Dell Launches Ultra-Thin XPS 15z, Starting at $999.99

Dell has made the XPS 15z official. The new ultra-thin laptop, a MacBook Pro competitor in a 15.6-inch package, wasn't exactly a secret, but now those looking to buy one can start pricing and customizing them, on Dell's website, as of May 24.

The Dell XPS 15z is, as expected, priced at $999.99 to start. The highest-end models start at $1922.99.

Based on their website, Dell can ship the basic model as soon as May 25. The upscale models will ship, still relatively quickly, by June 3.


The XPS 15z starts at 5.54 pounds, and is .97-inches at its thickest point. That puts it squarely in the size and weight range of Apple's 15.4-inch MacBook Pro.


At its most basic price the XPS 15z comes with an Intel second generation Sandy Bridge Core i5-2410M processor (2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz), 6GB of RAM, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive), Elemental Silver Aluminum 15.6" HD (720P) WLED Display with Webcam, a NVIDIA GeForce® GT 525M 1GB graphics with Optimus, and a 1 Year Basic Service Plan.

In its uncustomized form, the high-end XPS 15z ups the specs with an Elemental Silver Aluminum 15.6" 300-nit FHD (1080P) WLED Display with Webcam, second generation Intel Core i7-2620M processor (2.70 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz), 750GB 7200RPM hard drive, 8GB of RAM, and a 2 Year Advanced Service Plan.


Strangely, in this age of SSDs, there appears to be no SSD option, as was rumored. No Thunderbolt I/O but there are two USB 3.0 ports and an eSATA port, as well.

Will this new ultra-thin laptop exceed the tarnished (meaning, low sales) legacy of the deceased Adamo? Dell hopes so. You can read the full press release below.

Dell Introduces the Ultra-Powerful XPS 15z – the Thinnest 15-inch PC on the Planet Less Mass, More Appeal: the Ultimate Blend of Style and Performance
  • Uncompromising Performance with 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i5 & i7 Processors, Optional Full HD Screens and Up to Eight Hours of Battery Life
  • First in a Series of New Thin, Ultra-powerful Laptops from Dell This Year 
ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 24, 2011 – Dell today introduced the XPS 15z laptop, the thinnest 15-inch PC on the planet, and the first in a series of new thin and ultra-powerful products from Dell to come this year. With the XPS 15z, everyone from mobile warriors to students and small-business owners now have everything they need to work hard and play hard in one stunning package.

A leading-edge combination of uncompromising power and stunning design, the XPS 15z offers 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, optional 15.6-inch Full HD (1080p) display for superior entertainment and web-browsing experiences, a backlit keyboard with adjustable brightness and up to eight hours of battery life[ii] – all housed in a luxurious, eye-catching and elegantly crafted case that is less than an inch thick.

The XPS 15z is the first in a series of upcoming thin Inspiron- and XPS-branded products that deliver the ultimate blend of style and performance so you can pursue your personal passions.

“The XPS 15z delivers uncompromising performance in our most beautifully designed laptop yet,” said Sam Burd, vice president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business product group. “It delivers all the must-have features -- from next-generation Intel Core i processors for incredible performance to optional full HD screens that are up to 50 percent brighter than standard displays – all in a stunning form factor that makes it the thinnest 15-inch PC on the planet.”

“The XPS 15z provides a glimpse into a series of visually stunning and powerful systems coming soon to our consumer and small-to-medium-business product portfolio,” said Steve Felice, president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business group. “We’re committed to introducing next-generation products that help people pursue their personal and professional passions.”

Less Mass, More Appeal A technology package perfect for pumping out spectacular, media-rich office presentations or watching the latest award-winning movies, the XPS 15z includes 2nd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a brilliant 15.6-inch WLED display with a Full HD option that has almost two times the HD resolution of standard HD displays, NVIDIA graphics with 3DTV play capabilities[iii], built-in WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 3.0 and a backlit keyboard.

Despite its incredibly slim exterior, the XPS 15z delivers uncompromising performance, including NVIDIA discrete graphics with Optimus technology that automatically switches to power-saving integrated graphics under reduced workloads, helping the battery last longer on coast-to-coast flights and for movie marathons. In addition, it offers ample hard drive storage and a slot-loading DVD +/- RW drive for watching the latest movies or burning music to a disc. And the optional Full HD (1080p) display brings HDTV-type quality to the laptop screen.

Advanced wireless features make XPS 15z your go-to device from the road or the living room. Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity ensure it’s fast and easy to connect with e-mail, websites, Skype and Facebook from almost anywhere[iv]. For at-home entertainment, the optional Intel Wireless Display[v] feature enables videos and photos to be streamed wirelessly from your XPS 15z to an HDMI-equipped TV. And with the exclusive Dell Stage user interface, it’s easy to access personal content such as music, photos and videos.

At first glance, the XPS 15z design, with its clean aluminum design, appears like it floats above the surface, and the polished, brushed finishes with sophisticated accents add to a luxurious appearance.

Priced from $999, the XPS 15z, like all XPS computers, is designed and built from the ground up to provide a premium computing experience with the best materials, technology, performance and reliability Dell offers.

Availability: The XPS 15z is available today from Dell’s global online stores, including www.dell.com in the United States, with retail availability to follow shortly.

Detailed Information:
  • Thin (0.97”/24.68mm) laptop PC with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium; aluminum and mag-alloy enclosure
  • 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Dual Core processor choices
  • Standard HD or optional Full HD (1920x1080) WLED display
  • Fast NVIDIA graphics options:
    • NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M with 1GB graphics memory
    • NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M with 2GB graphics memory
  • Includes NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology; NVIDIA 3DTV Play technology
  • 4GB up to 8GB DDR3 1333Mhz memory[viii] options
  • Fast 7200RPM hard disk storage, up to 750GB[ix]
  • Built-in Slot load DVD +/- RW (reads & writes to CD/DVD)
  • Backlit, Chiclet-style keyboard with adjustable brightness
  • Optimized touchpad
  • Built-in Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11 A/G/N and Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity
  • Intel Wireless Display-ready
  • Up to 8 hours of battery life with 8-cell battery
  • USB 3.0 (2), USB/eSATA with PowerShare, HDMI 1.4, Mini Display-Port, Gigabit Ethernet and audio connectors
  • Built-in 9-in-1 media card reader
  • Built-in 1.3MP HD Webcam with dual array digital microphones and stereo speakers
  • Dell Stage software for fast access to content like music, videos and photos
  • Dimensions: Height: 0.97” (24.68mm) / Width: 15.15” (384.85mm) / Depth 10.25” (260.37mm); Weight: starting at 5.54lbs (2.51 kg)
Tags:  Dell, laptop, MacBook Air