We might earn a commission from partner links on Laptop Radar. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
When purchasing a computer or laptop, most people consider Dell and HP. They both remain the best options on the market.
Brands like Dell and HP have gained loyal followings from years of use. Several reasons account for their popularity – particularly the service they offer and the number of parts. In the era of Apple’s increasing popularity and Lenovo as the choice of business people, it is not enough to limit yourself to these two brands.
What would be the best option between a Dell and an HP when purchasing a laptop?
Let’s look at the two brands side by side to know which one is better.
About Dell Laptops
Key specifications
- Screen: 13.4-inch FHD+
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1195G7
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, 6GB GDDR6
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 20 threads, up to 4.70 GHz Turbo)
- RAM: 32GB, LPDDR5, 5200 MHz
- Storage: 1TB
Key specifications
- Screen: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD
Dell has been making laptops since 1984, and it has become one of the most recognized brands in the computer industry. With their Inspiron brand laptops, you can get a high-quality laptop at an affordable price, even if your budget is less than $800.
Dell’s XPS series of laptops exemplify the company’s commitment to innovation and design by offering almost borderless displays.
About HP Laptops
The most popular laptop brand in the tech industry was founded in 1939 by William Hewlett and David Packard. HP offers a variety of laptop models with varying specifications at varying prices.
Unlike other brands such as Dell or Lenovo, HP brand laptops aren’t as well-built, but they are well-known for producing high-quality products at affordable prices.
Dell vs HP – Head-to-Head Comparison
Dell laptops are generally thought of as better than HP laptops and are some of the best on the market. However, HP has a variety of laptops that cannot compete with other brands across their entire range.
Dell, on the other hand, possesses a wide range of laptops. In addition to Dell, HP is a major American company, with its headquarters in California, while Dell is headquartered in Texas.
Dell is a relatively new company, but HP has been around since World War II, also known as Hewlett-Packard.
Out of the two brands, choosing one can be quite challenging. Nevertheless, there is no need to be discouraged. Let’s check out how the two brands are made by examining them in detail.
Gaming Laptops
The HP Pavilion and the HP Omen are HP laptops for gamers. Gamers will not be able to use gaming laptops from these brands for everyday use, but they can still be used for casual gaming, though are designed to run any game without lagging.
Besides, one of Dell’s most popular gaming laptop series is Alienware. It offers powerful features, extensive customization, and extraordinary graphics.
Gamers will enjoy everything the laptop offers without experiencing lags.
Dell laptops are preferable to HP laptops for gamers because they are faster and have better graphics cards, but they come with a higher price tag.
Business Laptops
You can find a wide variety of slimline HP laptops that make excellent business laptops. Several of these laptops have touchscreens and are convertible into tablet computers.
On your daily commute on the train, you can show others what you’ve been working on and accomplish while sharing your work with others.
If a company does not have IT support, they can call Dell for any IT-related questions. Moreover, Dell has powerful laptops suitable for business people and designers. Because Dell laptops have powerful processors and specialized support, it is the better choice for business laptops.
Studying Laptops
Laptops from HP have excellent battery life, often lasting for up to 12 hours on a single charge, and are usually equipped with three or four-cell batteries.
Most HP laptop models have a minimum storage capacity of 256GB, generally sufficient for most users. For example, Dell’s Latitude 9510 laptop has an 18-hour battery life. In comparison to HP models, base Dell laptops typically have less storage than HP models, starting at 128GB.
Most students would exhaust the storage space on their laptops pretty quickly simply by downloading the Windows suite and putting their files on it. In general, HP’s products are the best in terms of studying. Battery life remains decent, and ample storage for software and documents.
Budget Laptops
Dell and its subsidiary are notorious for their high prices, which are many people’s biggest complaints. Despite the laptops’ good quality and good performance, you will often find that the price is higher than for a cheaper model.
However, a Dell laptop would make sense if the price isn’t too important in terms of reliability. I would probably look at someone else’s brand if I were looking for a bargain.
You’ll hear that one of HP’s most common faults is that its products are overpriced. Which laptop model you choose will determine whether this is the case.
You will inevitably encounter good and bad products with any brand. However, the cheapest HP options can still be quite expensive, and they aren’t good value for money. So, consider ASUS as a less expensive option.
Design
Despite my dislike of Dell laptops visually, many people find them appealing. Like the Lenovo Thinkpad series, the XPS series is built on a basic, sturdy design. As a result, designers and power users want devices that combine design and power.
It is worth checking out Dell’s Inspiron line if you look for something beautiful and easy to use. Besides, HP laptops are pretty average in design as they don’t stand out from any other laptop.
Their large trackpad has some attractive features and is easy to use. Although they are plain, they are perfectly suited for professionals who require something professional.
In general, HP laptops are widely available, regardless of the market. No matter what kind of laptop you’re looking for, HP has a wide selection to choose from.
Build Quality & Hardware
In addition to a quad-core processor, Dell laptops now have at least 8GB of RAM. Their overall performance is generally pretty good.
New Dell laptops appear to be more likely to feature Core i7 than Core i5 processors. A base-level HP laptop has an i5 processor, and the MacBook Air used to have an i3 processor until it was upgraded to an M1 recently.
So, we can conclude that Dell deals only with the highest quality processors. Your Dell laptop is unlikely to come with a dual-core processor. This argument can also apply to Alienware, one of Dell’s brands.
The laptops are all fairly high-end and highly expensive. As such, they offer one of the highest quality laptops currently available. Further, HP tends to lag behind Dell in building quality across the board.
The company does make some good laptops, but not quite at the level of Dell. In their gaming line, the HP Omen, they use GeForce graphics cards, like Dell. Over the past few years, HP’s Omen line has been a great option for those seeking a less expensive gaming laptop.
Performance
Dell budget laptops perform fairly poorly when it comes to performance. For the same price, other budget laptops can perform better. Considering Dell’s aim for maximum performance, their high-performance laptops tend to be expensive.
Dell’s high-performance laptops are therefore only affordable to those with a budget. With Dell laptops, you’ll get a high-performance processor, large RAM, and legendary support. These laptops don’t look very good and don’t feel as durable.
Besides, Alienware by Dell is an entirely different matter. We consider it the best laptop available today. 5.3 GHz is their maximum speed. Their performance-oriented products feature 4K displays, 32GB RAM, and top-quality components.
Further, when choosing between HP and Dell, it is also important to consider battery life. Regardless of the brand, individuals who purchase laptops should check their battery life. You won’t be carrying chargers everywhere you go. You will not be able to use your laptop if it has a weak battery.
Two years is the average lifespan of a battery. Battery life will vary based on the age and use of the laptop and charging frequency. Due to heat or heavy usage, Dell’s lithium-ion batteries swell.
Laptop batteries from Dell last an average of 18 to 24 months. Battery life decreases with prolonged use. Regardless, Hewlett Packard’s battery is as good as Dell’s. Often lasting between 2 and 4 years, HP batteries are exceptional.
In addition, HP uses a durable battery, which you can recharge in just 30 minutes. There is no overheating of the HP battery. Using your HP battery can drain it faster if you forget to plug it in.
Durability
Dell is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a long-lasting laptop. Dell laptops generally have an extensive warranty, though most people do not need them. Besides, HP gets lots of complaints about its durability.
People have reported online that their HP laptops degraded within the first two years after purchasing them. With a new laptop, it’s essential to have a warranty. While HP laptops are comparable to Dell laptops, they are not quite similar.
Customer Service & Warranty
You’ll be better off choosing Dell if you care about customer service. There is no question that Dell warranties are among the best out there, aside from Apple’s. It’s a good idea to consider customer support.
As a whole, Dell’s support is excellent around the globe and in the United States. On the other hand, despite being better than some more budget-friendly brands, HP’s customer service isn’t as good as Dell’s.
If someone has issues with their laptop, it can be unmanageable and difficult to reach their support team. Dell is a good choice for those who value customer service above all else. Their new laptop support is generally better.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you’re looking for an inexpensive laptop that won’t sacrifice performance, Dell makes the most sense. The brand also offers convenience with sub-categories and sub-brands in addition to high-quality customer support.
There is a general perception that Dell laptops are superior to HP laptops and the most reliable. Despite this, HP offers a comprehensive range of laptops to compete with other brands. In contrast, Dell also offers a wide selection of laptops.
Dell is a good pick if you place a high value on customer service. They are generally better at providing support for their new laptops.
There are many similarities between the products of these two brands. Most people choose Dell over HP since it’s more cost-effective and powerful. Therefore, Dell laptops are generally better than HP laptops.
The HP product line is for those people who demand balanced processing, RAM, and storage. HP’s laptop range demonstrates the versatility of its products. You can get stylish, powerful laptops and high-performance portable devices with HP laptops.
Conclusion
As to which brand of HP or Dell is the best, there is no definite answer. In any case, we can offer you some guidance. There are several reasons why Dell would be a better option than most other companies if you want an inexpensive laptop that won’t compromise standard performance.
Besides offering high-quality customer support, the brand also offers sub-categories for easier collection and sub-brands for convenience. A high-end HP gaming laptop, for instance, cannot match the gaming performance of Alienware devices. In other words, if you intend to purchase a laptop for gaming, only Dell suits your needs.
Nevertheless, HP is designed for people who need an optimal balance of everything, but not in excess amounts. The versatility of HP laptops can be seen just by looking at their range. HP offers both stylish laptops and powerful performance machines, as well as high-end portable devices.
Aside from the promised performance, hardware quality, and useful features, added software is also beneficial. It is another reason to choose HP. So, overall if we compare Dell with HP, we would suggest you prefer Dell.
