If you’re looking for a 13-inch laptop or 14-inch laptop and you want a truly premium offering, then Dell’s XPS 13 Plus and Apple’s MacBook Pro 14 are likely to be on your list. Arguably, the MacBook is in a different class as a powerful creator’s machine versus the XPS 13 Plus that’s aimed at demanding productivity workers.

Even so, the MacBook Pro 14 has elements that make it a stronger competitor to the XPS 13 Plus than the less expensive MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Air M2. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate the two and see if the more expensive MacBook is worth the extra money.

Specs

Price and configurations

Design

The XPS 13 Plus is an incredibly well-built and designed laptop. Its aluminum lid and chassis are rigid, the hinge opens smoothly with one hand, and the fit and finish are exquisite. The MacBook Pro 14 meets the same standard but somehow transcends it at the same time. It’s a larger laptop with its 14.2-inch display versus 13.4 inches, and the XPS 13 Plus is even more diminutive thanks to tiny display bezels. The MacBook is heavier at 3.5 pounds versus 2.71 pounds while being almost identically thin, and that gives the MacBook a feeling of density that exudes quality. And its hinge is even more refined than Dell’s excellent version.

I’m drilling down to some fine details in drawing this distinction. You’d need to handle both laptops yourself to see if the MacBook Pro 14 provides a build that you find superior enough to choose it over the XPS 13 Plus. You’ll feel like you got your money’s worth with both machines, and they’re both great-looking laptops with minimalist designs and conservative color schemes, although the XPS 13 Plus’s glass palm rest with hidden touchpad is more futuristic. Hands-on time is a real boon to picking between them regarding design and build quality.

The MacBook does have a notch at the top of the display that some people find bothersome, and it’s there to house a 1080p webcam. The XPS 13 Plus is limited to a 720p camera given its insanely thin bezels. So, the MacBook makes for a better videoconferencing tool, particularly when you consider the software that does a great job of optimizing video quality. Dell includes an infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello passwordless login via facial recognition, along with a fingerprint reader in the power button, while the MacBook uses a Touch ID power button.

The XPS 13 Plus changed up the traditional XPS 13 keyboard and mouse. Dell switched to an edge-to-edge keyboard with large keycaps and virtually no spacing between keys. The switches are shallow but snappy and precise, with a confident bottoming action. Dell implemented a set of LED touch function buttons that are OK but not really an advantage over the MacBook’s physical keys. The MacBook Pro 14 enjoys Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which is a more traditional design and also on the shallow side. But it has the best switches in a laptop keyboard, providing a consistently precise feel across all the nicely sized keys. The XPS 13 Plus’s keyboard is great, but the MacBook’s keyboard is better.

Dell also implemented a haptic touchpad on the XPS 13 Plus, and it works well enough. But Apple’s Force Touch touchpad remains the standard, and it’s more responsive and realistic. The XPS 13 Plus has the advantage of an optional touch display that the MacBook Pro 14 doesn’t offer.

Finally, connectivity favors the MacBook. It has one additional Thunderbolt 4 port and adds an HDMI port, a full-size SD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a MagSafe 3 plug that leaves both Thunderbolt 4 ports available while charging. The XPS 13 Plus even lacks an audio jack, and while Dell includes a dongle in the box, it’s a hassle. The Dell’s wireless connectivity is more up to date, though, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 compared to the MacBook’s older standard of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Performance

When configured with the 8-core CPU/14-core GPU M1 Pro, the MacBook Pro 14 is faster than the XPS 13 Plus with its 14-core/20-thread Core i7-1280P. But, the differences in our CPU-intensive benchmarks aren’t so great as to put the MacBook in another class entirely. Where it shines, though, is in GPU-dependent creative apps where Apple’s optimizations make the M1 Pro must faster than Windows laptops with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.

For this comparison, though, we’re looking specifically at how well each laptop meets demanding productivity needs. And in this case, the XPS 13 Plus is more than fast enough when switched to its performance mode using Dell’s thermal management utility. Note that the Dell also runs a lot hotter and louder when fully engaged, while the MacBook Pro 14 stays quieter and cooler. And the MacBook has some serious headroom with a faster M1 Pro and M1 Max available.

	Dell XPS 13 Plus (Core i7-1280P)	Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro 8/14)
Geekbench 5 (single / multi)	Bal: 1,316 / 8,207 Perf: N/A	Bal: 1,728 / 9,955 Perf: N/A
Handbrake (seconds)	Bal: 170 Perf: 94	Bal: 123 Perf: N/A
Cinebench R23 (single / multi)	Bal: 1,311/ 6,308 Perf: 1,650 / 7,530	Bal: 1,531 / 9,519 Perf: N/A

Display

We reviewed the XPS 13 Plus with its 13.4-inch 16:10 3.5K (3456 x 2160) OLED touch panel, which provides plenty of brightness, extremely wide and accurate colors, and incredibly deep contrast with inky blacks. It’s slightly sharper than the MacBook Pro 14’s 16:10 mini-LED at 14.2 inches and 3024 x 1964. The MacBook’s panel is considerably brighter and enjoys equally deep contrast while its colors aren’t as wide and accurate as Dell’s.

Where the MacBook Pro 14 shines (no pun intended) is in how well it plays back high dynamic range (HDR) video, which Apple calls extended dynamic range (XDR). The XPS 13 Plus has awesome HDR as well, but side-by-side, Apple’s implementation is brighter and more dynamic.

These are two excellent displays for productivity, creativity, and media consumption. Dell gets a nod for offering Full HD+ and UHD+ IPS panel alternatives.

Portability

The XPS 13 Plus is a tiny laptop. It’s smaller and lighter than the MacBook Pro 14. However, both are reasonably portable and slide into a backpack without a problem. If you want the smallest laptop you can find then the XPS 13 Plus wins out, but Apple’s laptop is small enough.

At the same time, the MacBook Pro 14 is built around Apple’s ARM processor that’s not just powerful — it’s also incredibly efficient. The MacBook’s larger 70-watt-hour battery is larger than the Dell’s (55 watt-hours) and it enjoys a CPU that can sip power when not running full speed. That gives it a significantly longer battery life, promising multi-day battery longevity where the XPS 13 Plus will require its charger to make it through a full day.

The MacBook Pro 14 has more headroom

Dell's laptop deals may change all the time but no matter when you look there is always a selection of discounts on the manufacturer's most popular Inspiron and XPS devices. So if you want a budget laptop, a more powerful ultrabook or a versatile 2-in-1 device, you can find today's best prices right here.

Quickly jump in and browse the full range of the latest Dell laptop deals at the official store using the link just below. 

Stick with us and scroll further down, though, as we've gathered some of the best discounts on specific devices. We've done all the searching for you so you can be sure you won't miss a bargain on some of the best laptops you can buy today.

Although a Dell machine can be picked up for a good price, if you don't fancy one, we've gathered up even more of the latest laptop deals here at TechRadar. These feature other manufacturers such as HP, Lenovo, Asus and Acer, as well as more affordable Chromebook deals and today's best MacBook deals if you want one of Apple's premium laptops.

Cheap Dell laptop deals at a glance

You'll find a quick run down of all the latest Dell laptop deals just below, and more information on each model and which version you should be buying further down the page.

Dell laptop deals: XPS

You would be correct in assuming Dell's latest XPS 13 model is a beast. With up to 2TB of SSD storage space, the latest 11th generation of Intel's processors, and the potential for 32GB of RAM you can configure some seriously powerful specsheets here. The best of the best is going to cost you, though, however entry level i3 models usually sit just under $1,000 which can make for a strong mid-range purchase due to the starting 256GB SSD sizes. 

At the bottom end of the configuration scale, you're still getting a powerhouse here, and one that looks as good as it runs. With minimal bezels, a luxury slimline chassis, and standout battery life, there's a reason this is often hailed as the best laptop going.

Dell's laptop deals do regularly hit upon this latest release, though, so you'll be able to find some discounts at the right time as well.

The Dell XPS 2-in-1 brings the power of Dell's flagship laptop and the flexibility of a tablet design together for an incredible user experience. That means you can zip through work and then flip the screen over to present easily and intuitively, or simply kick back with some streaming on a Dolby Vision HDR display. 

Under the hood you'll find the latest 11th generation processors, with configurations available all the way from i3 to i7. Your options for RAM and storage are a little smaller than those present in more traditional builds, you can max this machine out at 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, but unless you're looking for a particularly heavy duty machine this can still handle pretty much anything you could throw at it. 

The Dell XPS 15 does pack the possibility for more RAM under the hood, as well as some more impressive graphics, however aside from these two components, the 15.6-inch laptop is simply a larger version of the XPS 13. The crux here, however, lies in the portability of that screen. The XPS is incredibly thin and light, allowing you to grab the best of both worlds - a backpack worthy laptop with all day battery life and plenty of screen real estate. 

Nevertheless, the XPS 15 does cater more towards professionals and creatives, with a considerably higher price tag to match. You'll still find Dell laptop deals on this particular model, though, so if you're after the big screen treatment you could still bag your dream configuration for less. 

Dell laptop deals: Inspiron 3000 Series

The 3000 Series is aimed squarely at cheap computing. You'll be able to find prices ranging from $200 (during Dell laptop deals events) through to $500 here, with entry level specs on the cheapest of models and lower mid-range configurations as you creep up the scale. 

These machines will provide you with a cheap machine to browse the web, get some light work done, and stream some content - but don't expect the cheaper options to do much heavy lifting when it comes to demanding software. 

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is one of the cheapest Dell laptops you'll find on the market. It's surprising then, that it comes with a full 15.6-inch display. Picking up an entry level model will cost you between $350 and $450, but the best part about this machine is there's a massive range of specs and configurations on the table - all for fair price points. 

If you need a seriously large screen - for multi-tasking or a better streaming experience, the Dell Inspiron 17 3000 offers one of the most affordable rigs for the job. 17.3-inch displays usually carry a considerable premium, and you will find a slight uptick in price here - but you're still getting an excellent laptop for a great cost with this model. 

That 8GB RAM won't see you powering through many high performance programs, but it offers a good amount of memory for every day work and multi-tasking. Storage options include a 512GB SSD - a fairly large and speedy spec to find on a laptop of this price - or a 1TB / 2TB hard drive. The second option will give you plenty of space, but at the cost of a little speed. 

Dell laptop deals: Inspiron 5000 Series

The 5000 Series sits in the middle of Dell's Inspiron range, offering up middle of the road specs that will see you comfortably zipping through everyday tasks with some impressive speed and the potential for a little more multi-tasking as well. You'll have better luck with more demanding programs like Adobe and media-editing software here, but they may still run slower on these laptops when compared to the 7000 series. 

Specs in the higher tiers of this series may start to muddy the waters slightly - offering 7000-level performance in a cheaper bracket. That's where Dell laptop deals really shine though, so it's in this gray area that sales-hunters will be most at home.

The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 may be the best option if you're looking for an everyday machine that still offers some mid-range specs and fancy features. If you require heavy duty software and RAM-intensive multi-tasking, we might point you further down to a 7000-Series model, however there's still some considerable power packed into this machine. 

The latest 11th generation if Intel processors will be a standout feature for anyone looking for the best performance possible, though we'd steer clear of that 4GB of entry level RAM. 

What's more, you'll find regular Dell laptop deals hitting this particular configuration because it sits in the middle of Dell's lineup and can easily be discounted during sales events.

If you like the look of the Inspiron 14 5000 but want a few more fancy features, the 2-in-1 model can offer a whole new way of working. The flexible design allows the hinge to flip around fully to form a tablet design, which means you can adapt your laptop / tablet to whatever you need to be doing. 

This feature usually comes at a considerable premium, however in the case of the Inspiron 14 5000, we sometimes see this model sitting cheaper than the standard laptop. The specs on offer remain the same between the two models, but it's worth checking both out to see if you can score some extra functionality for the same price with these Dell laptop deals.

The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 offers similar specs to the 14 5000, but with a larger 15.6-inch screen. That's better if you want that little extra screen real estate for having multiple browsers open at the same time, for example. Plus, entry level models jump up from 4GB to 8GB RAM here to facilitate that a little better, but there is a slight price increase to go with those extra features and heavier specs will see you leaning into the price range of the 7000 series. 

Dell laptop deals: Inspiron 7000 Series

The 7000 Series does muddy the waters slightly, on the lower end of the spectrum bumping into 5000-level configurations and at the other end mixing with the likes of the Dell XPS. That means those discounts do work harder for you during Dell laptop sales events, so if you are looking for a professional-worthy machine it's wise to keep an eye on these rigs. 

Aside from price, however, if you're going to be using power-intensive programs, and multi-tasking between them, the 7000-series is best suited to your needs. The entry level models can still fall a little short, but spending between $750 and $900 on a Dell Inspiron 7000 will yield some strong results.

The only Inspiron laptop to feature a brilliantly portable 13.3-inch display, the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 is a convertible laptop that packs just as much power as it does convenience. You'll find a marked step up in price now that we're in the 7000-Series range, but considering the power and flexibility of this model, you're still getting excellent value for money. 

Plus, you can also configure Intel Optane memory with this model - a form of smart memory that predicts which programs you'll need and lines them up ready for you, which essentially makes for faster load times. 

At first glance, the Dell Inspiron 14 7000 looks similar to the 5000-Series model. However, there are two differences here that could sway you to either version. The 7000 features a slight boost in display size, jumping up from a standard 14-inch panel to a 14.5-inch on the premium model. 

However, the downside here is that you are locked into 8GB RAM on the standard design. That's going to sting a little seeing as the 5000 can reach 12GB RAM for a similar price point. However, if you do need more storage and a bigger processor, you'll be able to find a decent price on the 7000 model a lot easier.

Similarly, opting for the 7000-Series version of the Dell Inspiron 15 will open you up to a few minor changes over the 5000 model. You're getting more storage in the entry level machine here, with those SSDs starting at 256GB and picking up a touchscreen display. Those are a nice set of features, but with the 15's still stuck on Intel's previous generation of processors, there's more power to be found in other models right now.

By contrast, the 2-in-1 version of the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 has had a more accurate refresh. That means you'll find 11th gen processing under the hood, with some powerful storage and RAM specs as well. Of course, you're paying for all that with another jump in pricing here. 

However, if you're looking for a powerful, flexible machine that just nudges the XPS's level of power without quite invoking the costs of that luxury chassis, this will do you particularly well.

There's something incredibly satisfying about a 17-inch touchscreen panel, especially when it sits on a 2-in-1 laptop that can easily convert into a tablet. You're certainly paying for that premium functionality here, however, with prices surpassing those of the XPS at mid and higher range configuration levels. 

That said, you'll find plenty of power under the hood here - this just might not be the best laptop to sling in a backpack and carry all day.

Which Dell laptop is the best for you?

The difficulty in finding the best Dell laptop deals lies not in the price tag but in finding the right one for you. Dell's catalogue is fairly complex - balancing a range of models across the entry-level to mid-range Inspiron and premium to high-end XPS line. It refreshes many of them every year, too. Across all these various models and ranges, then, it can be hard to pin down what are the best Dell laptop deals. 

That's where we come in. We've broken down Dell's range so that you can easily jump straight to the best models for you. While the Dell XPS comes in a simple 13-inch or 15-inch category, the Inspiron line (where the best value is often to be found) is separated into the 3000, 5000 and 7000 Series. 

Head to 3000 or 5000 Series Inspiron laptops for a cheaper everyday experience, or take a look at the 7000 Series or XPS Dell laptop deals if you're looking to splash some cash on a top-of-the-line and high-performance machine.

There are a lot of Dell laptop deals out there, with a massive range of models and specs to choose from. It can be difficult to work out exactly which machine is right for you, then, which is why we're going through some common usage scenarios to point you in the right direction.

Light web browsing, not using for work or school: Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Light working from home or school work - no power hungry programs (Adobe etc.): Dell Inspiron 14 5000

Working from home or school work that requires some heavier programs (Adobe etc.): Dell Inspiron 15 5000 - Dell Inspiron 14 7000

Work that requires heavy use of programs like Adobe and multi-tasking between them: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 - Dell XPS 13

Dell has long been a big player in laptops, and the XPS lineup is one of the best on the market, although they tend to be expensive. Luckily, there are a few Cyber Monday deals you can take advantage of, such as this one from Dell that brings the cost of an XPS 15 down to $2,199 from $2,899. That’s a substantial $700 discount on one of the thinnest and best laptops on the market, so if you like what you see, be sure to act quickly. That’s especially important given that Cyber Monday is one of the last few great sales for a while, so don’t miss out on this deal while it lasts.

While a gorgeous OLED display, this Dell XPS 15 is an absolute pleasure to use, especially with how equally incredible the specs are under the hood. At 15.6 inches, the 3456 x 2160 resolution screen has one of the smallest bezels we’ve ever seen, not to mention an astounding 500 nits of peak brightness. Combined with the 0.73-inch thickness and 4.31-pound weight, the XPS 15 is easy to carry and use in almost any environment, including direct sunlight. The overall construction is pretty sturdy too, with no flex on the keyboard and a great typing experience that is as good as you’d find on a MacBook In fact, when comparing the Dell XPS 15 vs. the Apple MacBook Pro 16, the Dell XPS 15 can blow the MacBook Pro 16 out of the water with this configuration.

Under the hood, it runs a 12th-gen Intel i9-12900H, one of the most powerful CPUs available on the market. It can handle any task you throw at it, whether it’s audio editing, transcoding, streaming, or playing video games. If you want to game, you have an RTX 3050 Ti to work with. Even though it’s an entry-level gaming GPU, it will still let you do some gaming on it. The 3.5K resolution will tax it a little bit, but you can play around with the graphical settings to hit the 60Hz refresh rate. Beyond that, you get 32GB of DDR5, the fastest RAM around, and it’s also in dual-channel configuration for that extra performance boost. Finally, you have a 1TB SSD to work with, so you don’t have to reach for one of these external hard drive deals to supplement it.

The Dell XPS 15 is an excellent laptop that’s thin, light, and incredibly versatile, and with this deal from Dell bringing it down to $2,199 from $2,899, it’s much more affordable. On the other hand, if you want something a bit more budget-friendly, we encourage you to look at some of these other Cyber Monday laptop deals for alternatives.

Editors' Recommendations

In case you’re in the market for a new monitor, this is the time to get one. Both professional and business monitors are now on sale via Amazon, for Cyber Monday. There are a ton of offerings here from Samsung, Dell, Spectre, and more. We’ve hand-picked a bunch of them for the list below, but you can access a full list of available monitors by clicking here.

Spectre 27-inch monitor

Let’s talk about the listed monitors real quick, shall we? Let’s kick things off with a monitor for Spectre. The one that we listed above comes with a 27-inch display, and it’s a fullHD panel. It offers a refresh rate of 75Hz, and comes with built-in speakers, actually. The monitor itself looks really good, and has rather thin bezels. This thing costs $99.97, while it’s usually priced at $169.97.

Dell 24-inch monitor

Next in line is Dell’s 24-inch monitor. This is also a fullHD monitor, and it comes with Comfortview (TUV-certified) feature. It offers a refresh rate of 75Hz, and this is an anti-glare screen with 3H hardness. This monitor comes with a stand as well, and a rather nice-looking one. It is now priced at $114.99, down from $149.99.

Acer 27-inch monitor

Acer also has a 27-inch monitor on this list. This one also comes with a fullHD+ display, and it’s marketed for office use. It has a 75Hz refresh rate, a low blue light filter, and it’s VESA compatible. It includes an HDMI port and a VGA port. This thing actually somewhat resembles Dell’s offering we talked about. The device is priced at $109.99 as we speak, down from $159.99.

Samsung CJ890 49-inch monitor

The Samsung CJ890 is a 49-inch ultrawide, curved monitor, in case you need something considerably bigger. This thing offers a QHD (3840 x 1080) resolution, and it has a 144Hz display. It includes a USB-C port, and an HDMI port, while it also comes with an adjustable stand. This monitor is currently priced at $899.99, down from $1,200.99, so you’re saving up 25% here.

Samsung S33A 22-inch monitor

In case you need something smaller than every other monitor we’ve listed, the Samsung S33A is on sale as well. This is a 22-inch monitor which includes a fullHD display. It has the eye saver mode, and a game mode, while it comes with an HDMI port and a VA panel. This monitor is priced at $89.99, while it usually costs $164.99.

Check out all the deals on offer by clicking here, or tapping the button/link below. We’ve listed only five of them, but there are a lot more available.

Professional & business monitors form Samsung, Dell & more - Amazon