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

Dell has been an lively participant within the computing business for many years, and over time the corporate has developed and launched an unlimited array of PCs. The corporate’s premium XPS series has confirmed notably profitable lately, owing to the road’s concentrate on high-end construct high quality, highly effective inner elements, and quirky-yet-endearing design concerns.

Now, Dell has retooled its distinctive XPS 13 pocket book to incorporate Intel’s newest processing bundle 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 means of its paces to seek out out.

Editor’s Selection

Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Extremely Collection 2)

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

Execs & 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 perform row is an acquired style

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Worth, availability, and specs

So far as premium 13-inch laptops go, the Dell XPS 13 matches proper in with its friends. The machine 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 machine options solely two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, with no headphone jack or SD card reader in sight.

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

Outfitted with this new Core Extremely 7 Collection 2 processor, the Dell XPS 13 is now broadly accessible 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 be accessible, which ships with the extra succesful 258V chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Lastly, a top-of-the-line mannequin could be had for $2,000, which provides a touch-enabled 3K (2880 x 1800 pixel decision) OLED display screen to the combo.

What I favored concerning the Dell XPS 13

The XPS 13 gives the entire bundle

Proper off the bat, I might wish to commend Dell for its determination 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 group, and with the XPS 13, Dell has developed a design language that is each enticing and non-gaudy.

The machine’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 perform row swaps tactile switches for capacitive buttons that mild up.

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

With the Intel Core Extremely 7 Collection 2 processor on the helm, the XPS 13’s internals are as spectacular as its exterior design is. My assessment 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 bundle: the XPS 13’s followers infrequently whirl up exterior 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 means of a day with 20% battery left within the tank, with a reasonable workflow consisting of video streaming, phrase processing, multi-tabbed internet shopping, and a few mild photograph enhancing.

My assessment unit’s unremarkable FHD+ display screen decision could have additionally helped out within the stamina division. The 120Hz adaptive refresh fee can cycle all the way down to 30Hz, as effectively, which will help to squeeze out much more juice. The OLED panel is barely accessible within the highest-end XPS 13 configuration, sadly, however the chosen LCD panel within the base mannequin is nice and lots shiny at 500 nits at its peak.

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

The inclusion of a stealthily hidden fingerprint sensor throughout the keyboard’s energy button is perhaps my favourite side of the whole {hardware} bundle. The capacitive sensor is quick, responsive, and helpful. I do love Windows Hello facial recognition — which the XPS 13 additionally gives — however I discover it to be gradual 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 perform 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 provided some type of haptic suggestions, maybe akin to the machine’s motorized trackpad.

Talking of the trackpad, it is a pretty respectable one general. 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 consider that haptic trackpads are the best way ahead in client laptops, and I am proud of the inclusion of 1 within the XPS 13. That being stated, this is not the most effective implementation of the tech that I’ve seen. When in comparison with the just about magical expertise supplied by Apple Macs or Microsoft Floor PCs, Dell’s model feels barely extra rattley and hole by comparability.

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

Then, in fact, there’s the AI side of the XPS 13. The inner Core Extremely 7 Collection 2 chip gives 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 circumstances 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 accessible in steady type for testing.

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Do you have to purchase the Dell XPS 13?

If you happen to’re bored with 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 enormously from main effectivity features, with out sacrificing efficiency within the course of. The XPS gives 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 bundle that appears and feels wholly distinctive. The sleekly hidden touchpad, in addition to the capacitive contact perform row, are quirky design concerns. 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 bundle.

This machine was supplied to Pocket-lint by Dell.

Editor’s Selection

Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Extremely Collection 2)