Dell Inspiron 15 5558 Review

POOR BATTERY LIFE ASIDE, THE DELL INSPIRON 15 5558 IS A POWERFUL LAPTOP THAT’S UNBEATABLE VALUE FOR MONEY

So-called “do everything” laptops are getting cheaper with every innovation from component manufacturers such as Intel and Nvidia. Dell’s Inspiron line has long been a popular choice for those on a tight budget, and this 15.6in laptop is an easy sell when it comes to the important “bang for your buck” ratio.

Dell Inspiron 15 5558

Your $830 buys you a dual-core (with Hyper-Threading) Intel Core i5 clocked to 2.2GHz, 8GB of RAM and Nvidia’s latest GeForce 920M graphics card. That substantial spec pushed the Inspiron 15 5558 to an overall score of 35 in our benchmarks, easing its way past the HP Envy x360 and Toshiba Satellite Radius 15, and coming second to the Asus N551JX.

The processor may only be a dualcore chip, but we never felt hamstrung by it – open as many browser tabs as you like and you’ll barely notice a stutter.

Dell Inspiron 15 5558 pic 1

That said, if you choose to keep the preinstalled McAfee LiveSafe software, you’ll find the noise of your teeth grinding growing ever louder as it interferes with programs and runs scans willy-nilly. We uninstalled it as soon as possible.

“If you’re mostly deskbound and want a laptop that will handle work, nothing beats the Inspiron 15 5558”

The GeForce 920M graphics card managed an average of 30.5fps in the Bioshock Infinite benchmark at Very Low settings and 1,920 x 1,080 resolution.

You won’t be able to play the very latest games in Full HD, even at limited graphics settings, but this low-end chip at least gives you the option to fire up a few older titles and play newer ones at a reduced resolution, which isn’t bad for an laptop.

Windows 10 (which is available as a free upgrade from the preinstalled Windows 8.1) feels responsive, and the only slight hesitancy in normal use comes from the spacious – if slightly sluggish -1TB, 5,400rpm Toshiba hard disk.

  • Product
  • Features
  • Photos

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 15 5558 15.6" Touchscreen Laptop Intel Core i3-5015U...

Last update was on: 2022-09-24 1:21 am

BATTERY BURNOUT

With such a strong spec for the price, there are naturally compromises, the biggest of which is the battery. It recorded one of the worst results of the laptops on test, managing only 3hrs 12mins of our looping-video playback benchmark before shutting itself down. This means you never feel quite as free and off the grid as you might hope, making this laptop better suited to domestic use than life on the road.

2.2GHz Intel Core i5 5200U dual-core processor • 8GB memory • 1TB hard disk • Nvidia GeForce 920M graphics • 15.6in 1920×1080-pixel screen • Webcam • 802.11ac Wi-Fi • 3x USB 3 ports • HDMI port • Windows 10 Home • 23.8x380x260mm (HxWxD) • 2.32kg • One-year warranty

8 Total Score
Dell Inspiron 15 5558 Review

Add your review

Best Dell Inspiron 15 5558 prices ?

See also THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…OLED laptops

1 Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Review

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Review

Lenovo's Legion 5 Pro is the upgraded version of our Elite-listed budget gaming laptop, so we've got high hopes for this mid-range machine. It gets off to a good start with its screen, which has an intriguing 16:10 aspect ratio. This gives you ...
Add to compare
8.6
2 HP Victus 16-e0097nr Review

HP Victus 16-e0097nr Review

HP's new Victus brand offers a more affordable alternative to its high-end Omen line, and this machine is one of the cheapest gaming laptops we've seen for ages. The low price doesn't mean cut-back silicon either. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 has a ...
Add to compare
7.7
3 HP Victus 16-d0097nr Review: This 16-inch gaming laptop delivers solid value

HP Victus 16-d0097nr Review: This 16-inch gaming laptop delivers solid value

HP Victus 16-d0097nr review - HP's Victus 16 gaming notebook keeps your focus on the screen, not what's under your fingers. by mark hachman The HP Victus 16 joins a small but growing crop of gaming notebooks whose ...
Add to compare
8
Editor choice 4 ASUS ROG FLOW X13 GV301 Review

ASUS ROG FLOW X13 GV301 Review

The Asus ROG Flow X13 is one of the most exciting gaming laptops on the market right now, as it's not just a laptop. This machine is at its best when you buy it alongside the ROG XG Mobile graphics dock, which turbo-charges its gaming ability. The ...
Add to compare
8.7

Series Navigation<< Acer Aspire Switch 10 E ReviewVenom BlackBook 15 U02507 >>
TNR earns Amazon affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. You can support the site directly via Paypal donations ☕. Thank you!

Tags:

Let us know your thoughts on a product or view reviews from our members, independent experts and other websites.

Leave a reply

Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart