Students can snag an extra 10% off and earn double rewards during the Dell Back to School Sale, which kicked off recently and runs through the first half of August. For 2025, Dell has streamlined its laptop lineup, phasing out the Inspiron, XPS, and G-series in favor of a singular “Dell” brand. Higher-end models are now distinguished with tags like “Plus,” “Pro,” “Premium,” or “Max” to indicate enhanced materials, displays, or performance.
Unlock student savings with Dell’s Back to School deals
Signing up for a Dell account with a valid student email address unlocks a 10% discount coupon. This student offer is applicable to three products per transaction, with a limit of five transactions annually. Additionally, students will receive double Dell Rewards points during the sale period. Note that some configurations are excluded from these promotions.
Dell XPS 13 Ultraportable Laptop at $750
The Dell XPS 13 13-inch Snapdragon X Elite laptop is currently on clearance for $749.99, including free delivery. Historically Dell’s flagship ultra-slim premium laptop, the 13-inch model struck a balance between portability and usability. This configuration weighs a mere 2.6 pounds and measures just 0.6 inches thin. Its premium build features a CNC aluminum chassis, a glass trackpad, and a Gorilla Glass 3 protected display. It comes with 16GB of RAM, which is non-upgradable, but the 512GB SSD can be upgraded.
Dell 16 Plus Laptop for $999.99 (Fully Upgraded)
Dell 16 Plus 2.5K Touch Mini-LED Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Laptop (32GB/1TB)
A standout deal for students and professionals alike is the new-for-2025 Dell Plus 16 laptop, on sale for $999.99 after a $450 discount, with free shipping. This laptop offers impressive high-end features for its price point, including a mostly metal construction, a high-resolution display, the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and ample memory and storage.
Dell 15 Laptops: The Baseline Option
The Dell 15 serves as the entry-level model, replacing the previous Inspiron line. Its affordability stems from a predominantly plastic build and less powerful components, though build quality remains good. It weighs about 4.1 pounds, making it relatively light for a budget laptop. This model is available only in a 15-inch screen size, with 14-inch and 16-inch options found in higher tiers.
Prices start at $250, offering a versatile alternative to Chromebooks at a similar cost. A particularly strong value is the $350 model, which provides a significantly more capable Ryzen 5 CPU and double the memory for an additional $100.
Dell Plus Laptops: Enhanced Display, Power, and Aluminum Build
The Dell Plus laptops, offered in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, represent the next step up. These models can feature higher-resolution displays up to 2.5K and utilize the latest Intel Core Ultra 200V or AMD Ryzen AI processors. Their construction is largely aluminum, with plastic accents on the bezel and palmrest. The 14-inch version weighs approximately 3.4 pounds, while the 16-inch model is around 4.1 pounds.
Pricing for a Dell 16 Plus Ryzen AI 7 laptop with 16GB memory and a 512GB SSD begins at $600. For an additional $150, you can upgrade to a Dell 16 Plus with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and doubled storage.
Dell XPS on Clearance: Still a Top Ultra-Slim Choice
Don’t overlook last year’s XPS laptops, which remain excellent choices. As Dell’s former top-tier offering, the XPS provides exceptional build quality and an ultra-lightweight design, often starting at just 2.6 pounds. These machines are as slim as 0.6 inches. The XPS features a CNC aluminum shell, a Gorilla Glass 3 Infinity Edge display (with an optional 4K OLED upgrade), and a glass palmrest. While featuring an older generation CPU than the newer Dell Premium models, they are still highly capable for daily tasks.
Dell Pro Premium Laptops: The True Successor to XPS
The Dell Premium line is the spiritual successor to the XPS series. Currently, there are no discounts on Dell Premium laptops during the Back to School Sale. However, two Dell Pro Premium laptops are available. These are essentially identical to the Premium models but are geared towards business professionals, featuring Windows Pro, enhanced security and IT management software, and a superior warranty, which contributes to their slightly higher price point.
Dell Pro 14 Premium Intel Core Ultra 5 236V Laptop (16GB/512GB)
Dell Pro 14 Premium Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Laptop (32GB/512GB)
For gaming enthusiasts, Dell also offers Alienware products. You can find current deals on Alienware gaming PCs and laptops in a separate feature. Many excellent options are available during their ongoing Back to School sale.
