How is Dell XPS 15 (9500) battery life?

XPS 15 9500
XPS 15 9500 (Image credit: Dell)

How is Dell XPS 15 (9500) battery life?

Best answer: According to official figures from Dell, the new XPS 15 (9500) with an 86Whr battery will last up to 25 hours on a single charge. That's crazy talk because, unfortunately, you'll likely see a few hours short of that claim in real-world usage depending on your laptop configuration and how you use it.The latest and greatest: Dell XPS 15 (9500) (From $1,300 at Dell)

Incredibly efficient computing

Just how long your laptop will last depends on the size of the battery, as well as the power draw of installed components. The new Dell XPS 15 comes rocking two battery capacities: 56Whr and 86Whr, the latter being better overall across all configurations. With the new Dell XPS 15, you're more likely to get near Dell's claim of 25 hours if you opt for the 86Whr battery option with a Full HD display and Intel Core i5 processor, while the optional 4K OLED panel and more power-hungry Core i9 processors will have a negative impact of up-time between charges.

If you primarily use your laptop for intensive system tasks like photo or video editing, this will also deal a severe blow to the estimated time until depletion. Those of you who are a little more light on use when mobile will be able to draw as much as possible from the integrated battery. You should be looking at around 12 hours with the smaller 56Whr battery and approximately 18 hours with the 86Whr power plant, which will be significantly reduced with the 4K displays.

Luckily, the new Dell XPS 15 supports USB charging, as well as the dedicated AC port. This allows you to top-up the laptop when you're running low with a compatible portable power bank.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.