The Dell XPS 13 is an exceptional notebook computer that has earned it’s place at the top of our best laptops rankings for years now.
Its elegant design combined with powerful performance and the never ending modernization of the device make it a laptop that continues to manage to exceed our expectations.
The bezel-less frame combined with the thin form factor renders the XPS 13 a stunning aesthetically-pleasing laptop that doesn’t just look as good as it performs but is also light and convenient.
With each iteration, Dell manages to make this laptop even better than the last; it’s hard at this point to imagine how the XPS 13 could improve any further.
The latest Dell XPS 13 is quite impressive; with Intel’s 11th Gen CPUs and integrated Xe graphics, it has gotten even faster than last year’s model.
What’s more is that this powerful laptop comes with a stunning 4-sided InfinityEdge display, making it a visual masterpiece.
It is also incredibly portable, with its lightweight yet durable design, and the keyboard and touchpad have been ergonomically designed so that you can work in comfort. All in all, the latest Dell XPS 13 is truly one of the best Windows laptops and 13-inch laptops on the market.
Dell XPS 13 Review And Break Down: Price And Availability
The fabulous Dell XPS 13 is now available, and you can get started with it at an attractive discounted rate of $899, down from the regular price of $1,059.
This incredible deal includes an impressive 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and Intel UHD Graphics, making it an unbeatable value when it comes to laptops.
So don’t wait any longer – purchase the Dell XPS 13 today and enjoy an awesome blend of performance and affordability!
Stepping up to an even more powerful configuration, you have the option of choosing from three different models. The first, which originally cost $1,159 but is now available for a much lower price of $989, features an Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics.
For a slightly heftier price tag of $1,259 (originally $1,458), this model also boasts a Core i7 processor, a larger 512GB SSD, and a touch display. And should you wish to go all out, there’s a $1,493 (previously $1,758) model with 16GB of RAM, a 4K screen, and all the other features of the basic models.
All three of these options offer incredible value for your money, regardless of your computing needs.
With the XPS 13, you can make a stylish statement with its default silver and black colour options; however, if you’re feeling bolder, Dell is offering the dazzling Arctic White variation for only $45.
You also have numerous possibilities to upgrade your device ranging from an additional 2TB SSD or going all out for a 4K Infinity Edge display! Plus, they’ve discounted it by a whole five bucks – now that’s what we call value.
Dell XPS 13 Design
The ultra-sleek Dell XPS 13 with Tiger Lake is nothing short of remarkable. It truly stands out amongst its competitors for its remarkable design and craftsmanship: the aluminum outer shell and Arctic White finish combine to create a stunning piece of technology.
What’s more, the XPS 13 is incredibly portable and lightweight – testament to Dell’s commitment to delivering outstanding craftsmanship in a form factor that’s suitable for any lifestyle.
I’ve reviewed several modern XPS models this year, and the XPS 13 remains one of the best examples of audio-visual excellence on the market and I’m not even close to tiring of it.
The Dell XPS 13 Tiger Lake is the perfect combination of sleek design and modern technology. Its InfinityEdge display is remarkable, with virtually no bezels, and a proper webcam conveniently located at the top.
This is the same refreshed design that Dell launched earlier in the year, making it an excellent choice for anyone who prefers top-of-the-range machines.
Not only does it look good, but it also packs a punch with Intel’s 11th-generation Tiger Lake processors and the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard for faster speeds and reliability.
With a range of colours and materials to choose from, the Dell XPS 13 Tiger Lake is perfect for anyone who values style, performance and convenience.
The new XPS 13 is impressively petite and feather-light, measuring 11.7 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches and weighing only 2.9 pounds – which makes it even more slender than the ultra-portable MacBook Air M1!
Ports
The XPS 13 from Dell exemplifies a slim, lightweight design, but has sacrificed its port selection to do so. It includes two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack as the extent of its port selection.
To compensate for this, Dell provides a USB-C to USB-A adapter with the XPS 13 out of the box, so users can still connect their existing devices and accessories.
However, if you often use external monitors and lots of peripherals, you may find yourself needing to purchase a dongle or USB-C hub to connect them to the XPS 13.
Display
The Dell XPS 13 packs some serious aesthetic punch, thanks to its 13.4 inch InfintiyEdge display.
Not only does it offer vivid colors and an impressive 1920 x 1200 resolution, but its revolutionary bezel-free design keeps the bottom bezel width to a minimum compared to the Samsung model released in 2019.
This gives it an amazing 91.5% screen-to-body ratio, providing an unparalleled level of immersion while using your laptop. So look no further, if you’re after a laptop with a beautiful display, the XPS 13 is definitely the way to go.
When watching Netflix’s The Witcher, I was astounded and overwhelmed by the eye-popping visuals. Every scene was bursting with luscious greens, radiant yellows, and brilliant pinks that leaped off the screen like a breathtaking painting.
In one memorable scene, Geralt chats up the wizard Stregobor in an outdoor oasis, and I could spot impeccable detail; from individual strands of Henry Cavill’s stubble to creases on his leather armor. It was a truly mesmerizing viewing experience.
Dell’s latest laptop model, the XPS 13, is truly shining brightly thanks to its remarkable 469 brightness rating on our light meter significantly brighter than rival models the Asus ZenBook Flip S (375 nits) and the Apple MacBook Air (365 nits).
Not only does it pack some serious brightness, but the XPS 13’s real-world color performance is second-to-none, covering 97.9% of the sRGB color gamut even beating both the ZenBook (160%) and MacBook Air (114%).
If you’re looking for beautiful and vibrant colors, along with great brightness, the Dell XPS 13 is the way to go.
Audio
The XPS 13’s speakers provide pleasant, clear audio for an average-sized room, but for the best listening experience, a dedicated audio device is highly recommended.
As an example, I tested Julien Baker’s track “Faith Healer” at medium volume and the sound quality was quite good.
However, once I turned up the volume to max level, the twirly guitar riffs and powerful drums as well as the emotionally charged vocals began to sound distorted and harsh.
The innovative XPS 13’s MaxxAudioPro app is exceptionally powerful, providing users with a customizable EQ, head-tracking for optimal positional audio, and most notably a huge boost in the audio output.
Despite the added enhancements of the app, the audio quality still isn’t quite comparable to the pristine sound of a good pair of computer speakers or headphones.
That said, if you’re looking for extensive audio experience, you might want to consider investing in a quality sound system.
By utilizing the app and the best speakers/headphones on the market, you can enjoy your favorite music and movies with crystal-clear sound.
Performance
Equipped with Intel’s cutting-edge 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs, the new Dell XPS 13 is an impressive powerhouse that blazes through even the most strenuous tasks without breaking a sweat.
During my extensive testing, I was pleasantly surprised as the XPS 13 effortlessly kept up with me no matter how many applications and Chrome tabs I had open all the while I was streaming music on Spotify, in addition to chatting on Discord and Slack for hours on end.
This is most certainly one of the most capable notebooks that I have had the pleasure of using.
Tiger Lake’s performance boost is impressive; according to Geekbench 5, the new XPS 13 scored 5,254, a 17.8% increase from the 4,847 score of its 10th Gen equivalent.
This is even higher than the 11th Gen powered Asus ZenBook Flip S UX371, which only got 3,880. While the XPS 13 comes close to matching the speed of Apple’s new M1 MacBook Air’s 5,896 scores, it ultimately falls short. Nevertheless, the improvements Tiger Lake has to offer are undeniable.
When it comes to our XPS 13’s 512GB SSD, its performance on the file transfer test was impressive as it copied close to 5GB of files at 806 MB per second. Nevertheless, the 1TB drive in our Zenbook Flip S outperformed that figure with a remarkable speed of 1,296 MBps!
Dell’s laptop showed impressive performance on our Handbrake video editing test, taking just 18 minutes to encode a 4K video to 1080p, more than twice as fast as the Asus ZenBook’s 22 minutes.
However, it was still no match for the mighty Apple MacBook Air, which blitzed through the same task in an astonishingly fast 7 minutes and 44 seconds.
The PugetBench Photoshop test saw even more contrast between the performance of the Dell XPS 13 and that of the 10th Gen and new MacBook Air models.
The Dell XPS 13 scored a commendable 588 in the photo editing benchmark but trailed far behind the 656.7 scores of the 10th Gen model and the 652 of the new MacBook Air.
These results suggest that users seeking a capable photo editing laptop should look to the 10th Gen or the MacBook Air, both of which offer significantly higher levels of performance.
Graphics
The Dell XPS 13 has been upgraded with Intel’s cutting-edge Iris Xe Integrated Graphics, and we have seen a remarkable increase in performance from the already impressive previous generation of laptops.
The bump to Xe graphics saw some strong performance improvements compared to the 10th Gen XPS 13 with Iris Plus graphics. Our 3DMark Fire Strike test score increased to 3,598, up from 2,837.
This was almost the same improvement seen in the Tiger Lake ZenBook S, which scored 3,351 compared to the 10th Gen machines.
Impressive renders and accelerated frame rates, thanks to the upgraded Xe integrated graphics, make this system an ideal choice for a range of graphics-intensive tasks from gaming to video editing.
Our results were mixed overall when comparing performance between models, as the XPS 13 ran the Civilization VI: Gathering Storm game at 15.7 frames per second – significantly lower than the 18.7 fps we measured from the 10th Gen model, and a mere fraction of the 36 fps reported from the Apple’s new M1 MacBook Air.
This suggests that the XPS 13, while still providing spectacularly smooth performance in many aspects, may not be the best choice when it comes to intensive gaming or graphics rendering.
Keyboard And Touchpad
The latest XPS 13 keyboard from Dell is an absolute treat to type on. Its smooth and responsive keys bounce nicely when typing and make working for hours on end a comfortable experience.
When I took the 10FastFingers typing test, I was able to type 104 words per minute accurately and without feeling any strain on my fingers or discomfort in my wrists.
It is a wonderfully designed keyboard that I could not recommend more.
The new and improved XPS 13 gives users an intuitive touch experience that seamlessly transitions between work and plays. The 4.7 x 3.2 touchpad offers a seamless scroll through webpages, allows users to easily pinch-to-zoom, and performs multi-finger gestures with ease.
Moreover, the Keycaps of this laptop are 9 percent larger, and the touchpad is a whopping 17 percent larger when compared to the previous-gen model.
All this real estate provides the user with ample space to perform different types of tasks, like typing emails and other documents all day long, making this laptop an ideal choice for professionals looking to multitask.
Webcam
The XPS 13’s built-in webcam is an impressive feat, what with its 720p resolution and infrared support for Windows Hello – you’d never guess that it’s packing all that tech into the laptop’s tiny top bezel.
Unfortunately, its quality falls short of expectations and seems to stay at the level of standard laptop webcams, leaving users with blurry, blotchy image quality on video calls.
If you want to look your best when video chatting, it’s worthwhile investing in one of the best webcams on the market.
Battery Life
Delivering a remarkable 11 hours and 7 minutes of battery life, our latest Dell XPS 13 passed with flying colors after running an exhaustive web surfing test using Microsoft Edge over Wi-Fi.
The new Dell XPS 13 with 10th-gen Intel chipsets might be able to get through a whole workday with decent battery life, but it lacks the impressively long endurance that comes with the M1-powered MacBook Air.
Compared to the 14 hours and 40 minutes of battery life on the MacBook Air, the Dell XPS 13 only managed to squeeze out 12 hours and 39 minutes in our testing scenario.
It’s clear that Apple’s M1 chipset has given the MacBook Air an enviable edge on the battery front.
Final Words
The Dell XPS 13 (11th Gen) is an impeccable improvement to an already impressive laptop, boasting unrivaled power and unparalleled graphics.
This already exciting laptop was tailored even further in 2021 with the introduction of a near-bezel-less InfinityEdge display and an exceedingly comfortable keyboard and touchpad.
With speed, visual prowess, and ergonomic efficiency the Dell XPS 13 (11th Gen) stand out from the pack as the perfect companion for any computing need.
The Dell XPS 13 is undoubtedly one of the best laptops on the market thanks to its impressive features and beautiful design. However, there are a few drawbacks that prevent the XPS 13 from reaching its full potential.
One of the main issues is battery life – while the 11-hour battery is more than adequate, its 10th Gen XPS 13 predecessor managed to last even longer. In addition, benchmark tests have shown that Intel’s Tiger Lake platform hasn’t provided the level of performance gains one would expect from a new generation.
Therefore, while Dell’s flagship laptop remains an excellent all-rounder, these shortcomings are worth noting.
If you’re looking for a great laptop experience with unparalleled performance, the new MacBook Air with Apple’s M1 processor is a smart choice.
Not only does it provide super-fast speeds and fantastic battery life, but it also has the added benefit of running the macOS operating system.
However, if you prefer Windows, the latest XPS 13 is still an excellent choice and remains the best Windows laptop available on the market today. It is perfect for everyday use and provides a great overall user experience.
