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Best Dell laptop deals: Cheap laptops starting at $280

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If you’re looking to pick up a new laptop, then Dell is one of the best laptop brands out there and has a multitude of options for you to pick from depending on your needs. For example, Dell has both Alienware and G-Series which are some of the best gaming laptops on the market, and the Dell XPS lineup are some of the best laptops on the market and are made to compete with the MacBook. But that doesn’t mean that Dell only has high-end gear for you to pick, and there are absolutely some great budget laptops and starter options.

Of course, having so many options can be a bit overwhelming for somebody who isn’t familiar with Dell or the laptop market, which is why we scoured the Dell website for our favorite picks and listed them below. This list has a lot of crossover with the best Dell XPS deals, student laptop deals and gaming laptop deals, so make sure to check out some of those other great laptop deals as well.

Dell Inspiron 15 — $280, was $330

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Laptop on a white background displaying a colourful scene.
Dell

If you just need a basic laptop for simple tasks like browsing the internet and watching streaming shows, the affordable Dell Inspiron 15 will be enough with its 12th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, Intel UHD Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. Images and videos will be bright and colorful on the laptop’s 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution, and you’ll have plenty of space to save your files on its 256GB SSD, which comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed.

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Dell Vostro 14 — $449, was $799

Dell Vostro 14 sitting on a table
Dell

If you need a bit more processing power the Vostro 14 comes with an Intel Core i5-1335U, a solid mid-range CPU that should let you handle some more creative tasks, as well as potentially some casual games. It also comes with a smaller 14-inch screen which is great for those who want something a bit more portable, especially since it only weighs 3.17 pounds. While it comes with 8GB of RAM, you may want to consider upgrading to the 16GB model for an extra $180, which also nets you the slightly better Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics which should help with those creative tasks and gaming.

Dell XPS 13 — $599, was $799

The Dell XPS 13 9315 on a table against a window.
Digital Trends

With the pending arrival of a new Dell XPS 13, here’s your chance to get the soon-to-be previous-generation model for very cheap. As a mainstay in our list of the best laptops, the Dell XPS 13 is still a completely worthwhile purchase with its 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM. The device is simply gorgeous with practically no bezels surrounding its 13.4-inch Full HD+ display, and there’s ample storage space in its 256GB SSD even with Windows 11 Home pre-loaded.

Dell G15 Gaming — $900, was $1,050

Dell 15 Gaming Laptop front view showing display and keyboard deck.
Dell

If you’re looking for a good budget-friendly gaming laptop, you’ll be happy to know that Dell has a great option for that too in the form of the Dell G15. It comes with an entry-level RTX 4050 that should be able to handle most free to play and older games, and while you can upgrade to an RTX 4060 for extra power, there aren’t any deals for that model at the moment. As for the CPU, you get yourself an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS which is a higher-end CPU that should easily handle most games you throw at it, including simulation and strategy games. On the other hand, it only comes with a 512GB SSD for storage, which is low for gaming, so you may want to supplement it with one of these external hard drive deals.

Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 — $1,100, was $1,500

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 laptop in tent mode.
Dell

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is equipped with an Intel i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce MX550 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. This will give you good day-to-day performance, but the reason that you’d want to buy the device is because it’s a 2-in-1 laptop under the convertible category, according to our laptop buying guide. You can quickly switch between laptop mode and tablet mode with the help of the 360-degree hinges that are attached to its 16-inch Full HD+ touchscreen. The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 ships with Windows 11 Home pre-loaded in its 1TB  SSD.

Alienware x14 R2 — $1,500, was $1,900

Forza Horizon 5 running on the Alienware x14 R2.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

You need a gaming laptop if you want a device that’s designed to play the best PC games, and you can’t go wrong with the Alienware x14 R2. It’s powered by the 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, and you’ll be able to enjoy its capabilities on the gaming laptop’s 14-inch display with QHD+ resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. You’ll be able to install multiple AAA titles in the Alienware x14 R2’s 1TB SSD, and you can start doing so right after booting up because Windows 11 Home is pre-loaded.

Dell XPS 17 — $1,699, was $2,459

Dell XPS 17 9370 front view showing display and keyboard deck.
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

This is the last model of the Dell XPS 17 as it’s been discontinued along with the Dell XPS 15 in favor of the Dell XPS 16 and Dell XPS 14, respectively. Get it for cheaper than usual with this offer on a configuration that features the 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. The Dell XPS 17’s massive 17-inch display with Full HD+ resolution is still a head-turner, and with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed in its 512GB SSD, you’ll be able to maximize the operating system’s more advanced features.

Dell Alienware x16 — $1,900, was $2,900

Screen on the Alienware x16.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends / Digital Trends

If you need a lot of power under the hood of your gaming laptop, then you may want to consider the Dell Alienware x16 especially since it runs a mobile version of the RTX 4080, which is roughly at the same performance level of a desktop RTX 4070. That means that it’s a solid 1440p laptop, even when aiming for 100+ framerate, which is great since it has a 16-inch monitor that runs a 2560 x 1600 resolution and a whopping 240Hz refresh rate. While the GPU may not be able to hit both the max resolution and refresh, it does give you the option to prioritize based on what game you’re playing.

More Dell laptop deals we love

Alienware m18 laptop sitting on a table.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Our favorite offers above make up just the tip of the iceberg for Dell laptop deals. With so many models and configurations on sale, it will be tough to narrow everything down to the best bargains — but we tried with the list that you see below. If something catches your eye, it’s highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase right away because the laptop’s price may be back to normal if you decide to come back to it at a later time. Don’t miss out on the discounts by completing the transaction right now.

  • Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 —
  • Dell Vostro 15 —
  • Dell Inspiron 16 —
  • Dell Latitude 5540 —
  • Dell G16 —
  • Alienware m18 —
  • Dell XPS 15 —

More Unmissable Deals

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Albert Bassili
Albert Bassili
Deals Writer
Albert’s been a tech and gaming writer for almost a decade now, writing across websites such as GameGavel, How-To-Geek, and…
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