 15-inch device continue to throttle? What battery runtimes can the 97-Wh battery offer? Does the Core i5 offer sufficient performance?
Dell XPS 15 9570 2018. We have tested the entry-level version - the other models will follow shortly
Dell XPS 15 9570 2018. We have tested the entry-level version - the other models will follow shortly

Dell's XPS 15 has started into a new year. The 2018 model runs under the name 9570 and offers a quad-core Coffee Lake H CPU, i5-8300H, and Intel's UHD Graphics 630 as well as Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1050.

We have started with the smallest configuration: 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB NVMe SSD. We will also be taking a closer look at the stronger configurations in the near future. These include the Coffee Lake processors Core i7-8750H and Core i9-8950HK (both six-core) and a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with increased performance (4 GB GDDR5). 

 

 

The case has remained unchanged: CNC-milled aluminum with a carbon finish on the wrist rest and some of the slimmest bezels around. The storage offer remains as in 2017: A range of 256 - 1-TB NVMe SSDs is available.

Here are all our XPS 15 reviews from the past years:

XPS 15 2018 9570 (XPS 15 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8300H 4 x 2.3 - 4 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1354 MHz, RAM: 1752 MHz, GDDR5, WHQL 389.01, UHD Graphics 630, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, 2 x 4 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz PC4-21300 Micron Tech
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, Sharp SHP149A LQ156M1, LED IGZO IPS InfinityEdge, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel CM246
Storage
Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11, 185 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S - cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech)
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combined audio jack, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17 x 357 x 235 ( = 0.67 x 14.06 x 9.25 in)
Battery
97 Wh Lithium-Ion, SMP GPM0365
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p 1280x720
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Power Supply, Dell: Power Manager, Mobile Connect, Customer Connect, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.932 kg ( = 68.15 oz / 4.26 pounds), Power Supply: 433 g ( = 15.27 oz / 0.95 pounds)
Price
1300 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - a stable & compact XPS

CNC-milled aluminum
CNC-milled aluminum

No perceptible changes have been made to the case of the XPS 15. Dell continues to use a mixture of high-quality materials such as aluminum on the display lid and the bottom of the base unit, magnesium on the inside and carbon on the top of the base unit.

The soft-touch finish around the wrist rest feels nice and offers a good grip, but is not so easy to clean (we would recommend a damp cloth). The matte glass touchpad also seems to attract fingerprints as if by magic. 

The display can be opened to around 130°, which should be fully sufficient for most areas of use considering the probably good viewing angles. The hinge is unusually tight, and we needed two hands to open the device. An advantage: The screen does not wobble when carrying it around, no matter in which position it is held. The lid is also unlikely to fall closed by itself due to this tight hinge.

Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5, FHD, GTX 1050, 97Wh, 256 GB

The current Dell XPS 15 9570 is 11 - 17 mm (~0.43 – 0.7 in) high. This only applies to the rims of the front and back edge. Placed on a table, the laptop is 22 mm (~0.87 in) high. The biggest advantage compared to most laptops with 15.6-inch displays is that it still has a very compact size (length x width) thanks to its very slim InfinityEdge bezels. 

The weight of our version (FHD with the 97-Wh battery and without a hard drive) is 1932 grams (~4.26 lb). It seems as if the laptop has lost weight - the 2017 FHD version with a smaller 56-Wh battery weighed 1950 grams (~4.3 lb) in our review. The 4K version will, like last year, be a little heavier, which is due to the coating on the touch panel. The 2017 XPS 15 UHD weighed 2070 grams (~4.6 lb).

97-Wh, 9570: only one M.2 slot for SSD
97-Wh, 9570: only one M.2 slot for SSD
97-Wh, 9560: only one M.2 slot for SSD
97-Wh, 9560: only one M.2 slot for SSD
56-Wh, 9560: one M.2 slot for SSD & SATA 2.5-inch
56-Wh, 9560: one M.2 slot for SSD & SATA 2.5-inch

Size Comparison

365 mm / 14.4 in 251 mm / 9.88 in 18.9 mm / 0.744 in 1.9 kg4.09 lbs356 mm / 14 in 250 mm / 9.84 in 19 mm / 0.748 in 2.1 kg4.7 lbs357 mm / 14.1 in 235 mm / 9.25 in 17 mm / 0.669 in 1.9 kg4.26 lbs349 mm / 13.7 in 241 mm / 9.49 in 16 mm / 0.63 in 1.8 kg4.03 lbs335 mm / 13.2 in 250 mm / 9.84 in 20 mm / 0.787 in 1.9 kg4.16 lbs302 mm / 11.9 in 199 mm / 7.83 in 11.6 mm / 0.4567 in 1.2 kg2.67 lbs297 mm / 11.7 in 210 mm / 8.27 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - the XPS has Thunderbolt 3

There have been no changes to the available ports. Like on its predecessor, the ports are positioned on the sides of our test unit, always towards the back. There is a full-fledged USB 3.0 port available on either side of the device. Dell has also placed a USB Type-C port on the left side, which supports both Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 Gen 2.

Actually, there is one change: The Thunderbolt 3 (including power supply and DisplayPort) now has four PCIe lanes. Particularly gamers who are planning to connect an external GPU to their XPS 15 will be delighted by this news. The two PCIe lanes of the 2017 model were a real bottleneck for eGPUs.

left: power supply, USB 3.0, HDMI, USB Type-C Gen. 2 + Thunderbolt 3, 3.5-mm combined audio jack
left: power supply, USB 3.0, HDMI, USB Type-C Gen. 2 + Thunderbolt 3, 3.5-mm combined audio jack
right: SD card reader, USB 3.0, battery LED, Kensington Lock
right: SD card reader, USB 3.0, battery LED, Kensington Lock

SD card reader

Dell has again chosen to go with a fast integrated card reader for its new generation of XPS devices. The read transfer rates are excellent. AS SSD measured about 200 MB/s with our reference card from Toshiba (Exceria Pro SCXC UHS-II). This is significantly faster than what many cheaper models can offer (<100 MB/s). Toshiba claims that the maximum transfer rate of its SD card is 260 MB/s. Our test unit is a little slower at the copy test and reaches 123 MB/s, but still manages to beat non-XPS competition with ease. The card cannot be inserted fully into the card reader and one third of the card constantly stands out of the case.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
180 MB/s +46%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
 
123 MB/s
Average of class Multimedia
  (18.4 - 201, n=58, last 2 years)
96 MB/s -22%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
79 MB/s -36%
Gigabyte Aero 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
78 MB/s -37%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
75.2 MB/s -39%
Dell XPS 15 2017 9560 (7300HQ, Full-HD)
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
57.3 MB/s -53%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
204.9 MB/s +3%
Dell XPS 15 2017 9560 (7300HQ, Full-HD)
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
202.8 MB/s +2%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
 
199.7 MB/s
Average of class Multimedia
  (25.8 - 266, n=57, last 2 years)
133.2 MB/s -33%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
94 MB/s -53%
Gigabyte Aero 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
89 MB/s -55%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87 MB/s -56%

Communication

The Dell XPS 15 9570 has a Wi-Fi module from Killer Networks (Wireless n/a/ac 1535, 2x2). With this, the notebook reached a maximum transfer rate of 675 MBit/s (receiving) and 551 MBit/s (sending) in our Wi-Fi test (Linksys EA8500, at a distance of 1 m/~3 ft). This result is lower than that of the 2017 XPS with the same Wi-Fi module, which could be caused by different drivers or measurement uncertainties.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac
845 MBit/s +57%
Dell XPS 15 2017 9560 (7300HQ, Full-HD)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
641 MBit/s +19%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
557 MBit/s +3%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
539 MBit/s
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
453 MBit/s -16%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
399 MBit/s -26%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
346 MBit/s -36%
iperf3 receive AX12
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Broadcom BCM15700A2 802.11ac
949 MBit/s +75%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
681 MBit/s +26%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
678 MBit/s +25%
Dell XPS 15 2017 9560 (7300HQ, Full-HD)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
674 MBit/s +24%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
630 MBit/s +16%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
588 MBit/s +8%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
542 MBit/s

Webcam

The webcam is still placed below the display and users will have to get used to this position so that their call partners do not need to look up their noses.

720p webcam with significant image noise
720p webcam with significant image noise
The low position of the camera can be irritating
The low position of the camera can be irritating
The pictures are not great even in natural daylight
The pictures are not great even in natural daylight
But they are good enough for Skype chats
But they are good enough for Skype chats
The image noise increases in bad lighting
The image noise increases in bad lighting

Security

The Dell XPS 15 9570 features a long list of security measures. You will find a good overview of the supported functions in the BIOS - they range from classic passwords on various levels to TPM 2.0 and all the way to Computrace. The XPS 15 also offers a fingerprint reader (touch, not swipe), which is integrated into the Power On button.

Accessories

You will find plenty of accessories available at the end of the online configuration process. The palette ranges from bags and external input devices to adapters and docks. The latter might be quite interesting as the device lacks an RJ45 Ethernet connector, for example. The solution would be the suitable Dell USB-C adapter, which adds HDMI, VGA, Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports.

The available Thunderbolt dock TB16 240W also sounds great. This dock offers a variety of additional ports, but also takes care of the device's power supply, which means that you only ever need to have one cable connected to the device. The price of $240 seems quite appropriate for this accessory.

Maintenance

As long as you have a Phillips or Torx T5 screwdriver, you will have no problems opening the XPS 15. Dell has foregone plastic clips to secure the aluminum plate to the base unit. Just be aware that there are two more screws hidden beneath the flap with the type information.

After removing the aluminum cover, users have full access to the main components such as HDD, SSD, RAM, the battery, the Wi-Fi module and, of course, the two fans and heat pipes. It is comparatively easy to exchange the RAM or SSD, for example.

The 57-Wh version has a smaller battery, but offers space for a 2.5-inch SATA storage device.

Like on the 9560: remove the screws and lift off the aluminum cover
Like on the 9560: remove the screws and lift off the aluminum cover
SSD with cooling pad
SSD with cooling pad
fan and heat pipe on the right
fan and heat pipe on the right
fan and heat pipe on the left
fan and heat pipe on the left
Killer Wi-Fi
Killer Wi-Fi
connector for SATA-HDD in the 57-Wh model
connector for SATA-HDD in the 57-Wh model

Warranty

The basic configuration of all XPS 15 versions that Dell offers on its online store come with a one-year Premium Support warranty with on-site service. Should hardware need to be repaired, Dell will send a technician to your home within 1-2 business days after a remote diagnosis. 

If you purchase Pro Support for your XPS 15 in the Dell Business shop, the manufacturer promises next business day repair. You can also extend this service agreement for a second year ($240), a third year ($300) or even a total of four years ($340).

Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input devices - the 9570 has first-class input devices

keyboard backlighting: PWM @ 64 Hz, only on level 2 (lowest brightness)
keyboard backlighting: PWM @ 64 Hz, only on level 2 (lowest brightness)

Keyboard

The keyboard is exactly the same as that of the predecessor. The typing experience, sound and travel are still pleasing, the individual keys are tight and respond well even when you hit them at the edges.

Dell has also included a two-level keyboard backlight that has PWM (pulse-width modulation) at a frequency of 64 Hz on the lower brightness level. The 2017 model also had PWM here. This will not be an issue for most users, but sensitive people might notice it. The flickering is easily observable in a slow-motion recording, which we did in our 2017 review: Dell XPS 15 2017 7300HQ.

The keyboard of the XPS 13 is about 5 mm (~0.2 in) narrower than that of our test unit.

Touchpad

Dell has also made no changes to the touchpad. We had no issues using it to navigate during our test. Gliding is easy and comfortable on the glass surface and the mechanic areas of the ClickPad work very well too. You do not need to apply too much pressure to make a click, but clicks are not too slack either. The touchpad responds with a muffled sound and well-adjusted tactile feedback.

comfortable typing on a quiet keyboard
comfortable typing on a quiet keyboard
The keyboard layouts of the XPS 15 and XPS 13 are basically identical
The keyboard layouts of the XPS 15 and XPS 13 are basically identical
the XPS 15 9570 ClickPad
the XPS 15 9570 ClickPad

Display - XPS 15 with high contrast

subpixel array FHD-TFT
subpixel array FHD-TFT
backlight bleeding along the edges
backlight bleeding along the edges

We decided to first test the XPS 15 9570 version with a Full-HD display. The display used in our test unit is called "Sharp SHP1453 LQ156M1", which hints at the fact that this display will be comparable to the ones used in the predecessors 9560/9550. Our measurements of brightness, contrast and color space are very similar. However, Dell has made some changes to the details. We now measured PWM flickering of 961 Hz, which was not the case in the previous version despite having a panel of the same build. But the PWM only occurs at a brightness level of 10% and below, so even sensitive users can avoid having to deal with its effects quite easily.

The display still has good values with a maximum brightness of 413 cd/m² and a low black value of only 0.29 cd/m² (maximum contrast: 1424:1). With these results, the Full-HD display does not need to fear comparison with the 2017 Apple MacBook Pro 15. Only the MacBook has a real advantage when looking at color space coverage and color accuracy (sRGB) ex-works.

The other available display has a 4K resolution and - if the current series continues to use the panel of the 2017 generation - has slightly lower contrast and brightness values. However, it offers an AdobeRGB color space coverage of 88%, which is unusually high. We will also be reviewing the current 4K model in an upcoming review.

The resolution of 1920x1080 pixels on the 15.6-inch screen is suitable for most areas of use. The image is sufficiently sharp, and it is not necessary to increase the size of text and symbols, which also avoids issues displaying content due to scaling.

The alternative 4K display could be particularly interesting for professional graphic designers that are dependent on an AdobeRGB98 color space that is as accurate as possible. Provided, of course, that the measurements we took last year apply to the current version. Programmers and professional office users (large Excel databases, etc.) could also benefit from the high resolution as writing is displayed very clearly even at small font sizes.

We did notice some backlight bleeding around the edges of our test unit on dark content and in dark surroundings. This will not be particularly bothersome in day-to-day use.

 

 

 

 

357
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
355
cd/m²
399
cd/m²
413
cd/m²
386
cd/m²
379
cd/m²
380
cd/m²
376
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Sharp SHP149A LQ156M1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 413 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 378.4 cd/m² Minimum: 18.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 414 cd/m²
Contrast: 1424:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.44 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.93, calibrated: 2.48
ΔE Greyscale 2.48 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
96% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
96.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.43
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Sharp SHP149A LQ156M1, , 1920x1080, 15.6"
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
3840x2160, 15.6"
Dell XPS 15 2017 9560 (7300HQ, Full-HD)
Sharp SHP1453 LQ156M1, , 1920x1080, 15.6"
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
SHP1484, , 1920x1080, 13.3"
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
APPA031, , 2880x1800, 15.4"
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
AU Optronics B140QAN01.5 (AUO1536), , 2560x1440, 14"
Gigabyte Aero 15
N156HCA-EA1 (CMN15D7), , 1920x1080, 15.6"
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
N156HCE-EN1 (CMN15E8), , 1920x1080, 15.6"
Display
30%
4%
3%
27%
3%
-2%
-4%
Display P3 Coverage
66
89.7
36%
68.9
4%
68.9
4%
97.9
48%
69.1
5%
65.2
-1%
64.3
-3%
sRGB Coverage
96.5
100
4%
98.9
2%
96.6
0%
99.9
4%
96
-1%
92.5
-4%
90.4
-6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.7
100
50%
70.9
6%
69.6
4%
85.9
29%
70.3
5%
66.5
0%
65.3
-2%
Response Times
-16%
-43%
-25%
4091%
-5%
871%
853%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
49 ?(25, 40)
57.2 ?(27.2, 30)
-17%
54 ?(33.2, 20)
-10%
62.4 ?(32.4, 30)
-27%
48 ?(23.6, 24.4)
2%
47.2 ?(24, 23.2)
4%
42.8 ?(23.6, 19.2)
13%
43.2 ?(20.4, 22.8)
12%
Response Time Black / White *
30 ?(16, 14)
39.2 ?(23.6, 15.6)
-31%
52.4 ?(33.2, 19.2)
-75%
45.6 ?(24.4, 21.2)
-52%
33.8 ?(19.6, 14.2)
-13%
34 ?(19.6, 14.4)
-13%
32 ?(18.8, 13.2)
-7%
32.8 ?(18, 14.8)
-9%
PWM Frequency
961 ?(10)
962
0%
1008 ?(20)
5%
119000 ?(80, 210)
12283%
26000 ?(20)
2606%
25510 ?(29)
2555%
Screen
-35%
-41%
-16%
10%
6%
-45%
-62%
Brightness middle
413
370.1
-10%
400
-3%
428
4%
545
32%
256
-38%
320
-23%
288.2
-30%
Brightness
378
356
-6%
392
4%
405
7%
523
38%
250
-34%
316
-16%
266
-30%
Brightness Distribution
86
87
1%
89
3%
87
1%
86
0%
90
5%
90
5%
75
-13%
Black Level *
0.29
0.37
-28%
0.26
10%
0.26
10%
0.44
-52%
0.28
3%
0.36
-24%
0.3
-3%
Contrast
1424
1000
-30%
1538
8%
1646
16%
1239
-13%
914
-36%
889
-38%
961
-33%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.44
5.3
-117%
4.9
-101%
3.8
-56%
1.6
34%
1.21
50%
4.62
-89%
5.5
-125%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.46
9.9
-122%
11
-147%
7.2
-61%
3.8
15%
2.11
53%
9.75
-119%
11.3
-153%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.48
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.48
4.6
-85%
7.2
-190%
4.4
-77%
1.9
23%
1.13
54%
6
-142%
7.9
-219%
Gamma
2.43 91%
2.31 95%
2.11 104%
2.21 100%
2.26 97%
2.42 91%
2.46 89%
2.09 105%
CCT
7006 93%
6284 103%
6911 94%
7067 92%
6834 95%
6422 101%
6761 96%
6559 99%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62
88.3
42%
64.2
4%
62.8
1%
62
0%
60
-3%
58.5
-6%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96
100
4%
98.9
3%
96.4
0%
96
0%
92
-4%
90
-6%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-7% / -19%
-27% / -32%
-13% / -14%
1376% / 888%
1% / 4%
275% / 135%
262% / 121%

* ... smaller is better

9570 AdobeRGB 62%
9570 AdobeRGB 62%
9570 sRGB 96%
9570 sRGB 96%
9560 AdobeRGB 64%
9560 AdobeRGB 64%
9560 sRGB 99%
9560 sRGB 99%

Displaying colors correctly was not one of the 2017 XPS 15 9560's forte. We measured a maximum deviation of 11 and an average deviation of 5 with the CalMAN ColorChecker on the Full-HD screen of last year's XPS 15.

Dell has made some improvements this time and offers better display quality: The DeltaE ColorChecker results have dropped to 2.4 and the maximum deviation is only 4.5. And this ex-works.

Please be aware: At a value of 3 and below it is almost impossible to notice any differences with the naked eye. There is a slight blue cast according to our measurements, but this is only noticeable when you compare the colors directly.

The Full-HD display can be calibrated (sRGB) which improves the results even more: 2.2 / 4.3 in the DeltaE ColorChecker/Max. The DeltaE Grayscale results drop from 2.5 to 2.1. You can download the ICC file for free from above.

CalMAN Grayscales - minimum blue cast
CalMAN Grayscales - minimum blue cast
CalMAN Grayscales calibrated - blue cast removed
CalMAN Grayscales calibrated - blue cast removed
Grayscales XPS 15 9560 calibrated
Grayscales XPS 15 9560 calibrated
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated
Color XPS 15 9560 calibrated
Color XPS 15 9560 calibrated
CalMAN Saturation
CalMAN Saturation
CalMAN Saturation calibrated
CalMAN Saturation calibrated
Saturation XPS 15 9560 calibrated
Saturation XPS 15 9560 calibrated
 
 
 

Following our readers' request, here is a comparison of the XPS 15 9560 and 9570 color spaces with one-another as well as with sRGB/AdobeRGB.

9560 vs. 9570 vs. sRGB
9560 vs. 9570 vs. sRGB
9560 vs. 9570 vs. AdobeRGB
9560 vs. 9570 vs. AdobeRGB
9560 vs. 9570 - 95% overlap
9560 vs. 9570 - 95% overlap

The XPS 15 can be used outdoors thanks to its high brightness combined with a high contrast ratio and a matte display surface.

Thanks to the high brightness...
Thanks to the high brightness...
... the matte panel can...
... the matte panel can...
... also be used in the sun
... also be used in the sun

The response rate of 30/50 milliseconds when changing from black to white/from gray to gray (50/80%) are not the fastest around. However, the screen does achieve better results than the 4K display in last year's XPS 15 and than the current MacBook Pro 15. Gamers might want to take a look at the 120-Hz panels often available nowadays. Other users should not be at any disadvantage with the standard 60-Hz panel.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 78 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
49 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 25 ms rise
↘ 40 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 83 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 961 Hz ≤ 10 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 961 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 10 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 961 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8774 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

The XPS 15 9570 is equipped with a matte Full-HD display and offers the very good viewing angles that are typical for an IPS screen. Both images and text are displayed accurately even at wide viewing angles.

Again, we noticed a yellowish-reddish cast on pure black content at a horizontal angle of over 45°. But this should not cause any limitations in everyday use.

viewing angles of the XPS 15 9570 FHD: Sharp SHP149A LQ156M1
viewing angles of the XPS 15 9570 FHD: Sharp SHP149A LQ156M1

Performance - the Core i5 makes full use of its cooling system

Core i5-8300H (4 cores; 2.3 to 4.0 GHz)
Core i5-8300H (4 cores; 2.3 to 4.0 GHz)

Unlike the six-core i7-8750H, which comes to use in the next highest configuration of the XPS 15 9570, the Core i5-8300H has only four cores and is supposed to replace the quad-core i5-7300HQ. The biggest difference between these is the possibility of hyperthreading 8 threads simultaneously. This alone makes the i5-8300H's performance capacity comparable to that of the Core i7-7700HQ from last year. 

The mid-range GPU GTX 1050 is usually used in more affordable gaming notebooks. The XPS 15 supports Optimus and can therefore switch to the integrated UHD Graphics 630 when necessary. 

CPU-Z CPU
CPU-Z CPU
CPU-Z Cache
CPU-Z Cache
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z SPD
CPU-Z SPD
HWinfo Summary iGPU
HWinfo Summary iGPU
HWinfo Summary Nvidia
HWinfo Summary Nvidia
GPU-Z GTX 1050
GPU-Z GTX 1050
GPU-Z Intel UHD 630
GPU-Z Intel UHD 630
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor

Processor

Our test unit only suffers a short drop in performance during the R15 loop. The first round results in 840 points; after that the score settles to around 810 points (-3.5%). The processor works at 3.5 - 3.9 GHz, with the higher clock rates being more frequent. The graph below shows that the performance should remain the same in further rounds.

The temperature increases to up to 97 °C (~207 °F) at the beginning of the loop, then stabilizes at around 93/94 °C (~199/201 °F). The Total System Power lies at around 100 and 112 watts, the Package Power of the SoC around 55 and 70 watts. Again, the system settles down at a lower level during the loop phase, equating to 100 and 55 watts respectively.

We did not notice any signs of heavy throttling of the SoC, but we wonder how the six-core system will deal with this cooling system if we are already reaching temperatures of just under 100 °C (~212 °F) with our quad-core Core i5. The 2017 Dell XPS 15 lost 8% of its performance during the Cinebench loop, which would qualify as throttling. The -3.5% of our i5-8300H is quite acceptable in comparison. 

R15 loop 45 minutes: 3.8 to 3.9 GHz, CPU Package Power of 55 watts
R15 loop 45 minutes: 3.8 to 3.9 GHz, CPU Package Power of 55 watts
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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The single thread performance is excellent and can almost be compared with that of a Core i7-8750H (Aero 14). The multi-thread applications are good too: Our device performed 13% better than the Core i7-7700HQ (Aero 15) and was only 27% behind the Core i7-8750H (Aero 14). Users will have to decide for themselves whether the additional price is worth the relatively small increase in performance.
All R15 multi scores displayed here are results of the single round or of the first run in the R15 loop. After that some laptops experience a varying level of throttling - this is the case particularly for slim laptops such as the Gigabyte Aero 14 (-2.5%). But even slim devices can avoid throttling, as you can see from the Aero 15 (0% throttling in the R15 loop).

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (99.6 - 323, n=88, last 2 years)
257 Points +54%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
205 Points +23%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
Intel Core i7-8750H
175 Points +5%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H
  (151 - 174, n=17)
168.6 Points +1%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Intel Core i5-8300H
167 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points -4%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159.9 Points -4%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
156 Points -7%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
153 Points -8%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points -14%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (1252 - 4774, n=91, last 2 years)
2439 Points +190%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1378 Points +64%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
Intel Core i7-8750H
1064 Points +27%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Intel Core i5-8300H
840 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8300H
  (609 - 850, n=17)
793 Points -6%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
742 Points -12%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
736 Points -12%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
732 (729min - 733max) Points -13%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
727 (704.77min - 731.97max) Points -13%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Intel Core i5-8250U
669 Points -20%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
167 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
840 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
110.7 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark 10 Monitoring
PCMark 10 Monitoring

The system performance is above average. It can almost keep up with 7700HQ systems such as the Gigabyte Aero 15, which is equipped with a GTX 1060. In the Home Score of the PCMark 8 its position is average only, but almost all test units have very similar results in this test. 

Things are similar in the PCMark 10. Here, Dell gets close to the Asus ZenBook Pro UX550 equipped with a 7700HQ and is only 6% behind the Gigabyte Aero 14-K8 (8750H).

PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
5720 Points +42%
Average of class Multimedia
  (4484 - 5583, n=10, last 2 years)
5126 Points +27%
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
4248 Points +5%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4184 Points +4%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Radeon Pro 555, i7-7700HQ, Apple SSD SM0256L
4054 Points +1%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
4030 Points
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3994 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (3704 - 4030, n=6)
3898 Points -3%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Crucial MX300 CT525MX300SSD1
3894 Points -3%
Work Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
5801 Points +10%
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
5290 Points 0%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
5271 Points
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
5141 Points -2%
Average of class Multimedia
  (3115 - 6078, n=10, last 2 years)
5081 Points -4%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (4609 - 5271, n=6)
5051 Points -4%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Crucial MX300 CT525MX300SSD1
4973 Points -6%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
4906 Points -7%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Radeon Pro 555, i7-7700HQ, Apple SSD SM0256L
4648 Points -12%
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (4542 - 8670, n=72, last 2 years)
6816 Points +52%
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
6558 Points +46%
Gigabyte Aero 14-K8
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Crucial MX300 CT525MX300SSD1
4750 Points +6%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4552 Points +2%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
4479 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Radeon Pro 555, i7-7700HQ, Apple SSD SM0256L
4122 Points -8%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (3050 - 4479, n=6)
3900 Points -13%
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
3764 Points -16%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4030 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5271 points
PCMark 10 Score
4479 points
Help

Storage Devices

NVMe SSD in the M.2 slot
NVMe SSD in the M.2 slot
the SSD error announced itself by the device freezing several times
the SSD error announced itself by the device freezing several times

Our test unit is equipped with a PCIe NVMe Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11 (256 GB). Dell will not offer an entry-level device with a hard drive and SSD cache like the XPS 15 2017 9560 (7300HQ, Full-HD) in all regions this year. In the US, users can purchase a model with a 128-GB SSD plus a 1-TB HDD, a 256-GB PCIe SSD or a 1-TB SSHD as possible alternatives to larger SSD configurations with 512/1024/2048 GB.

The Lite-On cannot keep up with the Lite-On CX2 in the Dell XPS 15 9560 or the Aero 15, which is due to the lower 4K QD32 write/read speeds. When writing large blocks of data (Write 512), the Lite-On CA3 is also on the weak side, but not so during the Read 512.

The Toshiba SSD in the current XPS 13 (9370) can offer slightly better performance in some areas but has the same overall performance as the Lite-On CA3 in our test unit. In any case, the operating system boots very quickly and is extremely responsive as well. The previously mentioned PCMarks confirm our subjective impression.

If 256 GB is too small for you in the long run (184 GB available at purchase), you do NOT have the possibility of adding a SATA hard drive or a second PCIe SSD. The 97-Wh model does not offer a second M.2 slot nor space for a 2.5-inch hard drive (7 mm/0.27 in). If you downgrade the battery to a 56-Wh version later on, you should be able to fit in a 2.5-inch hard drive with the suitable caddy.

If you are looking for a model with two storage devices, you had better go for the 56-Wh version. This also includes a 2.5-inch SATA slot. Of course, you will have to trade in the good 15-hour runtimes for this option.

An issue with the SSD (ePSA error "Hard Drive - No NVMe Drive detected on PCI tag 00B8, Namespace ID 09") put a sudden end to our test. Fortunately, we had already done the tests and measurements that are relevant for our rating. The system had already frozen three times during testing and could only be reactivated by doing a hard reset (pressing the power button for a long time). This problem did not have an impact on our rating, however, we believe this is an issue specific to our test unit and does not apply to the entire series.

Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Apple SSD SM0256L
Gigabyte Aero 15
Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
Dell XPS 13 9370 FHD i5
Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
Average Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
44%
63%
5%
54%
0%
Read Seq
1706
1557
-9%
1769
4%
1875
10%
1684
-1%
1706 ?()
0%
Write Seq
613
1505
146%
1133
85%
352.7
-42%
1106
80%
613 ?()
0%
Read 512
1171
968
-17%
891
-24%
840
-28%
977
-17%
1171 ?()
0%
Write 512
483.4
1124
133%
1069
121%
353.9
-27%
1119
131%
483 ?()
0%
Read 4k
40.64
10.76
-74%
44.7
10%
34.18
-16%
45.14
11%
40.6 ?()
0%
Write 4k
89.4
12.87
-86%
123.3
38%
127.5
43%
134.1
50%
89.4 ?()
0%
Read 4k QD32
233.8
631
170%
645
176%
381.8
63%
509
118%
234 ?()
0%
Write 4k QD32
249.1
468.4
88%
490.5
97%
339.9
36%
398.1
60%
249 ?()
0%
Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
Sequential Read: 1706 MB/s
Sequential Write: 613 MB/s
512K Read: 1171 MB/s
512K Write: 483.4 MB/s
4K Read: 40.64 MB/s
4K Write: 89.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 233.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 249.1 MB/s

Graphics

Nvidia driver displays it incorrectly: GTX 1050 with Max-Q design
Nvidia driver displays it incorrectly: GTX 1050 with Max-Q design
Specs GTX 10xx series, source: Dell
Specs GTX 10xx series, source: Dell

The 2017 XPS 15 (every configuration) was equipped with a GTX 1050 - without the Ti. In 2018 Dell users will still receive a GTX 1050 in the lower configuration with the 8300H, but the more expensive i7-8750H versions will be working with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.

Our GTX 1050 is up to 20% slower than the Ti version in the 3DMark benchmarks, but only (at the most) 3% behind the normal GTX 1050. See Asus ROG Strix GL703VD or Inspiron 15 7000 7577 in the Firestrike. The Asus FX504GD is particularly interesting as it is equipped with the i5 8300 with the same build and is only 2% faster and sometimes even 8% slower (Firestrike, 3DMark 11).

Update 06/04/2018 12:00 - Confusion about Max-Q

Dell was reading our live review and intervened: Our device is supposed to be equipped with a normal GTX 1050, not with a Max-Q version. But why do GPU-Z and games claim it is a Max-Q version? The most current version of HW-Info cites a Nvidia (GP107) with 128 Bit. The PC and 3DMarks say they found a GTX 1050. The Nvidia control panel - and they should know - reports a Max-Q, as you can see from the screenshots below.

"To our knowledge, the XPS 15 only ships with 1050Ti with Max-Q design and *not* 1050 with Max-Q design. Also, the GPU-Z shot sends conflicting information. Should it have been a Max-Q design GeForce GTX 1050, the clocks would be lower." 

Dell argues that the base clock rate would be lower than 1354 MHz in a Max-Q GPU, as would the boost: GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q (999 - 1189 - 1139 - 1328 MHz (Boost)) 

Regardless of the GPU-Z data, our measurements confirm the high clock rates of 1500 MHz, for example in the “Witcher 3” stress test. We have not yet tested a "real" Max-Q 1050 and therefore cannot make any comparisons. Due to these facts, we must assume that the device is equipped with a "normal" GTX 1050 and have adjusted the specification sheet of our test unit accordingly. 

Update 06/06/2018 

In the meantime, Dell has confirmed a driver issue which caused the graphics card to be identified wrongly. The A01 driver from 05/30/2018 should recognize the GPU correctly. You can download the driver from the Dell website here.

Witcher 3 stress test GPU@1500 MHz - this sounds more like a GTX 1050 without Max-Q
Witcher 3 stress test GPU@1500 MHz - this sounds more like a GTX 1050 without Max-Q