Dell XPS 13 Review | Design & Performance

The XPS 13 by Dell is a powerful laptop that can carry out all your demands. Compared to the 2019 model, the new Dell XPS 13 is even innovative and attractive. The company has even trimmed the InfinityEdge bezels which means that the notebook is virtually borderless. Along with this, the display is outstanding, the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable and all these are fitted in a smaller chassis compared to the predecessors. Moreover, the Intel Core i7 CPU makes it plenty powerful and up to 12 hours of battery life is peerless. So, if you are looking for the best laptop, Dell XPS 13 is exceptional.

Dell XPS 13 Review & Specifications

CPU	Intel Core i7-1065G7
RAM	16GB
Display	13.4 inches (1920 x 1200)
Storage	256GB M.2 NVMe SSD
GPU	Intel Iris Plus
Battery	up to 12 Hours
Size	11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
Weight	2.8 (lbs)
Numpad	No
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 3, 1 Headphone Jack, 1 x microSD Card Slot

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Design & Chassis

The Dell XPS 13 is a show-stopper from the exterior to its interior. The Frost White lid isn’t just stylish but the anodized aluminum finish makes it nice to touch as well. The Dell glossy logo further adds the right amount of spark to the overall look. What will you love the most about design is the twin-coil hinge that makes the opening of the lid possible with one hand. This makes opening the lid is as easy as turning the page of a book. Also, if you prefer convertible laptops there is a Dell XPS 13 2 in 1 version, so you can opt for that.

Measuring 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches and weighing 2.8 pounds, the XPS 13 falls in the category of ultraportable laptops. It can easily fit in your bag and carrying it around is very convenient. If you compare it with other ultraportable laptops like MSI Prestige 14, Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, and Apple MacBook Pro 13 inches, the XPS 13 is certainly the winner.

Performance

Packing powerful internals in such a slim laptop is another hallmark of Dell. The XPS 13 comes with an Intel Core i7 processor to provide all the necessary power your work demand. Accompanied by the 16GB of RAM, multitasking is smooth and without any stutter. Whereas the 256GB NVMe SSD has a transfer rate of 613 megabytes per second and can store all your important data. Still, if the storage space isn’t enough for you, there is 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions too which will be more than enough for you. More, the integrated Intel Iris Plus GPU isn’t for demanding games, but it can handle less demanding games quite well.

Display & Speakers

Upon first look, the first thing that you will notice is the bezel-less display. Not only the top and side bezels but Dell has also trimmed the bottom thick bezels (on most of the laptops) significantly. The top and side bezels measure 0.2 and 0.15 inches and the bottom bezel is narrowed down to 0.18 inches. As a result of those slimmer bezels, you get a 13.4 inches screen (6% larger than predecessors) and fitted in a 12.8 inches chassis.

The 13.4 inches screen of XPS 13 has an aspect ratio of 16:10 and offers a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Alongside this, the display is pretty colorful covering up to 115% of the sRGB color gamut. Plus, the 417 nits of brightness make the panel agreeable for outdoor viewing. Overall, the pictures generated by XPS 13’s display are sharp, vivid and will immerse you into your media. Also, if your work demands a touch-capable screen, go for the touchscreen version.

Just like the visuals, the audio of XPS 13 is equally remarkable. Despite the bottom-mounted speakers, the sound it delivers is loud and clear. On top of that, the Waves MaxxAudio Pro software adds the required bass that’s usually missing in the majority of the laptops this size.

Ports

We don’t have much to say in this section because the XPS 13 is short on ports. The slim chassis sports a Thunderbolt 3 and a headphone jack on the right side. To the left, there is a microSD card reader and another Thunderbolt 3 port. That’s all, however, if you need to connect an external hard drive or a mouse, then you have to a USB-C hub.

Keyboard & Touchpad

Dell XPS 13 edge-to-edge keyboard comes with larger keycaps. Despite that, the keys are well-positioned and none of the keys is shrunk to make room. Plus, the acceptable key travel and good actuation force make typing experience very comfortable. However, there is no Numpad, so users looking for Numpad might get disappointed. On the bright side, the backlighting is sufficiently bright to make every character visible in a dark room.

Similarly, the glass Precision touchpad is responsive and accurate. Furthermore, at 4.4 x 2.6 inches, it’s spacious and provides extra space for navigation. Also, it seamlessly registers operating system gestures like three-finger swipe and pinch-zoom.

Battery Life

Battery life is another part where XPS 13 outclassed all its competitors. Most of the slim laptops don’t give longer battery backup but the XPS 13 is exceptional in this regard. It can last for an astonishing over 12 hours which’s quite rare to find in this and this size. So, whether you work on the go or from home, you won’t have to worry about running out of juice.

Camera

The XPS 13 comes with the smallest camera in the laptop’s world. Although the 0.1″, 720 camera isn’t very detailed, still it captures acceptable colors. On top of that, unlike the predecessors, a webcam is placed at the center of the top bezel which’s indeed praiseworthy.

Heat

The XPS 13 looks that it will heat up soon, but actually, it stays pretty cool. After a mixed-use for quite some time, the bottom, center, and touchpad measure 91, 86, and 79 degrees Fahrenheit respectively which is in agreeable range.

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Bottom Line
Everything you need to know about XPS 13 is available on this page. It’s a slim and powerful laptop with longer battery life. Whether you want a laptop for work or want an entertainment buddy, the XPS 13 will deliver maximum. We hope that by this time, you have already got the answers to your questions. Still, if you have any queries in mind, please mention them in the comment box below.