Dell XPS 17 (9700) — A 1,500-Word Deep Dive: Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use
When Dell expanded the XPS family to a true 17-inch convertible desktop-replacement, it aimed to give professionals a large, color-accurate workspace inside a surprisingly compact chassis. The Dell XPS 17 (9700) — introduced as the 2020 generation of XPS 17 systems — is that device: a premium 17-inch laptop that blends a near-borderless 16:10 display, desktop-class CPU options, optional NVIDIA graphics, and a chassis engineered for demanding creative and business workloads. This article walks through its hardware, real-world performance, business fit, manageability and the practical trade-offs you should weigh before buying.
Who the XPS 17 (9700) is for
The XPS 17 targets users who want a portable machine that behaves like a larger desktop workstation when docked:
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Creative professionals (photo editors, video editors, designers) who benefit from a large, color-accurate canvas.
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Analysts and engineers who run complex spreadsheets, local datasets and need lots of screen real-estate.
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Managers and executives who prefer a single, premium device for both desk and travel.
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Small studios and hybrid workers who value both performance and a compact footprint for a 17-inch machine.
It is not aimed at the ultra-mobile crowd: at ~2–2.5 kg depending on configuration, it’s portable but not pocketable.
Design & build: big screen, compact footprint
Dell engineered the 9700 to push the display-to-body ratio. The 17-inch panel sits behind an InfinityEdge bezel that reduces borders to a minimum and uses a 16:10 aspect ratio — taller than classic 16:9 panels and therefore better for document work and timelines. Dell also moved the webcam to the top bezel (no “chin” camera), solving a long-standing ergonomic gripe on previous large-bezel models.
The chassis is CNC-milled aluminum with a precision finish; the display lid is rigid, the hinge feels stable, and the keyboard deck is roomy with a full-size keyboard plus numpad. The overall aesthetic is understated and professional — white or black aluminum options were offered at launch.
Dimensions and weight make it portable for car-to-desk use or air travel in a checked/handbag, but it’s designed to be docked on a desk most of the time.
Displays: sizes, options and color accuracy
Dell offered the XPS 17 (9700) with two principal display choices:
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FHD+ (1920 × 1200) non-touch, 60 Hz — a bright, battery-friendlier option for power users who don’t need ultra-dense panels.
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UHD+ (3840 × 2400) IPS, touch — the flagship option: very high pixel density, superb sharpness, wide color gamut and great for photo/video work.
Both panels use the 16:10 format and support wide viewing angles. The 4K+ option is particularly attractive to image and video professionals because it offers excellent sharpness and good color reproduction out of the box. Dell’s factory calibration on higher-end SKUs is quite good; however, professionals who require absolute color fidelity should always profile the panel with a colorimeter as part of a workflow.
Core specifications — the hardware that matters
Dell shipped the XPS 17 9700 with components suited to heavy office and creative workloads:
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CPU: 10th-generation Intel H-series processors (quad and 6/8-core H-class options depending on SKU, up to Core i9 in top configs). These chips deliver laptop-class multi-core performance suitable for encoding, compiling or multitasking.
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GPU: Integrated Intel graphics on base models; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (or similar mobile variant) as an optional discrete GPU in higher configurations. The discrete GPU accelerates GPU-assisted editing, color grading and light GPU compute tasks.
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Memory: Dual-channel DDR4 SODIMM slots (user-upgradeable on many units) — configurations commonly up to 64 GB RAM in serviceable models, which is ample for heavy multitasking, virtual machines and large datasets.
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Storage: One or two NVMe M.2 SSD slots (PCIe Gen3/4 depending on SKU). Fast SSDs give near-instant boot and app loading and allow scratch disk workflows for video editors.
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Battery: Large battery options (e.g., 97 Wh) to maximize run time despite the big screen; expect 6–10 hours in light use on FHD configs, less on UHD panels and heavy workloads.
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Cooling: Improved vapor-chamber or dual-fan thermal design compared to smaller XPS models — necessary to extract sustained performance from H-series CPUs.
Ports include a modern, flexible mix (Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports for high bandwidth and docking), and usually a full-size SD card reader and a headphone jack. Dell balanced minimalism with practical expandability, favouring USB-C and TB3 for docks and external GPUs.
Performance: real workloads and thermal constraints
Out of the box, the XPS 17 delivers strong real-world performance:
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Single-thread tasks (web browsing, office apps, light development) are snappy thanks to high turbo boost clocks.
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Multi-thread loads (video export, code compilation, large Excel models) scale well with 6–8 core H-series CPUs; the performance sits between thin-and-light laptops and full desktop workstations.
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GPU tasks: the GTX 1650 Ti option provides a material uplift for GPU-accelerated rendering, Premiere Pro exports with GPU decoding, and faster previews in color-grading or 3D tasks. It is not a gaming or workstation Quadro class GPU, but it’s highly useful for content creators.
Thermals and sustained performance: as with many thin high-power laptops, sustained heavy workloads can push thermal limits. Dell’s cooling handles typical bursts well, but under very long renders or stress tests the CPU will throttle to maintain safe temperatures. For prolonged heavy work, a docked desktop with better cooling remains the top choice — the XPS 17 excels at getting you close to that experience in a portable box.
Battery life: expectations
Battery life is highly configuration and workflow dependent:
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FHD models often achieve substantially more runtime than UHD touch panels. If you primarily do office productivity on battery, the FHD option can deliver a full workday with conservative usage.
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UHD touch models show shorter endurance; streaming, high brightness and creative workloads drain the battery quickly.
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Workload note: GPU usage (renders, exports) will dramatically reduce battery life. Using a Thunderbolt dock or plugging in during heavy work is recommended.
Dell chose larger capacity batteries where allowed by airline regulations to maximize unplugged usability.
Ports, connectivity & expandability
The XPS 17 (9700) keeps ports practical for a premium machine:
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Multiple Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C ports for power delivery, external displays and fast NVMe expansions.
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Full-size SD card reader — a key convenience for photographers and videographers.
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3.5 mm headphone jack, sometimes a USB-A via adapter or one legacy port depending on region.
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Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth modern wireless stack for fast networks.
Storage and RAM are typically user-serviceable (access panel), a big plus for long-term ownership and business IT management.
Business use cases & manageability
For businesses, the XPS 17 is attractive for:
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Creative teams (marketing, media) needing a portable large canvas and GPU acceleration.
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Data analysts and scientists who appreciate screen real estate and upgradable RAM/SSD for local datasets.
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Executives and founders who want a single premium device for presentations and desk work.
Dell provides enterprise services and warranty options (ProSupport, on-site services), and the platform supports standard manageability features (BIOS control, TPM, BitLocker-friendly hardware). For fleet purchases, consider Latitude/Precision lines for maximal IT manageability — XPS sacrifices some enterprise features for consumer-grade elegance, but add-on service contracts close that gap.
Pros & cons — the bottom line
Pros
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Massive 17-inch 16:10 display in a relatively compact chassis — excellent for productivity and creative work.
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Strong CPU options and upgradable RAM & storage.
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Optional discrete GPU helps creative workloads.
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Solid build quality and a professional industrial design.
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Useful port mix including full-size SD card reader and multiple Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Cons
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Heavier than ultraportables — not for daily commuters who prefer feather-light devices.
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Thermal throttling under prolonged maximum loads — the laptop is powerful but not a full desktop replacement for sustained workstation tasks.
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4K touch variants significantly reduce battery life compared with FHD models.
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Premium price — XPS 17 is a high-end machine and costs reflect that.
Practical buying recommendations
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Choose the display that matches your work: pick the UHD+ touch panel if pixel density and color accuracy are mission-critical (and you accept shorter battery life). Choose FHD+ for longer battery life and lower cost.
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Max RAM if you run heavy workloads: 32–64 GB is a wise choice for video editing, VM use, or large datasets.
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Prioritize fast NVMe SSDs and plan for a second slot if you need local scratch and archive space.
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Add Dell ProSupport or an on-site warranty if you rely on the device for billable work — repairs to premium laptops can be time-sensitive.
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Dock for desktop use: a Thunderbolt dock with extra monitors is the best way to turn the XPS 17 into a long-term desk workstation.
Conclusion
The Dell XPS 17 (9700) is one of the most compelling large-screen premium laptops you can buy. It combines a beautiful, productive 17-inch canvas with serious CPU and optional GPU power in a well-crafted chassis. For creatives, analysts and power users who need a large display and portable horsepower, it strikes an excellent balance — close to a desktop workstation in capability while remaining mobile enough to move between home, office and client sites. If you need true, sustained workstation power or the lightest possible travel laptop, other product lines may be a better fit. But for those who want a single machine that excels at content creation, presentation and heavy multitasking, the XPS 17 9700 remains an outstanding choice.
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