Dell XPS 15 9510 (2021) review
Dell XPS 15 9510 (2021) — from 2021, 2.05 kg, performance 74.
Technical specifications
| Type | Gaming |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Screen | 15.6" · 3456x2160 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 11400H , Intel Core i7 11800H , Intel Core i9 11900H |
| Graphics | GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB , GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB , GeForce RTX 3050 4GB |
| Max. RAM | 64 GB |
| Weight | 2.05 kg |
| Battery | 56 Wh |
Performance scores
The portable XPS: top-quartile mobility in a gaming class
The Dell XPS 15 9510 (2021) pairs a Core i5 11400H with an RTX 3050 (4GB) and 64GB of RAM at $652. Its distinguishing measurement is unusual for the shelf it sits on: mobility reads 35 against a gaming-class median of 29 — top quartile — because this is a slim creator machine misfiled among the heavyweights. The honest trade-off sits in the battery: 56Wh against a 71Wh median is the price of the thin shell.
Measured hybrid capability
The flags cover the full spread: Overwatch clears recommended, Grand Theft Auto V clears recommended at a measured 140 fps, Far Cry 5 clears recommended at a measured 68 fps, and Photoshop and Visual Studio Code clear their minimums. With 64GB of RAM behind the RTX 3050, this is a genuine creator machine — light modern gaming at 1080p, photo and code work, and a chassis that actually travels, which nothing else in its band combines at this price.
Price and value trajectory
From $1,800 at launch to $652 today, the 9510 has depreciated at 13.44 percent per year, with a projected $488 (a further 25.1 percent) in two years. Modern-hardware curves run steep; the counterweight is that the machine remains a current-generation platform rather than a vintage holdover.
Against its price neighbors
Above it sit the Victus 15-fb2063dx at $712 and the Pavilion Gaming 15 at $705 — bigger, cheaper-built gaming machines with similar GPU class; below it the XPS 15 9500 at $576 and the IdeaPad Gaming 3 at $604. The 9510's edge over all four is the package: the mobility top-quartile placing plus the premium build. For buyers who carry the machine, that difference is the buy reason.
Bottom line
The XPS 15 9510 at $652 is the travel-first hybrid: rec-bar gaming with measured frames, creative minimums, 64GB of RAM, and the best mobility score in its band. The 56Wh battery is the one honest compromise — plan the charger. For creator-buyers who move, the data points here rather than at the cheaper, heavier alternatives.
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⭐ What stands out
-
battery capacity is lower than typical gaming class (+21.1%) (standard).
below class average -
mobility is higher than typical gaming class (+20.7%) (low tier).
top 25% of its category -
graphics performance is lower than typical gaming class (+19.6%) (high tier).
budget segment of category
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: mobility ↔ overall performance
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration handles modern AAA games at high settings, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 53) ↔ price (median 749.6).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 29) ↔ overall performance (median 73.9).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 100) ↔ battery life (median 2.5).
XPS 15 9510 (2021): verdict
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