Dell’s new XPS 13 appears to be like trendy whereas packing a punch

Dell has been an lively participant within the computing trade for many years, and over time the corporate has developed and launched an enormous array of PCs. The corporate’s premium XPS series has confirmed notably profitable in recent times, owing to the road’s give attention to high-end construct high quality, highly effective inner parts, and quirky-yet-endearing design issues.

Now, Dell has retooled its distinctive XPS 13 pocket book to incorporate Intel’s newest processing package deal on the within — a variant of its Core Ultra Series 2 chip. Is the one-two punch of ‘Intel Inside’ and an unorthodox physical design sufficient to make the brand new XPS 13 a winner? I put the laptop computer by its paces to seek out out.

Editor’s Alternative

Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Extremely Sequence 2)

Dell’s latest-generation XPS laptop computer provides a 13-inch show panel, a contact bar-esque row of operate keys, and Intel’s Core Extremely Sequence 2 processor.

Professionals & Cons

• Show is silky clean
• Contains presence sensing tech
• Distinctive and recognizable design

• Haptic trackpad is not the most effective on the market
• Pretty mild on port choice
• Capacitive contact operate row is an acquired style

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Value, availability, and specs

So far as premium 13-inch laptops go, the Dell XPS 13 matches proper in with its friends. The system is slim and compact, with dimensions of 0.60 x 11.62 x 7.84-inches (15.30 x 295.30 x 199.10 mm). It is also good and light-weight, tipping the scales at 2.70 lbs (1.22 kg).

The XPS 13 packs a ton of tech into its svelte chassis, together with a 1080p FHD webcam, an IR sensor for facial unlock, twin microphones, 8W quad audio system, a 55Hw battery cell, a big haptic trackpad, a fingerprint sensor, and extra. The one compromise right here comes within the type of port choice — the system options solely two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, with no headphone jack or SD card reader in sight.

Powering the XPS 13 is one in every of Intel’s latest-generation pocket book processors, the Core Ultra 7 Series 2. The large story with this chipset is that it is rather more environment friendly at performing basic compute duties compared with the earlier era providing. Relying on which configuration you spring for, you may obtain both the 256V variant of the processor, or the extra highly effective 258V model.

Outfitted with this new Core Extremely 7 Sequence 2 processor, the Dell XPS 13 is now broadly out there for buy. The bottom mannequin prices $1,400, and comes with the 256V chip variant, 16 GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a non-touch FHD+ (1920 x 1200 pixel decision) show panel.

A extra highly effective $1,700 model can also be out there, which ships with the extra succesful 258V chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Lastly, a top-of-the-line mannequin might be had for $2,000, which provides a touch-enabled 3K (2880 x 1800 pixel decision) OLED display to the combo.

What I favored concerning the Dell XPS 13

The XPS 13 provides the whole package deal

Proper off the bat, I might prefer to commend Dell for its choice to engineer a trend-bucking pocket book. There are solely so some ways to make a thin-and-light laptop computer stand out from the gang, and with the XPS 13, Dell has developed a design language that is each enticing and non-gaudy.

The system’s giant trackpad is seamlessly built-in into the palm relaxation space, leading to a clear look. Its chiclet keyboard ditches island-style keys in favor of a ‘spaceless’ look, and the operate row swaps tactile switches for capacitive buttons that mild up.

I used to be initially involved that these {hardware} selections would end in usability points, however my fears of a form-over-function situation had been (principally) unfounded. My fingers naturally gravitate in direction of the trackpad space, making the shortage of visible demarcation a non-issue. The keyboard is satisfying to kind on, even with out the extra typical spacing of different notebooks on this class. The capacitive operate row, in the meantime, is a little bit of a combined bag — extra on that in a bit.

With the Intel Core Extremely 7 Sequence 2 processor on the helm, the XPS 13’s internals are as spectacular as its exterior design is. My evaluate unit featured the 256V variant of the chipset, which achieved a Geekbench 6 benchmarking rating of two,552 in single-core and 9,865 in multi-core. These are spectacular numbers for such a skinny laptop computer. The product is able to some heavy workloads, although it is not designed with intense gaming, 3D rendering, or video enhancing work in thoughts.

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Extra spectacular is the sheer effectivity of the processing package deal: the XPS 13’s followers infrequently whirl up outdoors of the set up of Home windows Updates, and battery life and standby time are each glorious for a tool with x86-based architecture. I repeatedly get by a day with 20% battery left within the tank, with a average workflow consisting of video streaming, phrase processing, multi-tabbed internet shopping, and a few mild picture enhancing.

My evaluate unit’s unremarkable FHD+ display decision could have additionally helped out within the stamina division. The 120Hz adaptive refresh price can cycle right down to 30Hz, as properly, which may also help to squeeze out much more juice. The OLED panel is barely out there within the highest-end XPS 13 configuration, sadly, however the chosen LCD panel within the base mannequin is nice and many vivid at 500 nits at its peak.

I am a fan of Dell’s choice to incorporate human presence detecting sensors within the XPS 13. This further little bit of {hardware} is ready to detect whenever you’re at your desk and dealing with your laptop display, in addition to whenever you’ve left to go brew one more espresso. I want all giant screened units supplied this function, as I discover it useful from each a comfort and a safety standpoint.

The inclusion of a stealthily hidden fingerprint sensor inside the keyboard’s energy button may be my favourite facet of the complete {hardware} package deal. The capacitive sensor is quick, responsive, and helpful. I do love Windows Hello facial recognition — which the XPS 13 additionally provides — however I discover it to be sluggish to provoke on any and all Home windows 11 units.

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What I did not like concerning the Dell XPS 13

Some smaller particulars nonetheless want ironing out

As talked about, the XPS 13’s capacitive keyboard operate row took me a while to get used to. The touch-sensitive buttons are completely delicate and correct to faucet on, however the lack of bodily suggestions by no means stopped feeling considerably uncanny. I do want these buttons supplied some kind of haptic suggestions, maybe akin to the system’s motorized trackpad.

Talking of the trackpad, it is a pretty first rate one total. It makes use of haptic suggestions to simulate a bodily clicking sensation, versus a extra typical diving board trackpad resolution. The result’s a contact floor that may be pressed down equally on all 4 corners, and a set of software program choices to regulate the depth of its tactility.

I firmly imagine that haptic trackpads are the way in which ahead in shopper laptops, and I am pleased with the inclusion of 1 within the XPS 13. That being mentioned, this is not the most effective implementation of the tech that I’ve seen. When in comparison with the virtually magical expertise offered by Apple Macs or Microsoft Floor PCs, Dell’s model feels barely extra rattley and hole by comparability.

My different main {hardware} gripe comes right down to port choice. The 2 Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports are highly effective and versatile, to make sure, however I might’ve liked to have seen a 3rd socket fitted in for good measure. When utilizing one of many two ports to cost the system, it leaves solely a single extra port for connecting to different I/O equipment.

Then, in fact, there’s the AI facet of the XPS 13. The inner Core Extremely 7 Sequence 2 chip provides the required minimal of 40+ trillion operations per second (TOPS) to allow Microsoft’s Copilot+ suite of features, although I’ve but to seek out many compelling use instances on this entrance.

A slew of Windows Studio Effects can be found, which permit for background blur and automated facial framing throughout video calls, however the flagship Windows Recall function is not but out there in steady type for testing.

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Do you have to purchase the Dell XPS 13?

If you happen to’re uninterested in boring and uninspired laptop computer designs, then the XPS 13 is your antidote

Within the huge and dynamic world of Windows PCs, Dell has regularly made a reputation for itself with its distinctive {hardware} designs, its experimental nature, and its wholehearted embrace of Intel. The XPS 13, then, is an exemplar of the corporate’s ethos.

As one of many first notebooks to undertake Intel’s second-generation Core Extremely chips, the Dell XPS advantages tremendously from main effectivity beneficial properties, with out sacrificing efficiency within the course of. The XPS provides sufficient headroom for reasonably taxing workloads, with out overbearing fan noise or the ache of getting to hurry to an influence outlet at noon.

Whereas preserving each energy and effectivity metrics reined in, Dell has additionally managed to ship a package deal that appears and feels wholly distinctive. The sleekly hidden touchpad, in addition to the capacitive contact operate row, are quirky design issues. They actually will not be to everybody’s style, and the latter takes some time to acclimate to, however I personally cannot get sufficient of those components when put collectively right into a single, coherent package deal.

This system was offered to Pocket-lint by Dell.

Editor’s Alternative

Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Extremely Sequence 2)