Forget Amazon, the best laptop deals today are at Dell – here are 21 expert-picked deals on XPS, Alienware, and more

The official Dell Store has launched an extensive 'early holiday sale' this week, with some of the best prices of the year on some of our favorite models here at TechRadar.

While Amazon's huge Prime Day sale might be stealing headlines right now, if you're looking for a laptop, desktop, or other computing deals, then Dell is easily the top destination today. As TechRadar's deals editor, I've scanned through the sale to find my favorite deals, which you can check out below.

As an overview, Dell's sale is essentially a Black Friday event in all but name, with discounts of up to $500 across a range of Plus, XPS, and Alienware machines. My highlights include superb bang-for-the-buck options starting at just $329, the lowest price of the entire year for an XPS 13, and a $400 price cut on a high-end Alienware Aurora gaming laptop.

If you're visiting from the UK, then the good news is that Dell UK also features some excellent discounts right now. I've rounded up the best laptop deals in the UK below, too, including everything from great value budget laptops to much higher-end picks.

Dell early holiday sale - quick links

Dell US sale quick links

• Laptops: laptops from $179
• Desktops: desktops from $399
• Gaming: save up to $400
• Monitors: starting at $79

Dell UK sale quick links

• Laptops: laptops from £349
• Desktops: starting at £550
• Gaming: starting at £799
• Monitors: starting at £80

Dell early holiday sale: US deals

Dell 15 laptop: was $449.99 now $329.99 at Dell

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Processor: Ryzen 5
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>If you're looking for a cheap machine to handle the basics, then this Dell 15 laptop is almost unbelievably affordable thanks to Dell's discounts this week. Although it's only got a combination of a Ryzen 5 chipset and 8GB of RAM, these should suffice if you're just looking to do simple tasks like browsing, answering emails, or streaming content.

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Dell 15 laptop: was $699.99 now $499.99 at Dell

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Processor: Intel Core i7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>Here's another great deal on a Dell 15 laptop courtesy of the Dell's current sale. This time, it's on a much higher-end configuration, with a decent Core i7 chipset and 16GB of RAM - meaning, you've got plenty of power under the hood right now. This is a very, very sensible all-rounder if you're looking for a machine that can handle relatively intensive tasks like big spreadsheets or a large amount of browser tabs.

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Dell 14 Plus: was $1,099.99 now $649.99 at Dell

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Processor: Intel Ultra 7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

<p>The Dell 14 Plus is one of our favorite mid-range <a href="https://stealprices.shop/news/best-windows-laptop">Windows laptops thanks to its excellent design and competitive specs. This particular configuration is a bit on the pricey end, but you do get an Ultra 7 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a 2.5K display, meaning it's absolutely stacked with features. If I were looking for a decent everyday laptop for everything from work to demanding productivity applications, then I'd be very tempted by this deal.

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Dell XPS 13: was $1,099.99 now $699.99 at Dell

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Processor: Snapdragon X Plus
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>This might just be the lowest price I've seen all year on the stunning Dell XPS 13 - one of our favorite models here at TechRadar. The XPS 13 is one of the brand's most premium models, and it melds a high-end MacBook-like design with powerful components. With this deal, you get the entry-level Snapdragon configuration, which means plenty of power and almost unbeatable battery life. Snapdragon-based systems do still have a few application compatibility issues, however, so it's worth checking all your favorite apps are fully supported.

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Dell XPS 13: was $1,249.99 now $899.99 at Dell

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Processor: Intel Ultra 5
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>This is the cheapest deal you'll find on an Intel-based XPS 13, and like the discount on the Snapdragon model above, it's a great buy if you want a lightweight, but premium laptop. This particular option is a little pricier, considering you get similar performance. However, with an Intel chip, you do get two Thunderbolt 4 ports and more robust application support, which could make it a better buy for more niche use-cases.

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Dell XPS 13: was $1,849.99 now $1,399.99 at Dell

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Processor: Intel Ultra 7
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

<p>If money is no object, then this deal gets my pick for the best high-end XPS 13 deal today. While still pricey, you're getting a massive $500 discount on a machine that features a powerful Ultra 7 chipset, 32GB of RAM, and a spacious 1TB drive. While the main selling point is still the XPS 13's excellent premium design, this configuration certainly packs-in a ton of power under the hood.

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Alienware Aurora 16 gaming laptop: was £1,499 now £1,099 at Dell

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Graphics card: GeForce RTX 5060 
Processor: Intel Core 7
RAM: 32GB

<p>For my money, this is the best value gaming laptop deal in the Dell sale today. With an RTX 5060 graphics card, Intel Core 7 chipset, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, you'll definitely get great bang for the buck with this Alienware Aurora 16. It's not a super high-end machine, but it's certainly not basic either, with a nice premium design, 1600p display, and enough power to play most modern titles at full settings.

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Alienware Aurora 16X gaming laptop: was £2,249 now £1,749.99 at Dell

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Graphics card: GeForce RTX 5070 
Processor: Intel Core 9
RAM: 64GB

<p>If I were going for a higher-end laptop, I'd go for this Aurora 16X. With an RTX 5070, this one should last a few good years down the line - and the price is right too, considering you're also getting an Intel Core 9, 64GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. It's a little pricey for an RTX 5070 gaming laptop, but this machine is absolutely stacked with high-end components.

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Dell early holiday sale: UK deals

Dell 15 Laptop: was £449 now £349 at Dell Technologies UK

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Processor: AMD Ryzen 5
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>You can always rely on Dell for decent cheap laptop deals, case in point: this Dell 15 laptop. In terms of style, this one is definitely function over form, but you're getting an extremely solid combination of a Ryzen 5 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. For £350, you really can't go wrong here if you want a decent Windows 11 machine for the money. As an everyday machine, this is a fine choice.

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Dell Inspiron 14: was £699 now £529 at Dell Technologies UK

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Processor: Intel Core 7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>One of Dell UK's best mid-range laptop deals is this clearance sale on the Dell Inspiron 14. At 14-inches, this one is perfect if you need something portable and you also get a respectable line-up of an Ultra 7 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Put together, those are great specs for everyday use or even most professional applications.

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Dell 16 Plus: was £999 now £749 at Dell Technologies UK

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Processor: Intel Ultra 7
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

<p>This Dell 16 Plus is a fantastic option if you need a powerful machine for professional or intensive applications. Not only do you get an Ultra 7 chipset, but you also get 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for an extremely well-rounded set of specs. It's a little pricier than some options, but this is definitely a very solid (and safe) buy for most users.

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Dell XPS 13: was £1,199 now £999.99 at Dell Technologies UK

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Processor: Intel Ultra 5
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

<p>The Dell XPS 13 is the perfect choice if you want a stylish Windows 11 machine that's both lightweight and plenty powerful. This is a great price on the latest Intel-based model, which we rate highly thanks to its surprisingly good battery life and performance. As always though, the main selling point for the XPS 13 is its stunning premium design and portability.

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Alienware Aurora 16 gaming laptop: was £1,249 now £1,099 at Dell Technologies UK

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Graphics card: GeForce RTX 5060 
Processor: Intel Core 7
RAM: 32GB

<p>Alienware gaming laptops never come cheap, but I actually rate this deal on the newest Aurora 16 model at the official Dell Store. With £150 off, you're paying a fair price here considering you're getting an RTX 5060 graphics card and 32GB of RAM. Couple that with a really nice design, and you've got an extremely solid 16-inch gaming laptop here.

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Alienware Aurora 16 gaming laptop: was £2,149 now £1,899 at Dell Technologies UK

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Graphics card: GeForce RTX 5070 
Processor: Intel Core 9
RAM: 64GB

<p>Another great gaming laptop from Dell UK today, this time on a high-end Aurora 16 model. Under the hood, this machine features a respectable RTX 5070, Intel Core 9 chipset, 64GB of RAM, and a massive 2TB SSD. It doesn't come cheap, of course, but this is a stellar premium gaming laptop that should not only provide excellent in-game performance, but also last a few good years down the line, too.

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