The Dell XPS 15 9530 (2023) laptop was released in the first quarter of 2023 and is one of this year’s top high-end laptops. It is considered a “desktop replacement” laptop. It is available in a variety of configurations to suit different needs and budgets and overall, it has been well-received in the market.
To browse Amazon deals on Dell XPS 15 9530 laptops with Core i9 CPUs, click here.
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
In this post, we will provide an overview of this laptop and what it contains. We will specifically have a look at configurations with the Intel Core i9 processor, with its available customization options, and what it all means. Let’s dive into this overview of the Dell XPS 15 9530 i9.
Name: Dell XPS 15 9530 (2023)
Price: from $2,549 (with Intel Core i9)
Overall Rank: 8.5/10
Features
Processor: 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-13900H (24 MB cache, 14 cores, up to 5.40 GHz Turbo)
This is a powerful processor and one of Intel’s latest. It was released in quarter 1 of 2023. We still see a lot of 11th and 12th-generation CPUs in laptops in the market today, so with this option, you have pretty new technology, and you can expect very good performance.
RAM: DDR5, 4800 MT/s, with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB configurations available
DDR5 is the latest generation of DDR technology. This laptop’s RAM runs at 4800 million transfers per second (MT/s), which is at the low end of the DDR5 speed spectrum, but still lightning-fast and much faster than DDR4 RAM.
Storage: M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD with 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB options available
Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ (4060 or 4070), 8 GB GDDR6
These are dedicated graphics cards and are suitable for high-intensity graphical processing.
Display: 15.6″, 3.5K 3456×2160, 60Hz, OLED, Touch, Anti-Reflect, 400 nit, InfinityEdge
This laptop is likely to deliver a high-quality, vibrant, and immersive visual experience, suitable for various tasks, including content consumption and touch-based interactions.
- It sports a 15.6″ screen with a 3.5K resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate.
- It uses OLED technology, which is known for its vibrant colors, high contrast ratios, and deep black levels. It provides better picture quality compared to traditional LCD displays.
- The laptop screen further has anti-glare properties, and it is touch-sensitive, allowing you to interact with the device using touch gestures in addition to the traditional keyboard and trackpad.
- Its 400-nit display would be relatively bright, providing good visibility even in well-lit environments.
- “InfinityEdge” is a term often associated with Dell laptops. It refers to a design with extremely thin bezels around the display, creating an edge-to-edge screen appearance. The InfinityEdge design is aimed at maximizing the usable screen surface and providing a more immersive viewing experience.
This is a pretty high-spec display, suitable for specialists working with graphics, video, and photo editing.
Dimensions and Weight
- Height: 0.71 in. (18 mm)
- Width: 13.57 in. (344.72 mm)
- Depth: 9.06 in. (230.14 mm)
- Starting weight: 4.23lbs. (1.92kg)
Case and Chassis
- Material: Aluminum chassis with carbon fiber palm rest
- Color: Platinum Silver exterior, Black interior
The main body of the laptop is crafted from precision-cut aluminum using CNC machining, offering durability and a premium finish. Additionally, the palm rest area, where users place their hands, is made of lightweight and strong carbon fiber, enhancing the overall aesthetics and user experience. This combination provides both high build quality and a premium look and feel.
Ports & Slots
- 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort
- 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2) ports
- 1 headset jack – 3.5mm (headphone and microphone combo)
- 1 USB-C to USB-A v3.0 & HDMI v2.0 adapter (included in the box)
- 1 SD-card slot
- 1 Wedge-shaped lock slot
It is notable that there are no built-in USB-A ports or HDMI ports in the laptop. However, the laptop comes with a USB-C to USB-A v3.0 & HDMI v2.0 adapter. You could also use a compatible docking station.
There is also no dedicated RJ45 Ethernet port on this laptop, a common trend in newer laptops today. If you prefer connecting an Ethernet cable, you will have to use a compatible docking station, or a USB-C to Ethernet adapter.
Camera: 720p at 30 fps, HD camera, dual-array microphones
This laptop has a pretty basic camera considering the price. It is suitable for online meetings and video calls, but you might consider using an external FHD or higher-spec webcam for better-quality images.
The dual-array microphones are a good feature, which is designed to enhance the quality of audio capture, particularly in noisy environments, by providing better noise cancellation and more accurate sound localization.
Audio and Speakers: Stereo woofer 2.5 W x 2 and stereo tweeter 1.5 W x 2 = 8 W total peak
This is a pretty nifty audio system and much better than the simple 2 x 2W commonly found in laptops. This configuration suggests a speaker system designed to provide a balance of bass (from the woofers) and treble (from the tweeters), contributing to a fuller and more immersive audio experience.
Wireless
- Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 6 1675 (model number AX211)
- 2×2
- Bluetooth® wireless card
The laptop is equipped with a wireless network adapter developed by Intel under the Killer brand. This adapter supports the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard, providing improved wireless performance and efficiency, especially in environments with multiple connected devices. Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax and released in 2019, is the latest standard for wireless networks, offering improved speed, capacity, and efficiency over its predecessors (Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac). Note that it is expected that Wi-Fi 7 will be released in the second quarter of 2024. However, as with previous releases, you should have no problem with using Wi-Fi 6 on a Wi-Fi 7 network.
2×2 refers to the number of transmit and receive antennas for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In a 2×2 configuration, there are two antennas for transmitting data and two antennas for receiving data. This configuration can enhance data transfer rates and overall wireless performance.
This laptop includes a Bluetooth wireless card, which allows it to connect wirelessly to other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as mice, keyboards, headphones, and smartphones.
In summary, this laptop’s wireless networking capabilities provide fast and reliable wireless connectivity.
Primary Battery: 6 Cell, 86 Wh, integrated
Generally, a higher number of cells and a higher Wh rating suggest a potentially longer battery life, but it’s not the only factor affecting real-world performance. It also depends on the specific laptop model and how efficiently it uses the battery power. For this laptop, looking at various tests in the industry, it seems that you can expect pretty good battery life out of its battery.
Also note for this laptop, that it has an “integrated” battery; this means it is embedded in the device and is not removable without special tools; in case the battery needs to be replaced, the laptop will need to be taken to a certified repairer.
Power Supply: 130Watt Type-C Adapter
Operating System: Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro options are available
Keyboard: English US, backlit keyboard
Warranty and Support
The laptop comes with Dell’s 1-year Premium Support with hardware and software, 1-2 business day onsite repair after remote diagnosis
Market Reception
On Dell’s website, this laptop has a 4.4 out of 5 rating, from almost 4,000 reviews. Looking at reviews all over the industry, it is rated as one of the top laptops of 2023. The majority of people who purchased this laptop seem to be very satisfied with it.
Conclusion
The Dell XPS 15 9530 i9 (2023) is a high-end laptop that features some of the latest technology in the market today. It is suitable for high-intensity graphical operations. It has been well-received in the market, and overall, it looks like a great buy.
To browse Amazon deals on Dell XPS 15 9530 laptops with Core i9 CPUs, click here.
When you use the links on this page to make a purchase, I may get a small commission and you may get a great bargain. It’s a win-win all around. View the full disclosure here.
No responses yet