The Dell XPS 13 is a groundbreaking laptop that defies expectations in terms of design and portability. The touchscreen version with the Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB solid state drive is definitely worth the $1,299 price (although you can buy this version of Dell XPS 13 at the Microsoft Store for $100 less now).
When first released, the International Business Times called it an Apple MacBook Pro killer. BGR cuts to the chase and says that the XPS 13 is better than the MacBook Air .
“I can say that the new Dell XPS 13 is good enough to pry a MacBook from my — albeit animate — hands. I’ve been using the redesigned 2015 XPS 13 for the last several months and it was surprisingly easy to relegate my MacBook to backup status.”
The Dell XPS 13 can pry the MacBook, MacBook Air, and possibly the MacBook Pro from your hands without any questions. You have to spend at least a day with the device to understand why. First of all, there is the gorgeous 13-inch screen, which has a UHD 3,200×1,800 pixel resolution — that’s higher than any of Apple’s Retina displays. Best of all, since there is virtually no border, Dell was able to fit the screen on a laptop that is usually reserved for one with an 11-inch screen.
The 2.8-pound XPS 13 is actually lighter than the MacBook Air. It isn’t as light as the two-pound MacBook, but the fact that it actually has different ports, a much better processor, and a bigger screen makes it worth the slight extra weight. It is much lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina and runs just as fast.
The battery life is also great, considering the fact that the XPS 13 drinks extra juice with the touchscreen and the Ultra-HD display. Most users will be able to go a full day without having to recharge the XPS 13. When using Office, Photoshop, Netflix, and YouTube constantly (with screen brightness almost full), the device lasted 6.5 hours — very similar to MacBook Air, but better than MacBook Pro.
When the Dell XPS 13 was released earlier this year, many complained about the less-than-reliable trackpad. However, Dell must have updated the drivers since the trackpad works almost as smoothly as that on Apple’s devices. It took several months for Dell to deal with the problem, but it is finally solved.
There have also been some complaints about the grease-like coating on the screen — something that used to be common with all touchscreen devices. However, it’s not a deal-breaker and only really visible when the screen is white. Even with this small disability, the screen on the XPS 13 is still gorgeous.
For the past several years, Dell hasn’t been known as a groundbreaking laptop manufacturer. In fact, they have been accused of being behind the times. That all changes with the fantastic and awe-inspiring XPS 13.
[Photo Credit: Daryl Deino]