[sippingjippers]

I moved to XPS 15 as my first non-Mac machine in over 10 years, and I must say I'm far from impressed by the build quality.

These laptops are gorgeous new, but they are SO fragile. One of the screen hinges is broken, I've replaced numerous keys, the keyboard is now developing some debounce/key registration issue all over the right-hand side, the speakers are both blown (left first then the right), the trackpad sits 0.5cm above the case (needs replaced), the glue holding the rubber to the bottom of the case expanded with heat and leaked out everywhere. Probably more I've forgotten

I'd still consider buying another, but I'd also strongly consider changing vendors once this machine finally dies

[meddlepal]

The fragility of Dell's consumer laptops is why I continue to buy Lenovo's which are less sleek but have better durability and run Linux just fine. In recent memory I've had an X1 Carbon and X1 Carbon Extreme Gen 1 and been very satisfied.

[bluedino]

Lenovo parts availability is a huge plus over Dell as well. Second hand or repair parts are hard to find for them.

[znpy]

Lenovo are also way better at warranty. In my experience they just asked for the serial number of the ThinkPad, it was still covered and they accepted it (and fixed it). It was an used laptop.

Dell OTOH asked for the original receipt of purchase, that of course I didn't have because that also was an used laptop.

Also, the latitude series is way better than the xps line. I've got the latitude 7390 from dell and it's just marvelous.

So yeah, if you're buying new, dell or Lenovo ThinkPad (I'd recommend a ThinkPad though).

If you're buying second hand, ThinkPad is the way.

[freedomben]

Exactly my thoughts too. I love the look and build of the Dell's but the Lenovos, while ugly, are so tough and so easy and cheap to repair. I buy all ThinkPads these days (most recently the T580 and T490, both of which are amazing and run Fedora like a dream, out of the box).

[selectodude]

Is it still impossible to find non-garbage non-$200+ replacement batteries? I had to give up on my X61 because it was no longer a mobile device.

[riquito]

I recently replaced the two batteries of a t460s, I paid 155 usd (53 + 70 + shipping outside USA) , using the Lenovo official vendor (encompass)

[orev]

The X1s are part of Lenovo’s business line, not consumer, so you’d need to be comparing to the Dell Latitudes to make it fair.

[meddlepal]

I've owned T5xx and T4xx in the same timeframe, they're also high quality.

Im not sure the X1 Extreme is part of the biz line... it's marketed at gaming or more accurately people that want a Work/Play device.

[rsa25519]

I have an XPS 13. I paid for the default "basic warranty." This week my fans started wobbling, causing lots of noise. I called Dell, told them I was using Linux, then they immediately offered to send someone in-person (with pandemic safety precautions) to fix it. And they did. It took 15 minutes for my fan to be replaced once they arrived. The person was very helpful, and they improved my boot time, too, by setting the clock in my BIOS.

[highwind]

My experience is total opposite. I had horrible hardware experience with MacBook Pro. Battery being blown up, broken hinges, keyboard skipping... My XPS has been working amazingly fine. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[jrimbault]

Same, XPS 15 9570 (2 years old I believe). It's almost as good as new. A little electrical whining when charging and putting the ear against it, but that's since day one. I've kept a cloth in between the screen and keyboard, kept everything clean just by rubbing a cloth a few times.

[pivo]

FWIW my late 2013, 15" MacBook Pro seems to me just as good as new. Never had to replace the battery or have any kind of service done on it at all.

I kind of want to buy a new model but this thing just keeps going so I have no legitimate reason to do so. Honestly, I really love the machine. The fact that I'll get at least eight years out of it, as I did from my last MBP, means I'll definitely buy another MacBook Pro.

[lowbloodsugar]

You don't buy a dell without the four year "come to my house and fix it" service contract. Basically you can get a dell for $1000 and it will fall apart or you can buy the same machine for $1400 and it wont, and if it does, they show up the next day and fix it or replace it. I sometimes wonder if they actually do quality binning or have a different production line. But basically a Dell costs $400 more than you think. And they are fantastic, in my experience.

I was in the UK on business when my keyboard broke, and the next day a chap showed up with a UK keyboard. When I pointed out it was a US keyboard. Didn't bat an eye, just walked back out to his van and came back with a US one.

[trentnix]

That trackpad issue sounds like a swollen battery.

[UncleOxidant]

Yep. Had this problem on my 2013 XPS 13 last year. Replace the battery before it gets worse. It's pretty easy to do yourself.

[hackerfromthefu]

Yup, it's a well known issue with the XPS line. It's also dangerous as they can start fires..

[sippingjippers]

I'm an idiot, this hadn't even occurred to me. Thanks

[tbrock]

Buy a thinkpad. Dell’s build quality and support are atrocious compared to Lenovo.

Lenovo doesn’t hold a candle to Apple still but Dell is still bottom barrel. Have you ever tried calling Dell to get something fixed? Good luck!

Thinkpads are tanks and with Lenovo they either fix a hardware issue by having you send it to them or you can request a customer replaceable part and fix it yourself.

[sippingjippers]

The problem is Lenovo machines look and feel like PCs, and that's not a complement. I got the XPS specifically for the trackpad, its the only one around that I know of that handles any way remotely like a MacBook's.

[znpy]

In fairness, most people just ignored the latitude line from dell and just focus on the xps line. I wouldn't trade my latitude 7390 for an xps 13, honestly.

[morsch]

Our 5 year old XPS 13 isn't showing any signs of wear and tear. Maybe they were built better back then.

[hackerfromthefu]

The quality appears to be very random, which isn't what you want with a high end device. But if you're one of the lottery winners, great!

[mmm_grayons]

I had similar issues and will say that quality varies wildly between models. I had a bunch of 9560s that all had awful problems (to the point of return) until I finally returned the last one and got a 9570 (I had done this enough times that the new model had come out.) It's had absolutely no issues.

[hackerfromthefu]

XPS line is plagued by constant quality control issues that Dell doesn't fix year after year, generation after generation. With XPS 15 look up the expanding/exploding battery issue, thermal throttling etc. Mine (XPS 15 9550) also had issues with the hinge, the power cable, having to fight dell to get an adapter to fit the second drive which they stated stated it supports, and intense fan noise then especially after the Meltdown mitigations were applied I gave up on it completely.

Their strength is in quality peripherals, ie screen etc, but their weakness is garbage quality control and it's so overpriced for that.

If you can, avoid XPS! If you can't well .. purchase extended warranty with the on-site option, you're gonna need it ..

[nightfly]

Dell Latitudes are built more solidly.

[freedomben]

Yeah, the Latitudes are basically XPS but aimed at business rather than consumer. I always go with Latitudes.

[someonexisting]

Kind of weird reading this. I don't own an XPS 15 myself, but I've heard nothing but praise for it on various forums and youtube videos.

[tedfernau]

I have also experienced this with an old studio 1555 and xps 17. My current machine, a dell precision 17 is much better quality (and more expensive)