Unlike nearly every Windows laptop selling for under $1,000, the Dell XPS 13 takes that same approach. Even the base configuration comes with a 2560 x 1600-resolution touch display with a 120-Hz refresh rate, up to 427 nits, and excellent color reproduction. The touchpad is glass and feels excellent to use. In terms of build quality, it’s top-tier. It’s made out of aluminum, and there’s no flexing to be heard of in the chassis. It opens with one finger, and the hinge doesn’t wobble. The bezels around the display are tiny, giving it a very modern look. It’s also incredibly thin at just half an inch thick, matching the MacBook Neo. That’s all very attractive stuff that makes a strong first impression when handling the device for the first time.
Here are some things the new Dell XPS 13 has that the Neo doesn’t:
- A touchscreen display
- A 120-Hz refresh rate
- A backlit keyboard
- Two up-to-date, 10-Gbps USB ports (one on each side!)
- Support for two 4K monitors (or three if the lid is closed)
- Fast storage speed
The one thing it’s missing is a headphone jack. The MacBook Neo includes one, and I do think that’s an unfortunate miss. But I really appreciate that Dell didn’t skimp on port quality. There’s one USB-C port on each side of the device, both of which can support a 4K display simultaneously at 60 Hz, charge the device, or transfer files at 10 Gbps.
While the speakers aren’t what I’d call good, Dell did throw in two tweeters for 8 watts of output. They’re at least on par with the Neo. It’s the same story with the 1080p webcam. The addition of an IR camera for Windows Hello login is appreciated.
So, with all that, you might be wondering how Dell is getting away with selling the XPS 13 for a starting price of $700. There’s a catch, as always.
More Memory Please
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Dell made two significant compromises to reduce the price of the XPS 13. First, it uses a lower-powered Intel processor, the Core 5 320. Dell is surely saving money on this six-core chip, but to my surprise, I was impressed by this modest little piece of silicon. The XPS 13 is one of the first laptops to use this chip, which is part of the new Intel Wildcat Lake line. There are some other laptops coming out with this chip, meant to compete with the Apple A18 Pro used in the MacBook Neo and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is one such option, which uses the Intel Core 7 350, but as a 16-inch laptop, it’s hardly a competitor to the highly compact XPS 13.
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