How to open Dell 15 (DC15250) – disassembly and upgrade options

Power off the laptop and place it on a soft, clean surface.
Undo the 6 removable Phillips-head screws and loosen the 2 captive corner screws.
The captive screws slightly lift the bottom cover, giving you a useful starting point for a thin plastic pry tool.
Carefully release the clips around the edges and lift the bottom panel away from the chassis.

More info: Once inside, the layout is easy to read. The battery is positioned at the lower side, the single-fan cooling system sits on the left, the memory slots are near the center-right, and the SSD is close to the fan area.

Step 2: Battery removal

Disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard before touching any other internal component.
Undo the screws securing the battery pack.
Lift the battery out of the chassis.

More info: Our unit has the smaller 3-cell, 41Wh lithium-ion polymer battery. Dell also lists a larger 4-cell, 54Wh option for the series, which occupies more internal space.

Step 3: Memory Upgrade

The RAM is not soldered, which is a nice advantage for this class of laptop.
There are two SODIMM slots.
Our unit comes with one 8GB ADATA DDR4-3200 module installed, leaving the second slot free.
Dell lists both DDR4 and DDR5 variants for the DC15250 series, depending on the exact configuration, so always match the memory type your laptop shipped with.
Dell’s official maximum memory configuration is 16GB, though real-world upgrade compatibility may depend on the exact SKU, BIOS support, and memory modules used.

You can buy DDR4 RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

You can buy DDR5 RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Step 4: Storage Upgrade

The laptop has a single M.2 NVMe SSD slot.
Our configuration uses a 512GB Samsung M.2 2230 drive.
The SSD is covered by a metal EMI/RFI shield, which also acts as a support bracket and may help spread heat away from the drive.
Dell lists PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen 4 x4 SSD support with capacities up to 1TB.
The internal slot description mentions M.2 Key-M 2230/2280 support, but Dell’s storage specifications and service screw list focus on the M.2 2230 format, so 2230 is the safest upgrade choice for this chassis.

More info: The left-side area of the chassis is shaped for an alternative layout, and the plastic tray is marked for HDD use, but Dell’s current storage specifications for this model focus on a single M.2 SSD. Treat secondary storage availability as configuration-dependent rather than guaranteed.

You can buy M.2 2230 NVMe SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

Step 5: Cooling system overview

The cooling system is a basic single-fan setup, which is expected for an everyday 15-inch laptop.
The processor sits under the heatsink assembly, while the fan exhausts heat through the rear section of the chassis.
The fan is removable, so dust cleaning or replacement is possible without replacing the entire cooling system.

More info: The Wi-Fi card is replaceable. Our reviewed unit uses the Realtek RTL8852BE with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, while some configurations may come with the Realtek RTL8821CE, which is limited to Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

More info: The easier customer-replaceable parts include the base cover, battery, memory modules, SSD, wireless card, speakers, and fan. Deeper service items include the heatsink, touchpad, I/O daughterboard, power button, power-adapter port, display assembly, and system board.

More info: Overall, the Dell 15 (DC15250) is easy to maintain for its class, with quick access to RAM, storage, Wi-Fi, battery, and cooling. The main limitations are the single SSD slot, the 2230-focused storage implementation, and Dell’s official 16GB memory ceiling.

Dell 15 (DC15250) in-depth review

Budget laptops are supposed to be simple. You pick a processor, choose how much RAM and storage you need, and get on with your life. The Dell 15 (DC15250), however, is a bit more complicated than that. On the surface, it looks like a very standard 15.6-inch office laptop, but the exact configuration can change more than you might expect.For example, the chassis version affects the webcam, microphones, USB-C functionality, and even the overall user experience. The plastic Carbon Black model, which we chose and ordered, comes with a data-only USB-C port, a 720p webcam, and a single microphon[...]

Read the full review