Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13
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GENERAL USE: Good—7.7/10
GAMING/AI: Fair—6.2/10
ENG/DESIGN: Good—7.2/10
SOFTWARE DEV: Good—7.5/10
CONTENT CREATION: Good—7.7/10
PORTABILITY: Excellent—9.3/10
BATTERY: Very Good—8.0/10
OVERALL SCREEN QUALITY: Good—7.3/10
OVERALL PERFORMANCE: Good—7.2/10
SIZE: 13.4"
The Dell XPS 13 is positioned at a lower midrange price with a solid build quality and is highly portable due to its light weight and compact size. Featuring an Intel i7 processor, integrated Iris Xe graphics, and ample memory and storage, it delivers good performance for general use and fair capabilities for more demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. With a decent battery life, it allows for mobility without frequent charging. The laptop has an excellent keyboard and a good quality webcam which enhances the user experience during typing and video conferencing. It comes equipped with a 13.4-inch IPS display with good color coverage, suitable for tasks where color accuracy is important but may not be optimal for intensive gaming. The Dell XPS 13 runs on Windows 11 Home and has multiple USB-C ports, including Thunderbolt 4 support, ensuring high-speed connectivity and data transfer but lacks a dedicated number pad, hardware ray tracing, and DLSS features. If you prioritize portability and build quality over gaming or intensive engineering tasks, the Dell XPS 13 may be a suitable choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- High screen pixel density
- Powerful Intel i7 processor
- Backlit keyboard, portable design
- Good battery life
- USB-C charging, Thunderbolt support
Cons
- No touchscreen
- Moderate 3D performance
- Weak in engineering tasks
- No facial recognition
Ratings by Category
Portability:4.8
PerfectRec’s portability rating takes into account the volume and thickness of the laptop as well as its weight.
Keyboard Quality:4.7
The Keyboard Quality score is based on the PerfectRec experts’ assessment of tactile feedback, typing comfort, keyboard reliability and typing noise.
Build Quality:4.6
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, chassis rigidity, and overall reliability.
Our assessment of build quality includes many details that are difficult to quantify.
Our laptop experts use their best judgment to produce the final score.
Operating Noise:4.6
PerfectRec’s Operating Noise Score is based on fan noise measurements. Laptops with a fanless design, such as Macbooks, receive the maximum score.
Battery Life:4.4
PerfectRec’s Battery Life rating is based on hours of battery life in typical usage scenarios.
General Use:4.3
The Dell XPS 13 suits general use well thanks to its high-resolution IPS display, providing clear and sharp visuals, combined with its strong CPU and ample RAM for smooth multitasking. Its lightweight design and long battery life ensure easy portability and extended usage without frequent charging.
Content Creation:4.3
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, and video editing work.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
Software Development:4.2
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software development.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
General Use Screen Quality:4.2
The general use screen score is based on the screen technology, contrast ratio, resolution, brightness, color gamut and color accuracy. This score does not take into account specialized display features for specific use cases, such as high refresh rate for gaming.
Engineering & Design:4.1
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design, CAD and 3D work.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
Gaming & AI:3.2
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability as well as AI performance, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
While performance (especially graphics performance) is the most important factor determining this score, we also give modest weight to screen quality, heat management, keyboard quality, and storage.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $850 | ||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | ||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | ||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | ||
Width | 11.63" | ||
Depth | 7.86" | ||
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | ||
RAM | 16 GB | ||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | ||
RAM Slots | 0 | ||
Storage | 512 GB | ||
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | 10 Hours | ||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | ||
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | ||
Display Technology | IPS | ||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | ||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | ||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | ||
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score  | 8.5/10 | ||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | ||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | ||
Premium Business Laptop | No | ||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | ||
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | ||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | ||
Webcam | 720p | ||
Fingerprint Reader | No | ||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | ||
Number Pad | No | ||
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | 0 | ||
USB-C ports | 2 | ||
USB-C Charging | Yes | ||
Display Outputs | 2 | ||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | ||
Dell XPS 13
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The Verge
Monica Chen | April 2023
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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