Dell and HP are two of the leading laptop brands on the market. If you are looking for a new laptop these are brands to consider as they produce excellent products.
To find which brand and model best suits your needs you will have to do some research. Both Dell and HP offer a wide variety of laptop models for different purposes so both can be the right choice.
However, if gaming is your thing, you should pick a Dell with the Alienware line. HP makes very versatile laptops, perfect for everyday tasks.
Below we will do a deeper comparison of Dell and HP to see how these two laptop giants compare.
Main Differences Between Dell and HP
Dell vs HP: Which brand should you pick?
With their Alienware range and bezel-free display on the XPS, Dell has more lightweight, compact laptops that can pack a punch. HP also has a good range of gaming and business laptops but their lack of budget options makes them less appealing. Dell’s customer services are also better than HP.
Dell
Dell is a multinational based in the US and known for its wide range of laptops, docks, monitors, etc.
Their laptops and desktops use Windows Microsoft and cater to all budgets and needs. Yes, whether you are an artist or a gamer, there’s a Dell for you.
Design
If you have been using Dell for a few years now, you’d know Dell doesn’t lay emphasis on design. Not saying the laptops look bad but or are heavy they can do with an upgrade to keep up with the competition.
Yet, when it comes to power and speed Dell is right up there ensuring smooth gameplay or photo edits each time.
Dell has introduced sleek design concepts into their latest laptops. For example, Dell’s XPS 13 is popular when it comes to design. It has a slim profile and white-gold chassis that have an aesthetic appeal.
For gamers, Dell’s Alienware series is among the top choices in the market today for gaming laptops. The laptops come with backlit keyboards, powerful specs, high refresh rates.
Dell beats HP when it comes to design. We compared Dell Inspiron to the HP Pavilion (two of the most eye-catching laptops) and Dell won hands down.
Components
Components are definitely an area that is Dell’s forte. Dell fits not only high-quality but powerful components inside its laptops.
Dell manufactures laptops with different processors, graphics cards, RAM, and so on. This ensures there’s something for every budget and need.
For business use, an 9th Gen, i5 laptop with an integrated graphics card is ideal. But if you need something powerful and faster there are laptops with 9th Gen and 10th Gen i7 and i9 processors. Furthermore, you have dedicated GPUs such as the NVIDIA GTX 1080 for a performance boost.
With Dell’s Inspiron and Alienware series, users get high-quality laptops. You also have a wide pool to choose from irrespective of your budget.
Innovation
Innovation is one of the significant factors in the Dell vs. HP debate, and Dell tops this area. They continue to develop different technologies and design concepts for their laptops.
Dell laptops have bulky form factors equipped with average dual Core processors. This makes the laptops more suitable for general business purposes like email.
But, the research and development department of Dell continues to do a good job. With its intention to expand its market, Dell continues to innovate in the design and tech of the laptops.
Take the example of the Dell XPS series, like the popular Dell XPS 13. The lightweight and slim build of the XPS series makes it the in-demand Dell laptop. Oh, and you can control the laptops in this series via your smartphone.
Then there is Dell Precision Series as well. These are powerful and fast laptops ideal for graphic-intensive tasks like video editing. Dell has also come up with a Control Centre for its Alienware laptops. This allows users to change settings according to each game.
On the downside, their latest innovations are around high-end laptops as per the users. They also claim this is something that Dell has to improve on because they serve a broad customer base.
Customer Support
While Dell’s customer support has room for improvement, they outperform HP. I contacted Dell via the chat option on their website and wanted to know how to the auto or adaptive brightness feature.
Getting connected took about 10 minutes with me low on the waiting list (probably caught them at a busy hour) but my overall experience was good. I wasn’t comfortable sharing access and the representative took the time to guide me step by step.
It took about 25 minutes to get the job done. Could have been a tad quicker but my problem was solved.
As for social media, getting replies from a bot was annoying. Took quite a while before I was connected to a human and thankfully, he provided a quick-fire solution to my question on increasing the bass on the speakers.
Phone support is the measure of last resort. Why? Connecting to a representative took about 20 minutes and the conversation lasted another 25 minutes. The solution was on point but I would have liked a shorter talk with a quicker solution.
If you like me are an introvert that hates talking on the phone or hates waiting, check out Dell’s community page for quick-fire solutions before you make that call.
Where are Dell Laptops Manufactured?
Dell gets about 95% of its laptops manufactured in Asian countries. This includes Penang, Malaysia, and Xiamen, China. Penang had the first unit back in 1995 whereas the one in Xiamen has been operational since 1999.
Dell also invested about $60 million in a new manufacturing unit in Chennai, India. This helped them cater to the growing demands of that continent. As for the South American market, their unit in Hortolandia, Brazil handles the bulk of the demand.
Their Alienware range of laptops has been a massive hit amongst buyers. Its production started in Austin, Texas, and continues to be the main unit.
Dell had many plants across the US shut down between 2007-2010. This was due to the high amount of incentives they had to pay to the states. The workload from these units got distributed between the Asian and Mexican plants.
Why Dell Stand Out
Dell stands out due to its wide range of products ranging from high-end laptops to budget ones.
Plus, Dell doesn’t compromise superior quality for user price. Backing this up is their amazing customer service that is quick, efficient, cost-effective. Dell continues to introduce more laptops which means there’s plenty to choose from.
Best Dell Laptops for 2022
More Dell Comparisons:
Dell vs Lenovo: Which is the Better Brand in 2022?
Hewlett-Packard (HP)
HP is a direct competitor of Dell. They, too, are very popular. Hewlett Packard started making robust workstation computers, which weren’t expensive. Though as for the design, there was plenty of room for improvement.
Besides, their earliest laptop products were durable and made with high-quality components.
Design
Over the years, HP has improved a lot on the design of their laptops. The newer modes like the Spectre x360 laptop model, have a silver aluminum chassis.
Backing it are the solid hinges that allow the laptop computer to transform into a tablet as needed.
In the Dell vs. HP debate, the race for the most eye-catching design concepts is tight between the two brands.
Both have raised their standards when it comes to design innovation. Yet, HP has the upper hand in this area with the release of their newest products.
Components
When it comes to CPU, RAM, and video cards, Dell has the upper hand. Though HP laptops match laptops that match Dell laptops, HP is not as good as Dell when it comes to quality.
Dell’s processors are faster and more reliable compared to HP laptops. On the plus side, HP still makes robust laptops with longer battery life.
Innovation
As mentioned earlier, HP has also raised its game when it comes to innovation. Their latest range of laptops has plenty of new features that users are loving.
But, Dell has innovated more because they continue to target their laptops at users. A significant part of HP’s focus is on other products like printers and scanners. HP has not directed its innovative efforts towards the development of laptops.
Besides, more recent HP laptops come with enhanced features. Although not as innovative as Dell’s portable laptops, HP laptops are still up to the mark by today’s standards.
Customer Support
Like Dell, HP also has a detailed community page where moderators and other users answer questions related to various issues every day. So skip the hassle of long conversations and waiting times and try that out first here.
Yes, because with HP, you will be waiting even more. And what’s more annoying is their over-reliance on virtual assistants.
Where are Laptops by HP Manufactured?
Popular HP laptops, such as the HP Envy, Elitebook, Pavilion, and the HP Omen are all manufactured in the US. Both brands hold about 23% of the market share here.
Manufacturing of some laptop components happens in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These components are then assembled in the US to meet the market demands. As for the Asian market, the assembly takes place in China.
Why HP Stands Out?
HP delivers cool-looking laptops with enough technical resources for computer-heavy tasks. This makes them ideal for both gamers and business users.
HP provides many choices. These can range from budget laptops to high-end products with world-class components.
Best HP Laptops For 2022
Dell vs. HP Brand comparison FAQs
Q1: Are Dell or HP laptops better for gaming?
Dell’s Alienware laptops were a clear-cut favorite in the past. But with HP launching its Omen gaming laptop, they have closed the gap. Both ranges of laptops are durable, come with RGB keyboards, powerful GPU, etc. to support any game. The choice comes down to your preference and budget.
Q2: Which is the ideal brand for budget buyers?
If you are spending on a tight leash, Dell is the go-to brand. Not only are its Alienware laptops much cheaper than the HP Omen model, but they also offer laptops for as low as $299 for entertainment and light work.
Q3: Are Dell or HP laptops more durable?
If you are looking at battery life, HP is the winner as its prismatic batteries last you for 3-4 years whereas Dell usually lasts for two years. As for the build and sound, both the brands go toe to toe.
Q4: Which brand provides better customer service?
When it comes to customer service, HP and other brands can take a leaf out of Dell’s playbook. There are complaints about long waiting times, slow solutions with HP. This could be because they outsource their customer service.
Final Verdict
With their XPS and Alienware range of laptops, Dell narrowly wins the Dell vs HP laptops battle. HP also has a great range of laptops for gaming and business use with the Omen and Envy Series but Dell provides you better budget choices compared to HP.
As for customer services, HP should rely less on virtual assistants and make getting human help easier and quicker. Dell needs to reduce waiting time on phone calls while also lowering reliance on virtual assistants on their social media channels. The ideal way to contact them is via their online chat.
