Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 vs Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 Comparison

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Dell XPS 15 9510 2021

15.6 inches | June 2020

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Dell XPS 15 9520 2022

15.6 inches | March 2022

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Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 vs Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022, two laptops by Dell. Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 was introduced to market in June 2020 and Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 was launched in March 2022. There is 21 months difference between XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 so it would still give an advantage to younger XPS 15 9520 2022.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 are members of Dell's XPS series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Dell XPS Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Dell XPS 13 9350 2024	September 2024	13.4"	295.3 x 199.1 x 14.8-15.3 mm	1.18 kg (2.6 lbs)
Dell XPS 13 9345 2024	May 2024	13.4"	295.3 x 199.1 x 14.8-15.3 mm	1.17 kg (2.58 lbs)
Dell XPS 13 9340 2024	January 2024	13.4"	295.3 x 199 x 14.8-15.3 mm	1.17 kg (2.58 lbs)
Dell XPS 14 9440 2024	January 2024	14.5"	320 x 216 x 18 mm	1.68 kg (3.7 lbs)
Dell XPS 16 9640 2024	January 2024	16.3"	358.1 x 240 x 18.7 mm	2.13 kg (4.7 lbs)
Dell XPS 15 9530 2023	February 2023	15.6"	344.72 x 230.14 x 18 mm	1.86 kg (4.1 lbs)
Dell XPS 17 9730 2023	February 2023	17.0"	374.45 x 248.05 x 19.5 mm	2.31 kg (5.09 lbs)
Dell XPS 13 9315	June 2022	13.4"	295.4 x 199.4 x 13.99 mm	1.17 kg (2.58 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 and Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 Key Specs

Launched in June 2020
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 11400H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
344.7 x 230 x 18 mm (13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches)
Weight: 1.81 kg (3.99 lbs)

Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 Key Specs

Launched in March 2022
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 12500H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
344.4 x 230.1 x 18.54 mm (13.56 x 9.06 x 0.73 inches)
Weight: 1.84 kg (4.06 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 over Dell XPS 15 9520 2022

Weight	1.81 kg vs 1.84 kg	0.03 kg lighter
Noise Level	38.2 dB vs 44.6 dB	Less fan noise
GPU FLOPS	5.5 TFLOPS vs 5.01 TFLOPS	Generates higher sound levels
Speaker Loudness	88.8 dB vs 83.1 dB	Larger Touchpad Area
Touchpad Size	15.1 x 9.1 cm vs 15.0 x 9.0 cm

Reasons to choose Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 over Dell XPS 15 9510 2021

Side Bezel Thickness	4.2 mm vs 4.3 mm	0.1 mm thinner bezels
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM Type
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Bluetooth	v5.2 vs v5.1	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity

Common Strengths of Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 and Dell XPS 15 9510 2021

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left, Right	Flexible charging positions
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.1 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs Yes	Easy Login with Fingerprint Sensor
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 and Dell XPS 15 9510 2021

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDMI Output	No vs No	Need an adapter to connect to HDMI displays

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 vs Dell XPS 15 9520 2022: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 and the Dell XPS 15 9520 2022.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.81 kg (3.99 lbs)	1.84 kg (4.06 lbs)
Surface Area	793 cm2 (122.9 inches2)	792 cm2 (122.9 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~89%	~89%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.3 mm	~4.2 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.12 kg/inch	0.12 kg/inch
	0.264 lbs/inch	0.264 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Silver	Black, Silver

Comparison of the Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 and the Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 External Dimensions

Weight

XPS 15 9510 2021 weighs 1.81 kg (3.99 lbs), whereas the XPS 15 9520 2022 weighs 1.84 kg (4.06 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 1.81 kg

Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 1.84 kg

Min 0.99 kg

Average 1.95 kg

Max 3.32 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 18.00 mm

Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 18.50 mm

Min 7.70 mm

Average 20.17 mm

Max 29.00 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 is 0.12 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 is 0.12 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 vs Dell XPS 15 9520 2022: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 11400H Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11900H	Intel Core i5 12500H Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900HK
Base Frequency	2.2-2.7 GHz	2.5 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	6	12
Number of Threads	12	16
L3 Cache	12 MB	18 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (16 EU)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1514	1634
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	6382	10250
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1478	1702
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	9375	13247

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 and Dell XPS 15 9520 2022.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 11400H

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 12500H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB
Base Clock Frequency	1065 MHz	1065 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1343 MHz	1343 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	45 W	45 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes	Yes
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS
Memory Size	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2048	2048
TMUs	64	64
ROPs	32	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 has a FLOPS value of 5.5 TFLOPS whereas the Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 ' has a FLOPS value of 5.01 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the XPS 15 9510 2021 and the XPS 15 9520 2022, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Dell XPS 15 9510 (2021)	Dell XPS 15 9520 (2022)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	56 Wh 86 Wh	56 Wh 86 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left, Right
Charge Power	90 / 130 W	90 / 130 W
Voltage	11.4 V	11.4 V
AC Adapter Weight	473 gramm	429 gramm

Furthermore, both laptops have the same battery capacity of 56 Wh, ensuring comparable battery performance.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 56 Wh

Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 56 Wh

Min 36.00 Wh

Average 62.1 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the XPS 15 9510 2021 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the XPS 15 9520 2022's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 vs Dell XPS 15 9520 2022: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 and Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 screens have the same size of 15.6".The total usable screen area of the XPS 15 9510 2021 is 706cm² / 109inch² whereas the XPS 15 9520 2022's total usable screen area is 706cm² / 109inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 feature the same pixel density with 145 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 145 ppi

Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 145 ppi

Min 100 PPI

Average 144 PPI

Max 294.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 boast the same response time of 35.0 ms.

Brightness
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 offer the same maximum brightness of 500 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 500 nits

Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 500 nits

Min

60 nits

Average 319 nits

Max 1000.00 nits

Dell XPS 15 9510 2021 vs Dell XPS 15 9520 2022 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Neither XPS 15 9510 2021 nor XPS 15 9520 2022 has USB-A ports.
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 feature 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Neither XPS 15 9510 2021 nor XPS 15 9520 2022 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors. Neither XPS 15 9510 2021 nor XPS 15 9520 2022 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both XPS 15 9510 2021 and XPS 15 9520 2022 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.1	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 4.0	3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No