Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2023) overview: Good, however not nice

Value When Reviewed

From $1,149

Finest Costs In the present day: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2023)

There are many causes to purchase a hybrid, not least the choice to modify between pill and laptop computer modes. And with the Dell XPS 13 9315 2-in-1, the US IT large hopes to persuade folks to depart regular notebooks behind.

Dell’s removable makes a superb first impression by mixing a glossy folio case with CNC-milled, recycled aluminium and on the within you’ll discover an environment friendly Intel processor.

The worth could be proper, too. The most cost effective Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 makes use of Core i5 silicon and prices $1,149 within the US and £1,198 within the UK. In case you’d like a Core i7 mannequin, the value sits at $1,299 and £1,689.

There’s tons to love, however there’s a number of competitors too. Considered one of our favorite convertible laptops is the Samsung Galaxy Ebook 2 360, and laptops just like the Dell XPS 13 Plus, Apple MacBook Air M2 and Asus ZenBook S 13 OLED all stay tempting in case you don’t want a hybrid.

Design & Construct

• A strong, handsome removable design
• Different laptops and hybrids supply extra versatility
• Nice cameras, however not sufficient ports

The convertible XPS 13 seems nice because of CNC-milled aluminium edges and a gunmetal folio case, and each parts are strong. The pill is sturdy and the folio does an ideal job of defending either side.

The folio case attaches to the pill with a stable magnetic connection on the backside of the panel. As soon as that’s achieved, the magnetic folio props the pill into laptop computer positions at 100-, 110.5- and 125-degree angles.

On the highest, you’ll discover a energy button with a built-in fingerprint reader and a quantity rocker, and the cameras are excellent; for video calls you’ve received a 5Mp unit with Home windows Good day log in, and for landscapes there’s an 11Mp outward-facing shooter. Internally, you’ve received Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

It’s a superb begin, however the XPS has limitations. That angled folio case, as an example: you’ll get extra display positioning versatility from any laptop computer, the Samsung spins via 360 levels and the Microsoft Floor Professional 9 kickstand can sit at nearly any angle.

As with most detachables, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is awkward in your lap. At 300mm from entrance to again in laptop computer mode, it’s deeper than any rival. And whereas mixed weight and thickness of 1.3kg and 17mm are high quality, each rival is slimmer and lighter.

Don’t anticipate a lot by way of bodily connectivity, both. The left-hand edge has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, however that’s it and also you’ll want one for charging.

Dell consists of headphone and full-size USB adapters within the field, however the MacBook Air has a headphone jack and the Asus has three USB-C ports. The Samsung has HDMI, full-size USB, microSD and headphone connectors.

Keyboard & Trackpad

• Spectacular edge-to-edge keyboard
• Good trackpad
• Backlight, however no numberpad

The keyboard makes use of the identical edge-to-edge “zero lattice” design because the XPS 13 Plus. It’s disarming at first – a gap-free unit with hardly any journey – but it surely’s straightforward to stand up to hurry.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

The buttons are quick and responsive, and the case lends power. It’s higher than the Floor Professional 9’s typing gear, extra satisfying than Samsung’s spongy {hardware}, and never far off MacBook high quality.

The backlight is first rate, and the trackpad is sweet too – massive and comfy, and with responsive buttons that might solely do with being a little bit crisper.

Display screen & Audio system

• A high-contrast, high-resolution IPS panel
• Touchscreen works effectively with the non-compulsory XPS Stylus
• Tinny audio system and higher screens elsewhere

Each model of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 will get the identical IPS show. The three:2 panel has a 2880 x 1920 decision, so that you’ve received a great deal of element and peak. The sting-to-edge Gorilla Glass Victus does an incredible job of defending the panel.

It’s a touchscreen, and it’s appropriate with the XPS Stylus, which has 4,096 strain factors and is a superb choice for inventive work. It additionally attaches magnetically to the highest of the display, which is a neat storage resolution. The stylus isn’t included, although and it’s $100/£112 additional.

The panel’s peak brightness of 528 nits allows straightforward indoor and out of doors use, and the distinction ratio of two,031:1 is about nearly as good because it will get for IPS, so daring colors are partnered by nice depth and nuance.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

These colors are correct, too, because of a 1.1 Delta E, though this display solely renders the sRGB gamut: it produced 94.8% of that area however solely about 70% of the Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 gamuts.

These outcomes imply that the XPS is right for on a regular basis workloads and inventive duties, but it surely’s not appropriate for high-end design work or HDR media.

The XPS 13 Plus and ZenBook each include high-resolution OLED panels with higher distinction and color. The Samsung convertible has OLED, albeit at a decrease decision, and the Floor Professional 9’s 120Hz refresh price doubles the Dell’s 60Hz determine and makes the UI smoother.

The 2 2W audio system are a bit tinny, however high quality for background music and YouTube movies. Apple’s equipment is significantly better.

Specs & Efficiency

• Intel Core i5-1230U or i7-1250U
• 8GB or 16GB DDR4 reminiscence
• 512GB or 1TB SSDs

The 2 XPS 13 2-in-1 variants use Intel’s low-power Core i5-1230U and Core i7-1250U processors, which have two multi-threaded efficiency cores with respective prime speeds of 4.4- and 4.7GHz.

The i5 model has 8GB of reminiscence and the Core i7 rig doubles that determine, but it surely’s solely DDR4 RAM when most rivals use DDR5. The 512GB SSD I examined has affordable learn and write speeds of 4988MB/s and 3586MB/s.

There’s nothing to shout about on paper, and there’s not a lot pleasure from benchmarks both. In Geekbench 5’s multi-core check, a rating of 6,898 is a number of hundred factors behind the AMD chip contained in the Asus, and additional again from the XPS 13 Plus’s i7-1260P and Apple’s M2 chip.

PCMark 10 provided no respite. The XPS 13 2-in-1’s results of 4,969 stays behind the Asus and Dell XPS 13 Plus. In our benchmarks, the XPS 13 2-in-1 may solely outpace the Samsung, which makes use of a Core i5-1235U.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

Don’t anticipate a lot assist from Intel’s Iris Xe graphics chip. Its 3DMark Night time Raid results of 11,151 is a great distance behind the built-in Radeon core within the Asus and in addition behind the identical Iris chip within the i7-1260P.

You gained’t have any points working workplace apps, a great deal of browser tabs or music and media streamers, and the XPS can deal with some primary photo- and video-editing instruments.

Attempt to do extra and it’ll begin to chug and it’s outpaced by the P-series, Ryzen or Apple chips discovered elsewhere. I’d positively suggest the 16GB improve if you wish to go for the Core i5 CPU.

Not less than you don’t need to cope with fan noise – as a result of the Dell is passively cooled. That’s nice for silent working, but it surely does imply that there’s a bit of warmth in direction of the highest of the pill in case you push the {hardware}. It’s noticeable, however not harmful.

Battery Life & Charging

• 49.5Wh battery
• 45W charging

Battery life is mediocre. The 49.5Wh energy pack lasted for 9 hours and 25 minutes in a video playback check with the display at diminished brightness however solely 8 hours and 27 minutes in an on a regular basis work benchmark on the similar display stage.

In case you ramp the show up or push the elements anticipate nearer to seven hours, and anticipate an honest 37% of energy from a thirty-minute cost.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

In some conditions, the XPS gained’t get via a working day, and a few rivals are higher on this space. You’ll get twice as a lot longevity from the Asus and nearly as a lot from the MacBook and Galaxy Ebook.

Value & Availability

The most cost effective XPS 13 2-in-1 pairs the i5-1230U with 8GB of reminiscence and prices $1,149 or £1,198. Upgrading to 16GB raises these costs to $1,299 and £1,489.

The Core i7-1250U model has 16GB of reminiscence by default and prices $1,299 and £1,689. Upgrading from a 512GB SSD to a 1TB drive is just accessible on the Core i7 mannequin and ups the US and UK costs to $1,449 and £1,889.

As ever, Dell’s personal US and UK web sites are the very best choices for getting the XPS however you too can get it from Currys.

The very best mannequin is the Core i7 model with 16GB of reminiscence. However in case you’re prepared to ditch the Dell’s removable ingredient, inexpensive energy is simple to search out. The Asus ZenBook prices $1,299 or £999, and the Dell XPS 13 Plus with a Core i7 CPU sits at £1,299 or £1,399.

Mike Jennings / Foundry

In case you’re pleased with a U-series chip you may get the traditional XPS 13 for $999 or £1,199. The Galaxy Ebook 2 360 prices $849 or £1,299 with a Core i7 CPU, and the Galaxy Ebook 3 360 prices $799 or £1,399. A number of of those contenders have higher screens than the XPS, even when they’re not all hybrids.

The MacBook is aggressive, too, because of beginning costs of $1,119 and £1,249 – though costs rise dramatically for the beefier M2 chip and 16GB of reminiscence. The Floor can be costly, with US and UK costs that begin at $1,808 and £1,838 in case you pair a Core i7 CPU with the Floor Professional Signature Keyboard.

Take a look at our chart of the greatest laptops and greatest 2-in-1 laptops in case you’d wish to see your entire choices.

Verdict

It’s a mid-market choice by way of worth, then, and it’s fairly extraordinary in different departments too.

The processor can run on a regular basis workplace and inventive workloads however nothing more durable, and the show is a vibrant, daring touchscreen with out the color breadth for top-end design conditions. The battery barely lasts all day.

Elsewhere, the XPS has a superb keyboard but it surely’s heavier, thicker and arguably much less versatile than rivals, and the display is powerful and well-equipped with cameras – but it surely barely has any ports.

It’s a tough promote. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is an efficient alternative if you’d like an on a regular basis removable machine relatively than a 360-hinge hybrid. However regardless of your intentions for a brand new convertible or laptop computer, you’ll in all probability discover a higher choice elsewhere.

Specs

• Mannequin examined
• OS: Home windows 11 Dwelling
• Show: 13in 2880 x 1920 60Hz IPS
• CPU: Intel Core i7-1250U
• Reminiscence: 16GB onboard
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
• Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.s SSD
• Webcam: 5mp Home windows Good day, 11mp
• Connectivity: 2 x Thunderbolt 4/USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-C/DisplayPort/Energy supply
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
• Battery capability: 49.5Wh
• Charger: 45W
• Dimensions: 201 x 300 x 17mm
• Weight: 1.3kg
• Guarantee: 1yr RTB