Dell XPS 17 9700

The Dell XPS 17 9700 is a powerful and elegant laptop designed to meet the needs of creative professionals, power users, and anyone who demands top-tier performance and a premium build. It stands out with its large 17-inch display, advanced internals, and sleek design. Below, we’ll delve into the various features and specifications that make the XPS 17 9700 an outstanding choice.

1. Design and Build Quality

1.1. Premium and Sleek Design

The Dell XPS 17 9700 boasts a sleek and minimalistic design, with a body crafted from a single block of CNC-machined aluminum. The laptop’s anodized platinum silver finish gives it a sophisticated look, while the carbon fiber palm rest adds a touch of luxury and comfort. The edges are diamond-cut, providing a smooth and refined feel when handling the device.

1.2. Ultra-Compact Form Factor

Despite its large 17-inch display, the XPS 17 9700 is impressively compact, thanks to its thin bezels and efficient use of space. It measures just 14.74 x 9.76 x 0.77 inches and weighs around 4.65 pounds (2.11 kg), making it one of the most portable 17-inch laptops available. This combination of size and weight makes it suitable for users who need a large screen but still want a portable device.

1.3. Robust Build Quality

The laptop’s build quality is exceptional, with a sturdy chassis that feels solid and well-constructed. The hinge mechanism is smooth and reliable, allowing for easy one-handed opening while providing enough resistance to keep the screen steady in any position. The keyboard and trackpad are both well-designed, offering a comfortable and responsive typing experience.

2. Display

2.1. 17-Inch 4K UHD+ InfinityEdge Display

One of the standout features of the Dell XPS 17 9700 is its stunning 17-inch 4K UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge display. The display is virtually borderless, with a screen-to-body ratio of over 93%, providing an immersive viewing experience. The 16:10 aspect ratio gives you more vertical space than a traditional 16:9 display, making it ideal for productivity tasks such as editing documents, coding, or browsing the web.

2.2. Vivid and Accurate Colors

The display covers 100% of the Adobe RGB and 94% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it perfect for color-critical work such as photo and video editing. With a peak brightness of 500 nits, the screen remains visible even in bright environments. The high contrast ratio ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors, enhancing the overall visual experience.

2.3. Touchscreen Option

For those who prefer touch input, the XPS 17 9700 offers an optional touchscreen model. The touchscreen is responsive and supports multi-touch gestures, making it easy to interact with applications, navigate the web, or work on creative projects.

3. Performance

3.1. Intel Core i7/i9 Processor

At the heart of the XPS 17 9700 is the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7 or i9 processor, depending on the configuration you choose. The i7-10750H is a 6-core processor with a base clock of 2.6 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 5.0 GHz, while the i9-10885H offers 8 cores with a base clock of 2.4 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 5.3 GHz. Both processors deliver exceptional performance for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and heavy multitasking.

3.2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX Graphics

The laptop can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The RTX 2060 provides ample power for gaming, 3D modeling, and other graphics-intensive applications. With support for real-time ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics, the XPS 17 9700 can handle the latest games and creative software with ease.

3.3. Up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM

The XPS 17 9700 supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, ensuring smooth performance even when running multiple applications simultaneously. Whether you’re working with large datasets, running virtual machines, or editing high-resolution video, the ample memory capacity ensures that you won’t experience slowdowns or bottlenecks.

3.4. Fast PCIe NVMe SSD Storage

The laptop comes with up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage, offering lightning-fast read and write speeds. This ensures quick boot times, fast application launches, and smooth file transfers. The large storage capacity also provides plenty of space for your files, media, and software.

4. Connectivity and Ports

4.1. Thunderbolt 3 Ports

The XPS 17 9700 is equipped with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, offering versatile connectivity options. These ports support fast data transfer speeds, external display connections (up to two 4K displays or one 8K display), and charging. The laptop also includes an SD card reader, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and a USB-C to USB-A adapter, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of peripherals.

4.2. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1

The laptop features the latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology, providing faster speeds, improved capacity, and better performance in crowded environments. Wi-Fi 6 ensures a reliable connection for streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing. Additionally, Bluetooth 5.1 is included, allowing you to connect wireless peripherals with ease.

5. Audio and Webcam

5.1. High-Quality Speakers

The XPS 17 9700 is equipped with a quad-speaker setup tuned by Waves Nx 3D audio, delivering immersive sound quality. The speakers are loud, clear, and well-balanced, making them suitable for media consumption, video conferencing, and casual music listening. The laptop also features Waves MaxxAudio Pro, which enhances audio playback with custom presets and equalizer settings.

5.2. HD Webcam with Windows Hello

The laptop includes an HD webcam positioned above the display, offering a natural angle for video calls. The webcam supports Windows Hello facial recognition, allowing you to log in securely and quickly without the need for a password. The dual-array microphones capture clear audio, reducing background noise for better communication during calls.

6. Battery Life and Charging

6.1. Long-Lasting Battery

The Dell XPS 17 9700 is powered by a 97Wh battery, providing impressive battery life for a laptop of its size and power. Depending on usage, you can expect up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, making it suitable for a full day of work or travel without needing to plug in.

6.2. Fast Charging Technology

The laptop supports Dell’s ExpressCharge technology, which allows you to recharge the battery up to 80% in just one hour. This is particularly useful for users who are frequently on the go and need to top up their battery quickly.

7. Software and Warranty

7.1. Windows 10/11 Pre-Installed

The XPS 17 9700 comes pre-installed with Windows 10, with an option to upgrade to Windows 11. The operating system provides a familiar and user-friendly interface, along with access to a vast library of applications. Dell also includes a suite of useful software tools, such as Dell Power Manager, Dell Mobile Connect, and Dell Cinema, to enhance your experience.

7.2. Dell Premium Support

Dell offers a standard 1-year limited warranty with the XPS 17 9700, covering hardware defects and providing access to technical support. You can also opt for Dell Premium Support or Premium Support Plus, which offer additional benefits such as on-site service, accidental damage protection, and priority access to expert technicians.

Conclusion

The Dell XPS 17 9700 is a powerhouse laptop that combines cutting-edge performance with a stunning 17-inch display and a premium design. Whether you’re a creative professional, a power user, or someone who simply wants the best in mobile computing, the XPS 17 9700 delivers on all fronts. With its robust build quality, top-tier internals, and thoughtful features, it’s a laptop that can handle just about anything you throw at it, all while looking sleek and stylish.