Dell’s XPS lineup is synonymous with premium performance, but upgradeability has become a critical issue. Recent models have increasingly moved to soldered memory, limiting upgrade options. This guide covers every current and recent XPS model — what you can upgrade, what you can’t, and which machines are still worth buying for expandability.
If you own an older XPS 15 (9520 or 9530), you’re fortunate: both RAM slots and both M.2 drives are user-upgradeable. Newer models are far more restrictive. We’ll show you exactly what changed and which upgrades are possible on each generation.
Dell XPS Upgrade Compatibility at a Glance
| Model | Year | RAM Type | Upgradeable? | Max RAM | SSD Slots | Charger | Thunderbolt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XPS 13 9315 | 2022 | LPDDR5 soldered | No | Config-dependent (up to 32GB) | 1x M.2 2280 | 45W USB-C | TB4 |
| XPS 13 9340 | 2024 | LPDDR5X soldered | No | Config-dependent (up to 32GB) | 1x M.2 2280 | 45W USB-C | TB4 |
| XPS 14 9440 | 2024 | LPDDR5X soldered | No | Config-dependent (up to 32GB) | 1x M.2 2280 | 90W USB-C | TB4 |
| XPS 15 9520 | 2022 | DDR5 SO-DIMM | Yes | 96GB (2x 48GB) | 2x M.2 2280 | 130W USB-C | TB4 |
| XPS 15 9530 | 2023 | DDR5 SO-DIMM | Yes | 96GB (2x 48GB) | 2x M.2 2280 | 130W USB-C | TB4 |
| XPS 15 9540 | 2024 | LPDDR5X soldered | No | Config-dependent (up to 32GB) | 1x M.2 2280 | 130W USB-C | TB4 |
| XPS 16 9640 | 2024 | LPDDR5X soldered | No | Config-dependent (up to 32GB) | 1x M.2 2280 | 130W USB-C | TB4 |
Key Takeaway: Only the XPS 15 9520 and 9530 have user-upgradeable RAM and dual SSD slots. Every other current model uses soldered memory and a single M.2 slot. If upgradeability is a priority, consider these two models on the used market.
XPS 13 Upgrade Options
XPS 13 9315 (2022)
The 2022 XPS 13 features soldered LPDDR5 memory — no upgrade path for RAM. Storage is limited to a single M.2 2280 NVMe slot, user-accessible but restrictive if you need large capacity. The 45W USB-C charger is adequate for ultrabook workloads.
What’s Upgradeable: SSD only (1x M.2 2280 NVMe). Popular options include the Samsung 990 Pro or WD Black SN850X.
What’s Not Upgradeable: RAM (soldered), charger (proprietary 45W). If you need more than 16GB, you’ll have to purchase that configuration upfront.
XPS 13 9340 (2024)
The latest XPS 13 uses LPDDR5X soldered memory — slightly faster than the 9315 but equally non-upgradeable. Dell continues to offer only single SSD slot. This is the “pure ultraportable” play; accept the specs at purchase or look elsewhere.
What’s Upgradeable: SSD only (1x M.2 2280). Recommend Samsung 990 Pro 2TB for future-proofing.
Charger Compatibility: 45W USB-C Power Delivery required. Any USB-C PD charger rated 45W+ will work, though Dell’s original is recommended for warranty purposes. Popular alternatives include Anker 65W USB-C or Baseus 65W (both exceed 45W and add versatility for other devices).
XPS 14 Upgrade Options
XPS 14 9440 (2024)
Dell’s 2024 refresh of the 14-inch model brings LPDDR5X soldered memory and a more powerful configuration focus (up to RTX 4060, compared to integrated graphics in the 13). Storage remains a single M.2 2280 slot. The 90W charger is a significant step up from the 13-inch.
What’s Upgradeable: SSD only (1x M.2 2280). For this class of machine, the Samsung 990 EVO Plus offers excellent performance-to-cost ratio.
Charger Compatibility: 90W USB-C Power Delivery. Any 90W+ USB-C PD charger will work. Recommended: Anker 100W USB-C (provides future headroom). Note: the XPS 14 can slow-charge with a 45W charger but will not reach full performance under load.
Thunderbolt 4 Docks: The XPS 14 supports Thunderbolt 4 docking. Popular options: Thunderbolt 4 dock with power delivery (Kensington, OWC, or Dell-branded).
XPS 15 Upgrade Options — The Watershed Moment
The XPS 15 lineup marks a critical turning point in Dell’s strategy. The 9520 (2022) and 9530 (2023) remain fully user-upgradeable with DDR5 SO-DIMM RAM and dual M.2 slots. The 9540 (2024) abandons this entirely, switching to soldered LPDDR5X. If you need a 15-inch XPS with upgrade potential, act now on the used market — these will become increasingly valuable.
XPS 15 9520 (2022) — The Last Fully Upgradeable XPS 15
This is the machine to buy if upgradeability is your priority. Dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots support up to 96GB RAM (2x 48GB). Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots allow you to add or replace drives. The 130W USB-C charger is shared with the 9530 and newer 9540 models.
RAM Upgrades: The XPS 15 9520 ships standard with DDR5-4800 or DDR5-5600 depending on configuration. You can upgrade to:
- DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM (32GB) — best value, notable performance uplift over stock 16GB
- DDR5-6400 SO-DIMM (48GB) — for demanding workflows (video editing, 3D rendering)
Popular brands: Corsair (Vengeance), Kingston (Fury), SK Hynix. Verify maximum supported speed — some 9520 units may not clock above DDR5-5600 due to BIOS limitations.
SSD Upgrades: Both M.2 slots accept standard NVMe drives. You can:
- Replace the existing drive with a larger capacity (e.g. 2TB → 4TB)
- Add a second drive to the empty slot for dual storage
Recommended drives: Samsung 990 Pro (top speed, workstation-grade), WD Black SN850X (gaming/prosumer sweet spot), Crucial P5 Plus (good value).
Charger Compatibility: 130W USB-C Power Delivery required for full performance under load. Lesser chargers (90W, 100W) will slow-charge but may throttle the GPU under sustained load. Any 130W+ USB-C PD charger works; alternatives to Dell’s: Lenovo ThinkPad 130W or third-party 140W USB-C.
Upgrade Cost-Benefit: A used XPS 15 9520 with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD can be upgraded to 48GB + 2TB for under £300. New equivalents cost £1,500+.
XPS 15 9530 (2023)
Functionally identical to the 9520 for upgrade purposes: dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, dual M.2 2280 NVMe slots, and 130W USB-C charging. The 9530 received modest CPU/GPU bumps (13th-gen Intel, RTX 4070) but no change to the upgrade architecture. If you find a good deal on a 9530, the upgrade path is identical to the 9520.
XPS 15 9540 (2024) — The End of Upgradeable XPS 15
Dell made a controversial pivot: the 2024 XPS 15 switched to soldered LPDDR5X memory and a single M.2 slot, matching the trend in the 13 and 14. Performance is excellent (14th-gen Intel, RTX 4080), but no upgrade path for RAM.
What’s Upgradeable: SSD only (1x M.2 2280). Samsung 990 Pro remains top choice.
What’s Not Upgradeable: RAM (soldered). You must choose 32GB or 48GB at purchase.
Charger Compatibility: 130W USB-C Power Delivery, shared with 9520/9530. Supports the same third-party chargers.
Buying Advice: If you buy the 9540 (2024), configure it with maximum RAM at purchase — you cannot add more later. The 9520/9530 remain superior for long-term ownership and future-proofing.
XPS 16 Upgrade Options
XPS 16 9640 (2024)
Dell’s flagship 16-inch laptop uses soldered LPDDR5X memory and a single M.2 slot, despite the premium positioning and £2,000+ price tag. This is a configured-at-purchase machine.
What’s Upgradeable: SSD only (1x M.2 2280). Recommend Samsung 990 Pro 4TB for professional workloads.
Charger Compatibility: 130W USB-C Power Delivery. The XPS 16 benefits from 130W+ chargers; lesser chargers will slow-charge. Any third-party 130W+ USB-C PD charger works.
Thunderbolt 4 / OLED Display: The 9640 ships with either OLED (3.5K 120Hz) or IPS (3840×2160 60Hz) display options. Thunderbolt 4 support allows external GPU enclosures and high-speed docks.
Recommended Upgrade Parts & Where to Buy
RAM — DDR5 SO-DIMM (for XPS 15 9520/9530)
Only the XPS 15 9520 and 9530 support user RAM upgrades. DDR5 SO-DIMM modules are essential.
32GB Kit (2x 16GB DDR5-5600): Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5600 — stable, widely tested in XPS machines. Expect £80–120 for 32GB.
48GB Kit (2x 24GB DDR5-5600): Kingston Fury Impact DDR5 — excellent for video/3D work. Expect £140–200.
Alternative (Budget): SK Hynix DDR5 SO-DIMM — OEM-grade, reliable, often £20 cheaper than Corsair.
NVMe SSDs (all XPS models)
Samsung 990 Pro (Best Performance): Samsung 990 Pro — up to 7,450 MB/s read, PCIe 4.0. Workstation-grade. Available in 1TB–4TB. £80–400.
WD Black SN850X (Gaming/Prosumer): WD Black SN850X — up to 7,100 MB/s, excellent value. £70–350.
Crucial P5 Plus (Budget): Crucial P5 Plus — solid performance, 6,600 MB/s, lower price. £50–280.
For XPS 15 9520/9530 with dual slots: Consider adding a second drive to the empty slot. Storage expansion £80–200 per 1TB drive gives excellent ROI compared to Dell’s factory upgrade pricing.
USB-C Chargers — 45W, 90W, 130W Options
For XPS 13 (45W required):
- Anker 65W USB-C — multi-device, £25–40. Supports XPS 13 + phone + tablet simultaneously.
- Baseus 65W — ultra-compact, £30–45.
For XPS 14 (90W required):
- Anker 100W USB-C — exceeds 90W for future headroom, £40–60. Can charge XPS 14 + external SSD simultaneously.
- Lenovo ThinkPad 90W USB-C — OEM-quality, compatible with any 90W PD device.
For XPS 15/16 (130W required):
- Lenovo ThinkPad 130W USB-C — OEM-grade, widely available, £80–120.
- Third-party 140W USB-C — future-proof for next-gen laptops, £100–140.
- Multi-port 130W: Anker 737 Charger — dual USB-C + USB-A, 130W total, excellent for travel setups.
Thunderbolt 4 Docks (XPS 13/14/15/16)
All current XPS models include Thunderbolt 4. A high-quality dock adds ports and charging:
- Thunderbolt 4 Dock with 130W Power Delivery — Kensington SD7000, OWC Thunderdock, or Dell Thunderbolt 3 dock (TB4-compatible). £200–300.
- Budget Alternative: USB-C Dock (90W–100W) — works on all XPS models but not Thunderbolt-exclusive features. £60–150.
Which XPS Should You Buy for Upgradeability?
If you want to upgrade RAM and storage: Buy an XPS 15 9520 or XPS 15 9530 from the used market. Both have dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and dual M.2 NVMe slots. New retail pricing for these is gone, but used examples start around £600–900 (base configs) and offer excellent upgradeability. This is your only path to a fully user-upgradeable Dell XPS.
If you’re buying new (2024 onwards): Expect soldered memory on all models. Choose your RAM and storage at purchase — you cannot change them later. The XPS 15 9540 and XPS 16 9640 both require 130W chargers; the XPS 13 9340 and XPS 14 9440 use 45W and 90W respectively.
For professional work (video editing, 3D rendering): The XPS 15 9520/9530 with upgraded to 48GB DDR5 + dual 4TB NVMe drives provides exceptional value versus a new MacBook Pro or mobile workstation. Upgrading a used 9520 to this spec costs £200–400 and takes 30 minutes.
For ultraportable work (writing, web work, light photo editing): The XPS 13 9340 (2024) is sufficient; SSD upgrades are straightforward, and 16GB soldered memory is adequate for these tasks. Consider a higher-capacity drive (512GB → 1TB) rather than waiting for a 9520.
For docking scenarios (desktop replacement): The XPS 15 with a Thunderbolt 4 dock becomes a true desktop alternative. The 130W charger + dock provides all connectivity needed; RAM/SSD upgrades extend the useful life of the machine to 5+ years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade RAM in the new XPS 13 and XPS 14?
No. The 2024 XPS 13 9340 and XPS 14 9440 both use soldered LPDDR5X memory that is not user-upgradeable. You must select your RAM capacity at purchase. Only the XPS 15 9520 and 9530 support DDR5 SO-DIMM upgrades.
What’s the difference between DDR5 and LPDDR5X?
DDR5 SO-DIMM (in XPS 15 9520/9530) is standard laptop memory in replaceable modules — user-upgradeable, faster, used in premium 15-inch machines. LPDDR5X (in newer 13/14/15/16) is soldered directly to the motherboard — cannot be upgraded, consumes less power, slightly faster in single-threaded tasks. DDR5 SO-DIMM is superior for upgradeable systems; LPDDR5X is a cost-saving measure.
Will a 45W charger work on an XPS 15 9520?
A 45W charger will slow-charge an XPS 15 9520 when powered off or idle, but will not provide enough power under load. If you’re running CPU + GPU simultaneously, the battery will discharge despite the charger being connected. You need a 130W charger for proper performance. The charger specification isn’t just about speed — it’s about sustained power delivery.
Are XPS 15 9520 and 9530 RAM/SSD fully compatible?
Yes. Both models use identical SO-DIMM slots and M.2 form factors. Any DDR5 SO-DIMM or M.2 2280 NVMe drive works in both machines. The 9530 received a minor CPU bump but no change to the memory architecture. Upgrade parts are completely interchangeable.
Should I buy the XPS 15 9540 (2024) or upgrade a used 9520?
For long-term value: upgrade a used 9520. A 9520 with 16GB + 512GB bought used for £700 + £200 in upgrades (48GB + 2TB) costs £900 total and will be faster than the stock 9540 in tasks that use all cores. The 9540 is only faster in single-threaded performance (newer CPU/GPU). If you need the latest performance, buy the 9540; if you value upgrade flexibility, buy the 9520.
Can I use a Thunderbolt 3 charger on an XPS with Thunderbolt 4?
Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 are backward-compatible for power delivery. A Thunderbolt 3 130W charger will work on an XPS 15 with Thunderbolt 4. However, TB3 chargers are increasingly rare; modern USB-C PD chargers (45W–140W) are more widely available and often cheaper. Use any USB-C PD charger rated at or above the XPS’s requirement (45W, 90W, or 130W).
Recommended Products
These are the products we recommend based on this guide. All links go to Amazon UK where you can check current prices and availability.
| Product | Why We Recommend It | Amazon UK |
|---|---|---|
| Corsair Vengeance DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 5600MHz | Top-rated DDR5 kit for gaming & productivity | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston Fury Impact DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 5600MHz | Excellent DDR5 alternative with XMP support | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial DDR5 SO-DIMM 16GB 5600MHz | Affordable single-stick DDR5 | View on Amazon UK |
| G.Skill Ripjaws DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB 5600MHz | High performance DDR5 for enthusiasts | View on Amazon UK |
| Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe M.2 2280 | Fastest consumer NVMe — ideal for gaming & editing | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB NVMe | Excellent Gen4 speed with heatsink option | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial P5 Plus 1TB NVMe | Great value Gen4 SSD | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston NV2 1TB NVMe | Budget-friendly with solid reliability | View on Amazon UK |
Prices and availability may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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