Dell
Laptops · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
PIRG 2026 graded Dell laptops B-. Dell's standout strength is free, openly published service manuals (repeatedly praised by iFixit) plus broad parts availability and minimal software locks. Business Latitude/Precision lines are highly modular (older Latitude E5270 scored iFixit 10/10; XPS 15 was 9/10). But recent consumer XPS 13 moved to soldered RAM and storage and lost iFixit's recommendation, pulling repair-friendliness down. Average lands high-C, just under PIRG's B-.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Laptops category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.