The Dell XPS 13 Is the Gold Standard for 13-Inch Laptops
It's already been 5 years since Dell pushed the envelope on laptop design by releasing an Ultrabook with one of the first nearly borderless displays. A lot has changed since then, but it's apparent that the 2015 XPS 13 made waves and served as a template for what a modern-day laptop should be.
With every new iteration of the XPS 13, Dell continues to prove that it's the Windows laptop to beat — thanks to the computer's exceptionally crafted compact design, stellar battery life, and outstanding performance.
Dell seems to be taking consumer and reviewer feedback on past models to heart, because this year's XPS 13 makes the best Windows laptop even better.
Key Specs
• Tenth-generation Intel Core i5/i7 (quad-core) processors
• 13.4-inch InfinityEdge display
• 8/16 GB of RAM; up to 2 TB SSD
• Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 compatibility
• MicroSD card reader, headphone jack, fingerprint reader
I spent a week testing the latest Dell XPS 13 — here’s why it’s the best Ultrabook yet.
It’s Portable and Powerful
Weighs just 2.8 pounds
Can handle light gaming
Up to 12 hours of battery life
At first glance, the Dell XPS 13 doesn't look much different than its predecessor. It still flaunts the anodized aluminum body and comes in options with either a white or black interior. It weighs in at just 2.8 pounds and it's about a half-inch thick, making it a hair smaller than Apple's newest MacBook Air. Dell managed to make the XPS' bezels even thinner and increased the size of the laptop's screen, keyboard, and trackpad without sacrificing its svelte shape.
Internally, the XPS 13 uses Intel's latest 10th-generation quad-core Ice Lake processors. We like that Dell offers buyers plenty of configuration options to cater toward users' needs and budget constraints. We personally recommend shopping for the Intel Core i5 touch-screen model that has 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD for storage, which finds the best balance between price, features, and performance for most people.
We tested a Core i7 variant which has twice as much memory. During our time with the laptop, the XPS 13 had no issues multitasking — despite having multiple browser tabs open, a Photoshop window, Spotify session, a lengthy PDF, Slack, and multiple Word documents running simultaneously.
The laptop is even able to handle some less-graphic-intensive games like League of Legends. If you do some light gaming every now and then you won't have to worry about any drops in frame rate, but hardcore gamers shouldn't expect this model to replace their gaming laptop.
As for battery life, thankfully the laptop delivers up to 12 hours of video playback between charges. I had no issues getting through my entire workday on a single charge.
I would have liked to have seen a Type-A USB port (this one packs dual Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports), but on the plus side, Dell throws in a USB-C to USB-A adapter for good measure. The laptop also has a built-in microSD card slot.
Its Immersive Display Is Best in Class
13.4-inch display
Screen-to-body ratio of 91%
1,920-by-1,200-pixel resolution
Dell managed to squeeze a 13.4-inch screen into the body of an 11-inch laptop. That's right — this large-screened computer is still small enough to sit on the tiniest of airplane trays.
I found the screen to be incredibly spacious. I'm the type of person who likes having multiple windows open for comparison purposes and never felt short on screen real estate.
With a 1,920-by-1,200-pixel resolution and impressive screen-to-body ratio of 91%, the screen is extremely engrossing. I watch a lot of concert footage online and typically cast it to my TV, but with the Dell XPS 13, I found myself actually watching more videos on the machine itself because its screen has such deep shades of black and vibrant colors. Its stereo speakers were clear and got quite loud, too.
The display is a bit glossy and in a sunny room it shows some pesky fingerprints from using the touch screen. Overall, the XPS 13 display is bright and better than most laptops I've used over the years.
It Has a Terrific Touchpad and Killer Keyboard, But the Webcam Still Needs Some Work
17% larger touchpad
Keyboard is comfortable and easy to type on
720p webcam leaves a lot to be desired
With a laptop so small, it seems as though Dell manages to somehow pull space out of thin air. The Dell XPS 13's keyboard is now edge-to-edge, its keys are 9% larger, and its touchpad is 17% bigger than last year's model.
I found typing on the keys to be an absolute breeze. They are perfectly clicky, but not too loud, and I much prefer them to the Butterfly keyboard on my MacBook Pro. I typed with minimal mistakes and felt as though the computer was comfortable to use on my lap or on a desk.
The touchpad is pretty great, too. Its surface is smooth, it’s quieter than most other Windows trackpads, and it actually works. Most Windows touchpads have me aching to go back to a MacBook, but with the XPS 13 I liked using the pinch-to-zoom gestures, swiping motions, and was able to select what I wanted and when I wanted.
My biggest complaint about the Dell XPS 13 is its webcam. Video quality during my weekly Zoom calls was mediocre at best and the 720p shooter produced grainy images. I am grateful that the webcam finally is located front and center on the top bezel (previous versions of the XPS had a terrible webcam placement underneath the screen, resulting in highly unflattering angles). And since the camera supports Windows Hello, you can log in using facial recognition. For those who have privacy concerns, the laptop also has a built-in fingerprint reader.
Wrap-Up
Just like with the previous Dell XPS 13, the latest iteration manages to stick the landing. With the XPS 13, Dell continues to raise the bar — which is no easy feat. Considering the laptop's premium finish, its powerful processor, gorgeous display, excellent keyboard and trackpad, plus its impressive battery life, it's without a doubt one of the best laptops on the market.
Read More:
See How the XPS 13 Stacks Up Against the New MacBook Air
The Best Laptops on the Market Today
Consider One of These Top-Rated and Cheaper Chromebooks
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