Dell admits to wobbly trackpads on the XPS 15 (9500), will ship improved laptops going forward

Dell Xps 15 9500 Keyboard Trackpad (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

Dell has figured out how to fix the XPS 15 (9500)'s trackpad issues and will shipped fixed united going forward.
People with affected laptops can contact Dell customer support and have the situation "remediated."
Affected trackpads have a "pre-click" and a noticeable wobble when pressed.

Dell's new XPS 15 (9500) has a trackpad issue that causes some unit's trackpads to wobble. The issue can cause a noticeable rock back and forth when you press on the corners of the XPS 15's trackpad. The issue is common enough that Dell sent out an email to reviewers of the device. In its statement, Dell explains that going forward, XPS 15 units that ship won't have this issue and that anyone who purchased an XPS 15 affected by the issue can contact Dell customer support to "have it remediated."

Here's the complete statement from Dell:

Dell is aware that some XPS 15 9500 customers might be experiencing an issue with their touchpad. We have identified and resolved this issue on all systems shipping in June 2020 and beyond. While functionality is not affected, it does not meet the stringent quality and experience standards we set for ourselves. Any current XPS 15 9500 customers experiencing this issue can contact Dell customer support to have it remediated.

The issue was flagged up by popular tech reviewer Dave Lee, who discusses the issue in a recent video. You can jump to the 5:52 mark in the video to see and hear the issue. Lee states, "I think it's just a quality control thing from Dell. This shouldn't be an issue, right? This shouldn't be something that the users have to put up with," later adding, "On a device that is this expensive, and this premium, from a company like Dell, this really should not be a thing at all."

A stunning device

Dell XPS 15

Refining Dell's premium lineup

The XPS 15 brings a larger display, trackpad, keycaps, and improved internals to Dell's 15-inch premium laptop.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.