The Dell XPS 13 (2020) is a powerhouse. That is as a consequence of Dell’s daring resolution-making and unceasing dedication to innovation. Following up on the wonderful XPS 13 (2019), Dell takes its innovation to the subsequent degree by eradicating the final bezel on the corporate’s InfinityEdge show. Meaning the laptop computer is just about borderless, making it the primary of its variety.
However, that is not all. For $1,749, you get a laptop computer that received a bigger show with a much bigger, extra snug keyboard and touchpad, all in a chassis that is by some means smaller than its predecessor’s. Beauty adjustments apart, the XPS 13 is a lot highly effective, with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, and boasts over 12 hours of battery life. That is why the Dell XPS 13 is likely one of the greatest laptops obtainable. Should you’re in search of the newest mannequin, take a look at our evaluation of the 11th Gen Intel Tiger Lake Dell XPS 13.
Editor’s Observe (up to date 12.14.20, initially printed 4.2.20): For the reason that this evaluation’s unique publishes date, we have pitted the Dell XPS 13 towards several of its most promising rivals in a collection of face-offs. And the laptop computer has persistently come out on high, retaining its spot as our favorite ultraportable. Be sure you take a look at our high face-offs.
Dell XPS 13 (2020) Pricing and Availability
- Value: $1,749
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512 M.2 NVMe SSD
- Show: 13.4-inch, 1080p
- Battery: 12:39
- Measurement: 11.6 x 7.Eight x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 2.Eight kilos
The laptop computer can be configured with a 1TB SSD ($150), 2TB SSD ($350) and a 3840 x 2400 contact show ($300). A tricked-out XPS 13 prices $2,309 and will get you the Core i7 processor, 2TB SSD, Home windows 10 Professional, and a super- high-resolution show. The laptop computer would also come within the Frost coloration scheme as an alternative to the standard silver-and-black motif.
Dell XPS 13 (2020) Design
From its exterior to its inside, the XPS 13 is a showstopper. The lid’s Frost White, the anodized aluminum end is cool to the contact and appears fashionable going out and in my bag. The shiny Dell brand seems like a classy broach, including simply the correct quantity of sparkle. I am a fan of the twin-coil hinge that makes opening the laptop computer with one hand so simple as turning the ebook’s web page.
As soon as the laptop computer is open, you may discover extra of that winter white theme. Constituted of Dell’s patented glass-fiber weave, the stain-proof Arctic White deck is gorgeous. Operating my fingers throughout the textured floor is like ASMR, however, to your arms. The keyboard is pushed towards the deck’s highest, leaving simply sufficient house for a glass touchpad.
At 11.6 x 7.Eight x 0.6-inches, the two.8-pound XPS 13 is likely one of the smallest ultraportables obtainable. It is 2% smaller than its predecessor. Concerning weight, it is on a par with the MSI Status 14 (2.Eight kilos, 12.Eight x 8.5 x 0.6 inches), and lighter than each the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 3 (2.9 kilos, 12.1 x 8.Eight x 0.6 inches) and MacBook Professional (13-inch 2019 with Contact Bar) (4.Four kilos, 12.Eight x 8.9 x 1 inch). Nevertheless, the HP Spectre x360 13 (2.7 kilos, 12.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches) is a tad lighter, however barely thicker.
Dell XPS 13 Safety
The XPS 13 has an embedded fingerprint reader within the energy button for straightforward login utilizing Home windows Howdy. It is a good, straightforward approach to add a layer of safety. I do want Dell had discovered a strategy to both add a bodily shutter for the webcam or a digital kill change. Having to make use of a bit of tape mars the great thing about these barely-there bezels.
This can be a brief part; as a result of the XPS 13 is brief on ports. The svelte stunner has a Thunderbolt Three port on the appropriate with a headset jack. On the left, you may discover one other Thunderbolt Three port and a microSD slot. That is it, so in the event you’re planning on utilizing a mouse or exterior laborious drive, you must spend money on a USB Kind-C hub.
Dell XPS 13 (2020) Show
Whenever you first look at the XPS 13, you do not see that you will discover it earlier than the rest. This marks the primary time Dell has ditched all of the bezels, together with the underside chin. However, Dell did not simply ditch the thick backside bezel. It managed to shrink the opposite three bezels even additional, with the aspect bezels measuring 0.15 and 0.2 inches, respectively, and the underside bezel slimming right down to solely 0.18 inches.
Within the wake of these barely-there bezels, you get a 13.4-inch, 1920 x 1200 contact show with a 16:10 facet ratio. The panel is 6.8% bigger than its predecessor. In some way, Dell managed to provide customers much more visible actual property in a 12.8-inch chassis — all whereas preserving the webcam smack-dab within the heart of the highest bezel.
However, how does it look? Vibrant and very vivid. I used to be transfixed by actress Tracee Ellis Ross’ ruby-red sequined gown that performed up to her mild brown pores and skin in The Excessive Observe trailer. Particulars have been so sharp, and I noticed each sample embroidered into Ice Dice’s inky-black smoking jacket.
As beautiful as Ross seemed, I used to be shocked that the XPS 13 wasn’t as vivid as I assumed. At the very least, not on paper. In truth, the laptop computer reproduced 115% of the sRGB coloration gamut. That is greater than sufficient to carry off the Status 14 (112%) and the Spectre x360 (109%). However, the MacBook Professional (118%) and the Floor Laptop computer 3 (121%) are extra vivid, as is the 123% premium laptop computer common.
Nevertheless, Dell’s CinemaColor utility provides a pop of coloration by adjusting saturation, distinction, and white steadiness through various presets ({Movie}, Night, Sports activities, and Animation). And if that is not sufficient, the laptop computer additionally has Dolby Imaginative and prescient to reinforce the HDR.
The XPS 13 made up for the slight coloration deficiency with a median brightness of 417 nits. The pocketbook outshone the 357-nit common and competitors. The MacBook Professional was an in-depth second with 408 nits with the Spectre x360 (369 nits), the Floor Laptop computer 3 (348 nits), and the Status 14 (269 nits) proper behind.
Because it pained me to smudge this beautiful show with my fingers, I encountered an agile contact panel with the correct response.
This can be a nice case of massive issues and small packages. Regardless of having a bottom-mounted audio system, the XPS 13 delivered loud, comparatively clear audio. Megan Thee Stallion’s braggadocious movement on “Savage” crammed my smallish dwelling and eating rooms. The Waves MaxxAudio Professional software program helped present that pop of bass most laptops this dimension often lack. Please do not get me improper, and it isn’t going to switch a perfect pair of headphones or exterior audio system. However, the XPS 13 is ok for watching {movies} or an impromptu dance get-together.
Dell XPS 13 Efficiency
For such a light-weight laptop computer, the Dell XPS 13 hits like a heavyweight. Packing an Intel Core i7-1065G7 (Ice Lake) processor with 16GB of RAM, the laptop computer allowed me to observe Tiger King’s episode on Netflix, whereas working 25 different open tabs Google Chrome — all without a stutter.
The pocketbook additionally carried out effectively our artificial assessments. On Geekbench 4.3, which assessments general efficiency, the XPS 13 achieved 19,053, handily beating the 16,669 premium laptop computer common. The Spectre x360, which additionally has a Core i7-1065G7 CPU, scored 18,408, whereas the MacBook (Intel Core i5 CPU) and the Status 14 (Core i7-10710U CPU) reached 18,221 and 17,296, respectively. The Floor Laptop computer 3 (Core i7-1065G7) barely edged the XPS 13 out with 19,078.
Throughout the HandBrake check, the XPS 13 transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in 15 minutes and 10 seconds, rushing previous the 19:40 common. That point was quicker than the Floor Laptop computer 3 (24:55) and the Spectre x360 (21:13). Nevertheless, each the MacBook Professional (14:20) and the Status 14 (14:01) have been faster.
Nevertheless, the Status (512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD) achieved 978.7MBps, whereas the MacBook Professional (256GB SSD) received an unimaginable 2,573MBps on the BlackMagic check.
The Intel Iris Plus GPU in the XPS 13 is not designed to deal with hard-core gaming, but it surely works in a pinch. The laptop computer produced 59 frames per minute (fps) on the Grime Three gaming benchmark. However, under the 60-fps common, greater than the MacBook Professional (38 fps), the Intel Iris Plus GPU-equipped Floor Laptop computer Three and the Spectre x360, all of which notched 47 fps. The Status, with its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU, hit 150 fps.
Dell XPS 13 (2020) Battery life
Whether or not you are on the highway or working from dwelling, the XPS 13 can put in a full workday, after which some. The laptop computer lasted a whopping 12 hours and 39 minutes on the Laptop computer Magazine Battery Take a look at, which consists of steady net browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. The XPS 13 outclassed the 8:47 premium laptop computer common, in addition to the Status 14 (9:49), the Floor Laptop computer 3 (9:17), and the MacBook Professional (8:41). However, the Spectre x360 was the final laptop computer working, with a time of 13:20.
Even though the XPS 13 seems sizzling, it stays cool. We measured the laptop computer’s temperature in key areas after working a full-screen video for 15 minutes. The touchpad, heart, and backside measured 79, 86, and 91 levels Fahrenheit, respectively.
Dell nonetheless has one of many smallest built-in webcams within the business. The 0.1-inch, 720p webcam does an important job capturing coloration. My heat brown complexion was spot-on in my check pictures, as was my snow-white sweater. Nonetheless, the element was a combined bag, with the shooter exhibiting off my sweater’s knit sample, however making my locks appear to be lengthy, blurry blobs.
Dell XPS 13 Software Program and Guarantee
Dell bundled a stable suite of helpful branded software program with the XPS 13. Dell Energy Supervisor allows you to handle energy consumption by way of preset profiles to increase battery life or to squeeze each little bit of efficiency out of the system. Buyer Join is your conduit to a Dell technician in the event you want system help. Digital Supply retains all of your software program downloads and restores them after a system wipe or crash.
The corporate lately up-to-date Dell Cellular Join, so it now performs well with the iPhone. Now everybody can swap photographs, paperwork, and movies seamlessly between their smartphone and laptop computer.
Third-party apps embody Killer Management Heart, which helps you to set community bandwidth precedence. The laptop computer additionally comes with 20GB of free Dropbox storage for a yr. There may be, after all, some Home windows 10 bloatware comparable to Netflix, Farm Heroes Saga, and Sweet Crush Saga.
The Dell XPS 13 ships with a one-year {hardware} guarantee with onsite and in-Dwelling service after distant analysis. See how Dell fared throughout our annual particular reviews: Tech Assist Showdown and Greatest and Worst Manufacturers.
Smaller, sleeker, and sporting the tiniest bezels on all sides, the brand new Dell XPS 13 reveals that Dell is aware of methods to push the envelope without going too far. It is a train in affected person restraint, bettering the pocketbook in many small ways in which add as much as a giant leap for the system.
For $1,749, you get a laptop computer that is received just about no bezels, a strong 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, a speedy SSD, a stunning show, over 12 hours of battery life, a snug keyboard, and surprisingly good audio, all in a chic chassis that is 2% smaller than its predecessor.
Nevertheless, in the event you’re in search of one thing with longer battery life, you may wish to contemplate the $1,313 HP Spectre x360 13-inch. Want extra energy? The MSI Status 14 may be extra at your pace. However, in the event you’re searching for the overall package deal, the Dell XPS 13 is the laptop computer for you.
