Best answer: Getting a touch display will be more expensive on any laptop, but the best option if you want one is the XPS 15 2-in-1 with its pen support and convertible display. Even though the 4K display is optional on both the XPS 15 and the XPS 15 2-in-1, most people will be better off skipping it.
Touch adds more to the price
It shouldn’t be any surprise, but having the XPS 15 with a touchscreen will cost you more than if you go for one without it. The standard choice is the 1080p non-touch display, but Dell also offers 4K displays that have touch and non-touch, as well as an OLED panel without touch.
Currently, only one model in the higher-end of the price range comes with a 4K touch display as standard, but you can add one to others for an additional $300. However, that probably isn’t worth it.
The quality of Dell’s displays is excellent whichever you go for, with great brightness and color reproduction across the board. However, even the touch models don’t officially support a digital pen, so you’re not gaining a whole lot of functionality by being able to jab at your laptop screen with your fingers. Windows 10 isn’t the most touch-optimized operating system, with both Store and traditional desktop apps, for the most part, better used with a keyboard and mouse pointer.
Most people who buy a Dell XPS 15 are going to spend more time using the trackpad or an external mouse, which means there’s a good opportunity to save some money and ditch the touchscreen. The savings outweigh the small use the touchscreen will likely have for most.
Better for touch and inking
If you have a desire to use inking with a digital pen — perhaps the best reason to have a touch-enabled Windows device at all right now — there is a better option. The XPS 15 2-in-1 is a convertible version of the XPS 15 with a display that folds right round. It can be used either as a traditional laptop, a tablet, or somewhere in between.
The hardware inside is a little older, but it’s still capable with Intel’s special processors that come with integrated AMD Radeon graphics. Elsewhere, the 2-in-1 is mostly on par with the latest revision of the XPS 15, and that includes 4K displays.
The beauty of the XPS 15 2-in-1 is that it properly supports Dell’s Active Pen, so you can write and draw without issue. It costs extra, but it’s well worth it, and the 2-in-1 variant is the better touchscreen choice for anyone who really, truly wants to have touch on their laptop.
Best for most
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If you want an XPS 15 save some money and ignore touch
The non-touch displays on the XPS 15 look great, come in 1080p, 4K, and 4K OLED versions and will save you some extra money (especially if you don’t splurge on 4K).
Better for touch
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A much better solution for touch fans
The best reason to have touch on a Windows laptop is inking and with the XPS 15 2-in-1 you get support for pen built in along with a fully convertible display to really maximise your experience.
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