8.0
Dell XPS 17 9730
Likes
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Large 17-inch 16:10 display
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Attractive, mature design
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Powerful image processing
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Long battery life
Dislikes
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No OLED display option
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Grainy, low-quality webcam
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Relatively heavy, weighing about 5.5 pounds
The Dell XPS 17 9730 is a powerful and fast laptop that has a lot to offer, especially for developers and content creators. It features a large 17-inch, 16:10 display, an attractive design, powerful image processing capabilities, and long battery life. It is a solid choice for those who need a reliable and agile laptop for different environments.
Compared to its competitor, the LG Gram 17, the XPS 17 9730 stands out with its more powerful Core i7 H-series processor and RTX 4070 discrete GPU. It also has a sharper and brighter 4K, 500-nit display. However, one major drawback is the absence of an OLED display option, which is disappointing. It also comes with a grainy and low-quality webcam. Additionally, it weighs about 5.5 pounds, making it relatively heavy compared to other laptops in its class.
Configuration as Tested
Price as reviewed | $3,399 |
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Size/Size | 17-inch 3,840×2,400 touch LCD |
CPU | 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-13700H |
Memory | 32GB DDR5 4,800MHz |
Graphics | 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 |
Storage | 1TB NVMe PC801 NVMe SK Hynix |
Networking | Wi-Fi 6 1675 (AX211), 2×2, 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Operating system | Windows 11 Home 22H2 |
The Dell XPS 17 9730 offers various configuration options, with the base model starting at $2,449. Our test configuration, priced at $3,399, includes upgrades to the display, RAM, storage, and GPU. It also provides the option to upgrade the CPU and graphics card even further. The XPS 17 9730 is available in the UK starting from £2,248.99 and in Australia starting from AU$3,998.50.
In terms of performance, the XPS 17 9730 performs well, especially with its powerful Core i7 H-series processor and RTX 4070 GPU. It outperforms its predecessor, the XPS 17 9720, in benchmarks and offers excellent graphics performance for gaming and intensive tasks. It also has impressive battery life, lasting around 12 hours in online battery tests.
Design and Display
The Dell XPS 17 9730 features a sleek and sturdy design, with a polished aluminum lid and a carbon fiber keyboard deck. It weighs about 5.4 pounds, which is heavier than its competitors like the LG Gram 17. The laptop has a 17-inch form factor and is relatively thin, measuring 0.8 inches. The keyboard is comfortable and spacious, and the large touchpad is responsive. The laptop also has powerful speakers that deliver clear and rich sound.
Unfortunately, the XPS 17 9730 lacks an OLED display option, which is a significant drawback. The upgraded display option is bright and vibrant, but it falls short compared to laptops with OLED panels. The laptop also comes with a 720p webcam, which is outdated and disappointing compared to other laptops that offer 1080p cameras.
As for connectivity, the XPS 17 9730 offers four USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, as well as an audio jack and an SD card slot.
Overall, the Dell XPS 17 9730 is a powerful and capable laptop with a few drawbacks, including the absence of an OLED display option and a low-quality webcam. However, its performance, design, and long battery life make it a solid choice for developers and content creators.