Amazon Prime Day was delayed until October last year, but for 2021, this big annual blowout event is back on its usual summer scheduling, and it’s now almost upon us with the Prime Day 2021 date set for June 21 and June 22. And while those Prime Day deals aren’t officially here just yet, Prime Day weekend is bringing plenty of early bargains on big-ticket electronics like home appliances and the best laptops as other retailers get in on the action (meaning you don’t necessarily need a Prime membership to shop). If you’re in the market for one of the best Windows ultrabooks money can buy, there are more than a few great Prime Day Dell XPS deals up for grabs right now. Here’s everything you need to know.
Today’s best Prime Day Dell XPS deals
What Prime Day Dell XPS deals to expect
Dell runs deals year-round, so the best offers to keep your eyes peeled for come Prime Day are on the pricier models that either don’t go on sale that often or don’t see huge price cuts when they do. The best Prime Day Dell XPS deals we’ll be looking for include the 4K 2-in-1 XPS 13 and XPS 15 models as well as the higher-end XPS 15 and XPS 17 configurations with boosted RAM and beefy graphics cards (which, despite their unassuming appearance, make for surprisingly great machines for you gamers out there). Of course, Prime Day is a fine opportunity to score deals on just about everything, so if a more basic laptop is all you need, you can still bet that the cheaper Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15 models will also see the lowest prices of the year before Black Friday.
What Prime Day Dell XPS deals we saw last year
For Prime Day 2020, we saw worthy discounts on almost everything in the Dell XPS stable. One exception was the Dell XPS 17; unfortunately, the discounts weren’t as deep on this newer model considering it was just released a few months before Prime Day last year. Nonetheless, some of our favorites — namely the newer Dell XPS 13 models with 13.4-inch 16:10 displays — saw some very juicy markdowns. The Dell XPS 15 also saw some nice deals, but the best price cuts were arguably for the last-gen 13.3-inch Dell XPS 13 configurations. This year’s offerings are sure to be similar, and we’ll likely see some more XPS 17 models in the mix, too.
Should I buy a new Dell XPS on Prime Day?
A lot of Dell XPS models get heavily discounted during Prime Day and it can be seriously tempting to pull the trigger right away. Before you get carried away, though, there are a few things every shopper should keep in mind. Always do your research prior to the event so you know what you’re looking for and don’t feel overwhelmed by the number of deals. Even though you can never go wrong with the Dell brand, be cautious when you’re shopping for laptop accessories from other brands. Always check our Dell XPS reviews and customer ratings to see what actual users and owners are saying. Finally, always trust your gut: If a deal looks suspicious, move on.
How to choose a Dell XPS laptop
There are three models of the Dell XPS on the market: XPS 13, XPS 15, and XPS 17. Here’s a breakdown of these models to help you shop before and during Prime Day.
Dell XPS 13: The XPS 13 is the cheapest model of the three starting at only $849 retail. It has a 13-inch Infinity Edge display and comes packed with the latest 10th- and 11th-gen Intel Core processors. It’s pretty light for its power, weighing in at just about 2.6 pounds for its base version. You’ll barely even feel like you have a laptop in your bag when you carry the XPS 13 around. It also has two USB-C ports for added connectivity and an over 90% screen-to-body ratio, giving you more space to multitask. Its sleek design and portability features make it an ideal laptop for commuters and back-to-schoolers alike.
Dell XPS 15: This laptop boasts a 15-inch Infinity Edge Display and has the option to add on an Nvidia graphics card for things like video rendering and gaming. It’s slightly heavier than the XPS 13, weighing in at 4 pounds for its base version but is still light enough if you want to lug it around. The 10th- and 11th-generation processors on this device are plenty capable, too, so you’ll be able to use heavy-duty apps like Photoshop with ease. There’s also an extra USB-C port on the XPS 15 if you’re looking for a better port selection. Other than that, the design is pretty similar between the XPS 13 and 15, albeit the 15 has about two more inches of screen. The starting retail price for the XPS 15 is $1,199, so if you’re okay spending a little more, take the plunge and invest in the XPS 15.
Dell XPS 17: The massive 17-inch Infinity Edge display gives the XPS 17 an almost otherworldly feel. It’s the perfect laptop to transition from work to play because of its clear display and added integration of an Nvidia graphics card. Despite its boosted size, its slim chassis and thin bezels keep the laptop weight low: For a 17-inch laptop, it’s comparatively light at 4.7 pounds. There are four USB-C ports and you’ll be happy to know that all four of these ports support Thunderbolt 3 for super-fast data transfers. It also has a sufficiently long battery life, surpassing 15 hours on its base model and a power-packed Intel 10th-gen processor so you can even use your laptop for gaming. The XPS 17 starts out at about $1,499, but if you want a gigantic screen with a light design, go with the XPS 17.
While these are the three models available, Dell allows you to easily customize within each model. You’ll be able to choose how much RAM and storage you need and can choose from different processors and Nvidia graphic cards. Make sure to look at all the options offered and customize your laptop based on what you use it for. If you can afford the 16GB RAM and Nvidia graphics card for the XPS 15 and 17, go for it — it’ll do more and last longer, so you might not really be paying much more in the long run (versus a cheaper laptop you’ll have to replace in a year or two).
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