When it comes to Windows-based laptops, the XPS series from Dell has always been the top-of-the-line offering. A laptop that is considered creme de la creme by users and critics all over. Dell recently unveiled the newest edition of the XPS 13 and as expected it packs in premium features and looks. Starting at a price of Rs 1.44 lakh, the Dell XPS 13 aims to add more credence to Dell’s premium range of laptops. We used the Dell XPS 13 for sometime and here’s our review of the laptop:
Dell XPS 13 (2020) review: Design and display
At first glance, you might not feel that Dell has made too many tweaks to the design of the XPS 13. However, there are some much-needed improvements to an already attractive laptop. At 1.27 kg pounds, the XPS remains as sleek as ever and is really thin (0.58 inch edges). The Dell XPS 13 is almost as thin as Apple MacBook Air. The aluminium exterior blends nicely with the white interior and looks really classy. The hinge is sturdy and makes it easier to open the laptop easily with one hand.
The ports often become a casualty in thin and sleek laptops and the Dell XPS 13 is no different in that sense. It has two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, which can be used for charging. There’s a microSD card reader along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Dell has done a huge favour to buyers by adding a USB-C to USB-A dongle in the box, which comes in really handy and not many brands offer it. Having said that, if you are looking for a plethora of connectivity options then you won’t find them in the XPS 13. A dongle or two may just be a necessity with the XPS 13.
Dell has done a fine a job with the revamped keyboard on the XPS 13. The dedicated page keys have been removed and if you have to do page up or page down, then one has to use the Function key and the up and down arrows. Frankly, we never use the page up and page down buttons so the new layout is a welcome change for us. The keys remain backlit but the contrast ratio is perhaps a bit low in an extremely dark room. Dell has made the keys slightly larger and there’s ample travel time between them. The touchpad size has also been increased and it was extremely responsive.
The display is the real star here as Dell has managed to squeeze in a 16:10 aspect ratio by knocking off the bezels from the top as well as the bottom. Dell claims that it has managed to incorporate a 13.4-inch display in a laptop that has a form factor of 11-inch machine. The Dell XPS 13 has an Infinity Edge display that offers 91.5% screen-to-body ratio and offers an immersive experience. The blacks are deep and colours remain sharp as ever on the Dell XPS 13. Watching multimedia content on the XPS 13 is a delightful experience.
Dell XPS 13 (2020) review: Performance
The new Dell XPS 13 comes in a variety of configurations and you can get any depending on how much you want to spend. All the variants are powered by Intel’s 10th-gen processors and offer up to 16GB of RAM, 512 GB SSB on board. Our review unit had i7 core processor and was really smooth. There were no lags or stutters of any kind and multitasking was a breeze. At any given point of time we had multiple Chrome tabs open with a bunch of other programs running in the background and the Dell XPS 13 handled it without breaking a sweat. We didn’t encounter any heating issues or throttling even once during our time with the Dell XPS 13. The fans on the laptop are also relatively quiet.
This isn’t a laptop, however, that is designed for gaming. Sure, you can indulge in casual gaming but heavy duty gaming isn’t meant for the XPS 13. There is the Iris Plus graphics which can handle casual gaming very well but does show its limitations on graphic intensive games.
The speakers are good but not great. They deliver really solid output while watching movies or during video calls but that’s about it. If you want to enjoy music on the laptop then our advice would be to pair a nice pair of headphones with it.
The battery on the laptop easily lasts about 10 hours at a stretch, which is really good. You don’t have to worry about carrying your charger with you if you are — that is in current circumstances — stepping out for meetings with the XPS 13 in tow.
Dell XPS 13 review: Verdict
At Rs 1.44 lakh, the XPS 13 is a premium offering from Dell and will click with those who want the best of the best in their laptops. It has a sleek design, an impressive display and solid performance on all counts. The keyboard has been improved as has been the trackpad and there’s very little room for complaints with the Dell XPS 13. For a Windows user, the XPS 13 is one of the best laptops available in the market. Sure, the price might seem steep but if you are looking for quality then don’t look beyond the Dell XPS 13. It’s compact, powerful and does everything you want a laptop to do at seriously impressive levels.