Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 Best Overall Large Dell Laptop is the 17-inch Dell XPS 17.
- With a 17-inch laptop from Dell, you have plenty of screen real estate to use to multitask with ease.
- Many of these laptops include the latest hardware as their size allows for beefed-up components for better overall performance.
If you want to maintain the portability of a laptop but still have a large screen available, a 17-inch laptop is the best of both worlds. Whether you want to watch a TV show or multitask between a browser and PowerPoint, having a 17-inch screen can make for a world of difference over smaller-size laptops.
Historically, laptops of this size have been met with criticism over how bulky and clunky they felt, which ultimately led to many people just using them at a desk and giving up on the portability benefits. Thankfully, the days of bulky 17-inch laptops are behind you as manufacturers like Dell have helped refine this laptop size to feel more friendly for use on the go.
Let’s take a look at the 6 best 17-inch laptops from Dell you can buy today.
- Best Overall: Dell XPS 17
- Best for Gaming: Alienware m17
- Best for Productivity: Dell Precision 7780
- Best Battery Life: Dell Precision 5770
- Best for Creators: Alienware X17 R2
- Best Budget-Friendly: Dell Inspiron 3793
#1 Best Overall: Dell XPS 17
- 14" 4K touchscreen
- Core i7
- 1TB SSD
- 32GB RAM
- RTX 3050
- 14 cores @ 4.7 GHz
- 12th Gen CPU Windows 11 Home
- Renewed laptop
The Dell XPS 17 is widely regarded as not only the best Dell 17-inch laptop but the best overall laptop available with this size screen.
Heavy focus with the Dell rests with the 17-inch 4K display running at 3840 x 2400-pixel resolution. At this size, the Dell XPS 17 is a great size for just about any use case, whether it’s gaming, streaming, multitasking, or all of the above. More importantly, the Dell XPS 17 is proof that 17-inch laptops are no longer big and bulky. Weighing just over 5 pounds, the Dell is a far cry from where 17-inch laptops used to live — often between 7 and 8 pounds.
With the large screen, you expect plenty of power to support it, and Dell delivers with a 12th gen Intel Core i9 processor. Add to the processor 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD and you have more than enough power and storage to handle all of the Chrome tabs and downloads you can ever hope to have. Plus, you have support for AAA gaming with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, which is ready to handle any Steam game you can think of.
Finally, the Dell sounds as good as it performs with Waves Nx 3D Audio technology for the speakers. These 3D speakers help provide an immersive sound while binge-watching Netflix or casual videos on YouTube.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best 17-inch laptop available | So-so battery life |
| Excellent price-to-performance |
Check out the Dell XPS 17 on Amazon
Best for Gaming: Alienware m17
- 17.3" FHD display
- 360Hz
- 1ms response time
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
- 32GB DDR5 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB
- RGB backlit gaming
- Wi-Fi 6
- Thunderbolt 4
- Windows 11 Home
Best known as a part of Dell’s gaming brand, the Alienware m17 is not only the best gaming computer the company makes, it’s one of the best gaming computers on the market today.
Right away you know the Alienware m17 is going to be a powerhouse thanks to the inclusion of the AMD Ryzen 7 6800 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. When paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU with its own 8GB of RAM, the m17 can handle just about any game you throw its way. Titles like Cyberpunk, Call of Duty, Elden Ring, and APEX Legends are no match for the performance of the Alienware m17. The hardware is even powerful enough to handle virtual reality games.
Of course, a gaming computer demands a beautiful screen, and the Alienware m17 delivers with a 17.3-inch FHD running at 1920 x 1080p resolution. While it may not be a touchscreen, with a maximum 360Hz refresh rate, not having touch is a fair trade-off for a 1ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology.
Add in future-proofed features like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 and the Alienware m17 is ready for you to put through its gaming paces.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| One of the best gaming laptops | Weighs 7.3 pounds |
| Very high refresh rate, perfect for gaming | Gaming eats up battery life |
Check out the Alienware m17 on Amazon.
Best for Productivity: Dell Precision 7780
- 17.3" Full HD display
- 1920 x 1080p resolution
- Intel Core i7 13th Gen i7-13850HX Icosa-core (20-core) 2.20GHz
- 32GB total RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Aluminum Titan Gray
If you are looking for the best 17-inch laptop in the Dell lineup that will help you get the most done, the answer is undoubtedly the Dell Precision 7780.
The biggest highlight of the Dell Precision 7780 is the combination of all of its hardware to help you work. The hardware benefits start with the 17-inch Full HD anti-glare display, which includes support for ComfortView Plus. This add-on enables a built-in low-light blue screen that ensures you can work on the screen longer with less eye fatigue over time.
Along with the screen benefits, the audio sounds great as well, especially during video calls. Dell has added its Waves MaxxAudio Pro technology to the Precision 7780 laptop, which helps not only increase overall volume but reduces background noise during video calls as well.
Also boosting productivity is the inclusion of an oversized touchpad for easy movement around the interface. Dell removed the traditional mouse buttons in favor of built-in buttons beneath the touchpad. When combined with the terrific spill-resistant keyboard, navigating around the Windows interface is a breeze.
Last but not least, Dell included its Dell Optimizer software that uses AI to boost the performance (battery life, screen brightness, etc.) of the Precision hardware as it learns how you work.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| AI software optimization is very helpful | Can get pricey with upgraded hardware |
| Excellent multitasking performance | Does not include dedicated mouse buttons |
Check out the Dell Precision 7780 on Amazon.
Best Battery Life: Dell Precision 5770
- 17" FHD+ 500-nit display
- 4.8GHz Intel Core i7-12800H 14-core
- 32GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- RTX A3000 (12GB GDDR6)
- 5 years ProSuooirt Warranty
- Windows 11 Pro
Offering up to 15 hours of battery life while browsing the web, the Dell Precision 5770 is a stand-out 17-inch laptop from Dell.
The younger sibling to the Dell Precision 7780, the Dell Precision 5770 is all about its 97Whr battery, which can absolutely last an entire workday. Just in case you are running out of juice, Dell’s ExpressCharge Boost can offer 35% more battery in 20 minutes, or up to an 80% charge in under one hour.
Thankfully, strong battery life isn’t the only reason to celebrate the Precision 5770 as its 17-inch Full HD IPS display is also pretty great. Offering 500 nits of brightness and a 16:10 wide-viewing angle, there is no question the Precision 5770 gives you plenty of desktop space to multitask and use up some of its lofty battery life.
Helping ensure you have plenty of opportunity to run down the long battery, the Dell Precision 5770 uses a 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Plus, the Dell includes the RTX A3000 GPU with its own 12GB of RAM so gaming or tasks like editing photos and videos won’t slow the Dell down one bit.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great battery life for a 17-inch laptop | Needs more storage space |
| Latest CPU and GPU |
Check out the Dell Precision 5770 on Amazon.
Best for Creators: Alienware X17 R2
- 17.3" FHD 360Hz 1ms display
- Core i7-12700H
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6
- USB-C
- Windows 11 Home
- White
While the Alienware brand is best known as Dell’s gaming arm, computers like the Alienware X17 R2 are also great laptops for creators.
For a creator, the screen visuals matter, and with the Alienware X17 R2’s 17.3-inch Full HD display, there is plenty to rave about. With a 360Hz refresh rate and ComfortView Plus technology, the display on this laptop is ideal for long-term use while making photo or video edits. Support for Dolby Vision ensures that you have a lifelike color experience with outstanding color profiles, which only serves as yet another reason why this laptop is a fantastic option for creators.
As a creator frequently making edits, especially video edits, you need a laptop with plenty of power. The X17 R2 more than delivers on this front. Running a 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD, there is power to spare no matter what type of creator-based task you can ask of it.
Best of all, the thermal design of this laptop will keep maximum airflow moving even as you try to push the computer to its limits while making or editing videos.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great for creators looking to edit videos | Needs additional RAM to really handle everything |
| Very good refresh rate |
Check out the Alienware X17 R2 on Amazon.
Best Budget-Friendly: Dell Inspiron 3793
- 17.3" FHD 1080p display
- Intel 10th Gen i3-1005G1
- Up to 3.4GHz
- 8GB RAM
- 1TB HDD
- DVD-RW
- HDMI
- Webcam
- Wi-Fi
- Windows 10 Home
- Aloha Bundle
While Dell’s 17-inch lineup can quickly get expensive, the Dell Inspiron 3793 bucks the high price tag trend as a budget-friendly option that still performs very well.
Sporting a 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, this Dell has plenty of power to perform all of your daily tasks with room to spare. The 17.3-inch monitor makes it easy to see all of those tasks on one screen thanks to Full HD 1080p resolution. LED backlighting ensures beautiful colors and, as an energy-efficient technology, it helps boost battery life by drawing less power than non-LED displays.
Where the Dell Inspiron 3793 really shines is the addition of one feature you really don’t see all that often on laptops anymore. The inclusion of an optical disc drive enables you to play DVDs or archive large files on a DVD-RW for later use. The best part is that the addition of the DVD drive doesn’t do much to make the laptop feel any larger or heavier.
Along with the DVD player, the Dell is also full of ports for other laptop peripherals thanks to a USB-C port, dual USB 3.1 ports, and Bluetooth for everything else.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best price tag for Dell 17-inch laptop | Two-generation old CPU |
| Includes DVD player | Middling battery life |
Check out the Dell Inspiron 3793 on Amazon.
©N.Z.Photography/Shutterstock.com
What to Know Before Buying a Large Laptop from Dell
Before buying any large laptop from Dell, it’s important to know exactly what you intend to do with the computer. If gaming is your top preference, there is good news as the Alienware line and the Dell XPS 17 have you absolutely covered from that angle. With plenty of RAM and some of the latest NVIDIA GPUs, AAA gaming is something these laptops can easily handle.
Should you want to look more at productivity, both the Dell Precision laptop models offer outstanding support for multitasking and professional work. Between AI-powered software enhancements, the latest Intel processors, and plenty of storage space, the Dell Precision models pack a real punch with performance.
Ultimately, you really cannot go wrong with any of the Dell laptops in the 17-inch space as they are among the most powerful models Dell manufactures. The decision really doesn’t come down to whether or not these laptops can handle your needs, but which laptop you think is right for you.
Using a Large Dell Laptop: What It’s Like
The biggest expectation with using any large Dell laptop is they are not as portable as smaller computers. While 17-inch laptops have become increasingly less cumbersome, they still take up more room in backpacks and are heavier overall. While a heavier backpack can be little more than an inconvenience, it’s worth knowing that a 17-inch laptop is really best used while at a desk.
There is no reason a 17-inch Dell laptop can’t be portable, but it’s worth knowing ahead of any purchase that portability should not be your first, second, or third reason for selecting one of these laptops.
On the flip side, having a 17-inch display, in 4K or 1080p, gives you ample amounts of workspace, which can make multitasking as good as it gets on any laptop. For multitasking alone, a large Dell laptop can be a terrific investment.
Summary Table
| Rank | Laptop | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dell XPS 17 | 17-inch 4K display, 12th gen Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU |
| #2 | Alienware m17 | AMD Ryzen 7 6800 processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU |
| #3 | Dell Precision 7780 | 17-inch Full HD anti-glare display, Waves MaxxAudio Pro technology, oversized touchpad, Dell Optimizer software |
| #4 | Dell Precision 5770 | 97Whr battery, 17-inch Full HD IPS display, 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD |
| #5 | Alienware X17 R2 | 17.3-inch Full HD display, 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD |
| #6 | Dell Inspiron 3793 | 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, 17.3-inch Full HD 1080p resolution monitor, optical disc drive |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Lastroll/Shutterstock.com.
