Dell XPS 13
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We have collected 15 reviews of the Dell XPS 13. Experts rate Dell XPS 13 7.7/10. Reviewsor.com helps you find reviews, best prices, user reviews of the Dell XPS 13 and Dell Ultrabook.
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Dell XPS 13 Reviews
Dell XPS 13 (winter 2013) review
A little over a year ago, Dell debuted a then-quite-impressive little 13-inch laptop called the XPS 13. Aimed at the part of the business market that's become increasingly enamored of the MacBook Air and Windows ultrabooks, the XPS 13 was technically geared toward business customers, but with lots of stylistic flourishes and compact appeal. It was like a Windows MacBook Air, but with less impressive battery life. We called it the "Dellbook Air." The XPS 13 is back for a second go in 2013, but it doesn't seem to have gotten the "Windows 8 touch" memo. Yes, it now has third-gen Intel Core i5/i7 processors, two USB 3.0 ports, and a higher-resolution 1080p screen. But a touch display? No. Last year, we said this about the XPS 13's main drawbacks: "A limited port selection doesn't include HDMI or an SD card slot; the display should be better; and battery life falls behind other slim laptops." The new XPS 13 adds a fancy 1080p screen and gains a little more battery life, but that screen option will cost you: the 1080p version costs $1,299.
Revisiting Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook, In Full HD
Technology marches to the beat of its own drum and the hard part is keeping in step with the rhythm. You may recall, for example, that we already reviewed Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook a year ago, singing high praise for its edge-to-edge display, stellar battery life, and overall performance, which at the time was the best we'd seen from an Ultrabook. If we were to compare it with today's crop of Ultrabooks, however, we'd have to sing a different tune now that Ivy Bridge is pervasive in the market. Or would we? Dell went back and re-wrote the lyrics without changing the name of the song, which is our way of saying the XPS 13 Ultrabook we have for review is a refreshed model. The biggest upgrade comes in the form of a much improved display. Dell's XPS 13 is now configurable with a Full HD 1080p display that not only offers a higher resolution than yesteryear's 1366x768 res, but it's also brighter (350-nit brightness) and boasts superior viewing angles (up to 178 degrees). It's just a higher quality panel all-around versus the 2012 model. Inside the retooled XPS 13 is an Ivy Bridge foundation.
Dell XPS 13 review
The march of innovation in consumer electronics is more persistent and grueling than any other industry. CES 2013 proved this once again as even refreshed designs were rarely based on hardware more than a year old. Yet, among this crowd of new and altered products, there was one that remained resolute: Dell’s XPS 13. To call this a refresh would be charitable. The laptop, which was revealed at CES 2012, boasts only one significant upgrade: a 1080p display. Every other component, from the Core i5 processor to the solid-state drive, is similar to what was previously available. Don’t expect the XPS 13’s age to provide pricing relief, however. Our review unit retails at $1,400. That’s a lot of money for any laptop, nevermind one that’s a year old. Is Dell’s design still competitive, or should it be pushed into retirement? From a distance, the XPS 13 is difficult to distinguish from some of Dell’s less expensive laptops. The attitude of the XPS 13 is professional and reserved. Even HP’s drab Spectre XT TouchSmart looks bright and cheerful by comparison.
Laptop Reviews: Compare PC and Mac Laptops and Netbooks
Possibly the last company of its kind to try its hand at the ultrabook market, Dell is finally dishing it out with the XPS 13. Has the firm used its extra time to make a 13-inch that will blow away the competition? With an aluminium alloy on the lid and magnesium everywhere else, the XPS 13 is nicely finished. You can poke and prod as much as you like, wherever you like—nothing moves, shakes or rattles. But don't let the matte wrist support fool you, because it does collect smudges. You'll have to wipe it down with a cloth every now and then if you want it to retain its initial charm. We were a little disappointed with the keyboard. We liked the fact that the keys are backlit and quiet, but it has more of a "plasticky" feel than you get with competitors like the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A. And bigger arrow buttons would have been more practical. The touchpad is nice and smooth; your fingers never really stick on it. Just don't forget to turn on the up-to-four-finger multitouch functions—the multiple-finger zooming, scrolling, navigating and so on aren't on by default, so you have to activate them one by one in the driver. We were also disappointed with the connectivity. Now, we're used to criticising ultrabooks for their scanty ports, but the XPS 13 really takes the cake.
Dell XPS 13 Review: An Ultrabook For Business Pros
The Dell XPS 13 ultrabook is a unique hybrid of a premuim consumer laptop and a thin-and-light business notebook. Loaded your choice of either an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor and a blazingly fast solid state drive, this little laptop might just give Apple a run for its money. Build & DesignThe XPS 13 is one of the newest additions to the ultrabook category with its aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber construction and 13-inch screen size. While it's widely known that the ultrabook category is based on Apple's MacBook Air, the XPS 13 actually takes up less space on your desk than a 13-inch MacBook Air ... so Dell engineers are actually delivering a solid effort here. The top screen cover is precision cut from a single block of aluminum. This not only makes the XPS 13 look nice but it gives the otherwise vulnerable screen some much needed protection. The sizeable palm rests beneath the keyboard are made of magnesium and covered with soft touch paint. The lower half of the chassis is made of a carbon fiber composite to help keep the weight down and prevent heat transfer from the internal components to your lap. It's getting harder and harder to find an ultrabook with an easy-access panel on the bottom for upgrades or service. The XPS 13 is no exception.
Dell XPS 13
The XPS 13 marks the first Dell ultrabook in the market, and it's one that deserves our attention. It has standard innards like most of the ultrabooks out there, but where it differs is with its feature offerings and a build and design that's quite noteworthy. If you prefer Dell as a brand and you've been waiting for them to launch a worthwhile ultrabook, your wait is over. Read on. Just like the Asus Zenbook UX31E, the Dell XPS 13 is yet another ultrabook that steps very close to mimicking the Apple MacBook Air's look and design. The Dell XPS 13 has a plush silver-grey metal screen lid that complements its dark coloured base. The Dell ultrabook features rounded edges and minimalistic design to heighten its overall elegance and appeal. It's a premium laptop through and through. It may not be as thin or light as the 11-inch MacBook Air or the Toshiba Portege Z830 (which weighs 1.11 kg), still the Dell XPS 13 is quite thin and its 1.35 kg frame is very easy to carry around. Another interesting highlight of the Dell XPS 13 is its petite frame. The ultrabook's dimensions, in terms of its width and depth, are smaller than a conventional 13.3-inch frame laptop -- e.g. the MacBook Air or any other 13-inch ultrabook we've reviewed.
Dell XPS 13
Dell has a lot of faith in the XPS 13, its first entry into the emerging Ultrabook class of superthin laptops. Compared to what we're used to seeing from Dell, it's a design marvel: thin, light, sleek, and well built with high-quality materials. It looks good, feels good, and performs well. If not for its disappointing display quality and a few minor trackpad issues, the XPS 13 would qualify as the best Ultrabook yet. Even with those drawbacks, it's one of the best Ultraportables around, but I can't recommend it unreservedly. The version of the XPS 13 that I tested is the entry-level model. For $999, you get a Core i5-2467M with Intel integrated graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. For $300 more, you can upgrade to a 256GB SSD; and another $200 will boost the CPU to a dual-core Core i7. Our baseline configuration proved to be pretty zippy on its own, delivering a strong WorldBench 7 score of 136 (see "How We Test PCs"). Chalk that performance up to the SSD, which helps the system boot up in about 17 seconds and performs basic file operations very speedily. In our battery tests, the system lasted just a hair under 6.5 hours. However, that number drops precipitously if you crank up the screen brightness, which can get quite bright.
Dell XPS 13 review
There's no doubt among many that, so far, the Asus Zenbook UX31 13.3-inch has been the best of the Ultrabook bunch. Despite the detestable trackpad, it offers Core-i7 goodness and a fantastic design for £999, while you can get the 11.6-inch Asus Zenbook UX21 version for £800. Dell hasn't been quick to get into the market, but it has waited for rivals to make their move - something that could play to its advantage. Best Ultrabook: 15 top thin and lights for 2012The sample we're looking at here was sent to us before the XPS 13 was formally launched this week - and although our unit seemed pretty final to us, Dell says it will send us another one once full production units are out and about.Like many Ultrabooks, the XPS 13 certainly turns heads. From the outside, it looks like a smaller version of the Dell XPS 15z and Dell XPS 14z – which is no bad thing. A curvaceous silver aluminium shell clocks in at feather-weight 1.4Kg. While that's lighter than a great many ultraportables, it's not as floaty as some - the Toshiba Z830 weighs in at 1.12kg for example - and there is a sturdiness to it that makes it feel solid. Conforming to the design restrictions laid out by Intel for the Ultrabook format, the XPS 13 measures 7mm at its thinnest point and 18mm at its thickest.
Dell XPS 13 Ultraportable Review
Dell has a reputation, deserved or not, as being a reliable, economical and (not to put too fine a point on it) dull choice when it comes to PCs. There have been many attempts to change rectify this; the first in recent memory was coincidentally titled the XPS 13. Various incarnations of this machine and others like the Adamo line have again and again tried to break this perception, and while admirable efforts, they’ve fallen mostly on deaf ears. Enter the XPS 13 Ultrabook, which utilizes Intel’s vague set of standards to hopefully stand above the crowd. Equal parts style and substance, Dell has crammed a commendable amount of technology and no small bit of innovation into its chassis. As the owner of several Dell laptops and desktops in the past, I can say with some authority that the XPS 13 is the most stylish machine they’ve ever produced, with the possible exception of the original (and admittedly flawed) Adamo. Between the premium construction, tiny screen bezel, soft-touch control deck and carbon fiber bottom, it is the definition of “a looker”. If you’re a fan of Dell and want a laptop that’ll turn heads, this is it.
Dell XPS 13 review
Acer Aspire S3. Asus Zenbook UX31. Lenovo IdeaPad U300S. Toshiba Portege Z835. HP Folio 13. And now, Dell's XPS. Since Intel and its OEM partners set out to beat the Apple MacBook Air on price and match its exceptionally thin, superbly solid build, six Windows laptops have risen to the challenge... and while a few have come close, none have quite done the job. The XPS 13 is Dell's entry into the ultrabook arena, and while it's got the same basic specs as most of the other thin-and-lights we've recently reviewed, it might be the most comfortable ultrabook we've ever held. Not only did Dell fit a 13-inch panel into a smaller chassis than any of its competitors, but vast expanses of soft-touch plastic paint make its keyboard deck feel great, and the entire base of the laptop consists of a stylish carbon fiber weave. Starting at $999, the XPS 13 looks fantastic at first blush. Does that feeling permeate the entire laptop experience, though? Read on. Hardware If you've been reading our laptop reviews over the past few months, you've probably noticed a trend: for better or for worse, almost every major computer company has decided to copy Apple's design language. Some manufacturers borrow just a handful of ideas, while others could practically have re-used the same molds.
Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Review
Ultrabooks are an interesting phenomenon. It's like the industry took a long hard look at the emaciated netbook market and decided consumers deserved better. Thank God. We're big fans of the thin and light trend in notebooks, and netbook price points are something we all can appreciate. However, as performance enthusiasts, netbooks just leave us flat, to be honest; no matter how small they are, how inexpensive or how miserly they are on power consumption. It's encouraging to see the burgeoning ultrabook market take flight with virtually all of the major players behind the vision Intel helped inspire. Today we're continuing our coverage of the ultrabook onslaught with Dell's first effort in the space, the XPS 13. We've already shown you what Asus' and Toshiba's offerings were made of. Let's take a look at how Dell's new 13-inch slice of cutting-edge technology handles the test track. First up, our hands-on video spotlight... Dell does a nice job of striking a balance here, between features, performance and cost. The team obviously invested quite a bit in the display, however, as Dell's 13-inch edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass strapped LCD is arguably one of the nicer panels out there in this class of machine.
Dell XPS 13
This ain't no MacBook Air clone. Sure, the Dell XPS 13 ($999.99 direct) will be compared to the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,299 direct, 4 stars), because all 13.3-inch ultrabooks are. But instead of building just another skinny aluminum wedge, Dell has lavished design and, dare we say it, craftsmanship on Intel's ultrabook concept. The result stands with the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s ($1,495 direct, 4 stars) and Editors' Choice HP Folio 13 ($1,048.99 direct, 4 stars) as the status symbols of the category. And if you can forgive its skimpy port selection - really? not even a memory-card slot? - it could be the most tempting of the lot. At 0.7 by 12.4 by 8.1 inches (HWD), the XPS 13 is one of the most compact ultrabooks - according to Dell, 14 percent smaller in volume than the MacBook Air 13-inch. Certainly the 2.96-pound portable won't be a burden in your briefcase. Like most ultrabooks, the Dell XPS 13 comes in plain and fancy configurations. The $999.99 base model tested here includes a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB solid-state drive, along with 4GB of RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium. Stepping up to the $1,499.99 version gets you a 1.7GHz Core i7 chip and a 256GB SSD.
Dell XPS 13 (2012) Review
When you're one of the last to enter a new category, you better make sure your laptop brings something fresh. Dell has done just that with its XPS 13 Ultrabook. Starting at $999, this 3-pound machine is one of the smallest of its ilk, and has some neat innovations, such as Smart Connect technology for downloading email and social networking updates when the lid is closed. Add to that a blazing-fast SSD and a great backlit keyboard, and you have the makings of a great ultraportable. Is this the best Ultrabook yet?Click to EnlargeMeasuring 12.4 x 8.1 x 0.24-0.71 inches, the XPS 13 is not only striking, it has a smaller footprint than most Ultrabooks and the MacBook Air. For example, the ASUS UX31 is 13.3 x 8.9 inches, although it's a slightly thinner 0.1-0.7 inches, and the 13-inch Air has a 12.8 x 8.9-inch footprint while measuring 0.11 to 0.68 inches thick. Only the new Samsung Series 9 comes close to the Dell's small size, at 12.3 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches.Where other wedge-shaped Ultrabooks are either all metal (as with the ASUS UX31) or plastic (as with the Acer Aspire S3), Dell has gone in a different direction with the XPS 13.
Dell XPS 13
The first Very Important Laptop of 2012 has arrived, in the form of the new Dell XPS 13. This is Dell's first ultrabook (an Intel designation for laptops with certain specs--essentially a Windows MacBook Air), and even though the company is a little late to that particular game, the XPS 13 nails a lot of what makes for a good ultrabook experience. At $999 for a 128GB SSD and Intel Core i5 2467M CPU, the XPS 13 is reasonably priced, although HP, Toshiba, and others offer similar specs for $100 or so less. Working in Dell's favor is the system's excellent build quality--the body is a mix of aluminum, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber--and it's a smaller footprint. It's not quite a 13-inch laptop in an 11-inch body, but it's in the ballpark. The backlit keyboard, large touch pad, edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass over the display, and the small footprint all add up to an impressive package. If the battery life and screen (both image quality and resolution) were better, it could be the best of the current ultrabooks. As it is, it's still in the running, but it's not a blowout win. The first thing you notice about the XPS 13 is how small it looks. Dell claims this is a 13-inch screen in a chassis more like an 11-inch laptop's. In reality, it's not exactly that compact, but it is a bit smaller than other 13-inch ultrabooks.
Dell XPS 13
Back at CES, we gave you the details on Dell’s first Ultrabook, the XPS 13. At the time, I said "it may be the best laptop Dell’s made in years," based on a very limited demonstration. Now I have the final production model in my hands, and I’m pleased to say my impression stands. The XPS 13 is by no means the perfect laptop, but my initial hands-on impression is extremely positive. A full review with benchmarks and a lot more hands-on use will be forthcoming, but I wanted to let you know what I think before the system goes on sale next week. Dell makes a big deal about the size of the XPS 13, and they’re right to: it’s sort of impressive. While slightly thicker than the 13-inch Macbook Air, and just a touch heavier (we measured 2 pounds 15.8 ounces, where the Air is 2 pounds 15.1 ounces), the XPS 13 actually has a significantly smaller footprint than Apple's hot laptop. While the screen is the same size as the 13-inch Air, the XPS 13 is actually less wide and less deep. An Ultrabook that’s acctually smaller than the comparable Macbook Air is no mean feat, and it’s definitely not the kind of thing you expect from Dell.
Prices
| Retailer | Information | Prices | |
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Dell XPS 13-L321X Ultrabook - i5-2467M 1.60GHz - 4GB - 128GB SSD - 13.3-inch | $699.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-7000sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) | $719.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-40002sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) | $739.95 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-40002sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) | $739.95 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-7000sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook (Silver) | $739.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-1000sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook | $739.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13-L321X Ultrabook - i5-2467M 1.60GHz - 4GB - 128GB SSD - 13.3-inch | $745 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13.3 LED Ultrabook - Intel Core i5 1.60 GHz - Silver Anodized Aluminum - 4 GB RAM - 128 GB SSD - Intel HD 3000 Graphics - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - 1366 x 768 Display - Bluetooth - English Keyboard | $769.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-1000sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook | $838.97 | See it |
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Dell 13.3 Laptop 4GB 128GB XPS 13 | $896.99 | See it |
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Dell - XPS Ultrabook 13.3 Laptop - Intel® CoreTM i5-2467M processor - 4GB Memory - 128GB Solid State Drive - Silver | $899.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-9001sLV 13-Inch Laptop (2nd Generation Intel Core i7-2637M, 256GB SSD, Backlit keyboard, USB 3.0, BlueTooth, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit) Silver | $996.43 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-9001sLV 13-Inch Laptop (2nd Generation Intel Core i7-2637M, 256GB SSD, Backlit keyboard, USB 3.0, BlueTooth, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit) Silver | $999.86 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-1500sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook | $999.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz) | $999.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz) | $999.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13.3 Ultrabook - Intel Core i5 1.70 GHz - Silver Anodized Aluminum - 8 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD - Intel HD 4000 Graphics - Genuine Windows 8 - 1366 x 768 Display - Bluetooth | $999.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Core i7 13 Inch with Upgraded 256GB SSD Hard Drive | $1049 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13.3 LED Ultrabook - Intel Core i7-3517U - 8GB RAM - 256GB SSD - Intel HD 4000 - Windows 8 | $1149.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-2501sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook | $1149.99 | See it |
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Dell Studio XPS 13 (1340) Laptop | $1199.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1100sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum) | $1199.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1100sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum) | $1249.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1050sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum) | $1275.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3537U processor (4M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz) | $1299.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3537U processor (4M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz) | $1299.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1050sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum) | $1299.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3537U processor (4M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz) | $1373.97 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz) | $1399.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3337U processor (3M Cache, up to 2.7 GHz) | $1399.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS XPS13-1500sLV 13-Inch Ultrabook | $1427.21 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1150sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum) | $1499.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 XPS13R2-1150sLV 13.3-Inch Ultrabook (Silver Anodized Aluminum) | $1566.67 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 - 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3537U processor (4M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz) | $1599.99 | See it |
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Dell XPS 13 : (7.7/10)
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