Valentina Palladino

If the modifications delivered to the Dell XPS 13 earlier this yr intrigued you, you could be much more excited for the XPS 13 2-in-1. Dell up to date its flagship convertible much more than it up to date its Laptop Computer. The corporate modified up the 2-in-1’s display, hinge, keyboard, and internals—together with new Ice Lake processors.

A variety of laptop computer diehards are on the market, however the improved XPS 13 2-in-1 might persuade a few of them to embrace a extra versatile life. Nevertheless, the XPS 13 2-in-1 has to compete with gadgets like HP’s Spectre x360 13 and Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga. And when pitted in opposition to the others, Dell’s machine might not fulfill each consumer’s wants.

Feel and appear

Specs at a look: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019)

Worst
Finest
As reviewed

Display
13.Three-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) touchscreen
13.Three-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) touchscreen
13.Three-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) touchscreen

OS
Home windows 10 Residence, 64 bit

CPU
Intel Core i3-1005G1
Intel Core i7-1065G7
Intel Core i7-1065G7

RAM
4GB LPDDR3
32GB LPDDR3
16GB LPDDR3

HDD
256GB PCIe SSD
1TB PCIe SSD
512GB PCIe SSD

GPU
Intel Iris+ Graphics

Networking
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2), Bluetooth 5.zero

Ports
2 Thunderbolt Three ports, 1 x Three.5mm headphone jack, 1 x microSD card slot

Measurement
11.6 x eight.2 x zero.51 in (296 x 207 x 13 mm)

Weight
2.9 kilos

Battery
51Whr Four-cell

Guarantee
1 yr

Value
$999
$2,649
$1,597

Different perks
Fingerprint sensor on energy button, twin array digital mics (Cortana use), Dell Cinema (Colour, Sound, Stream), Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist

Because the XPS 13 is our present favourite Home windows Ultrabook, I used to be not shocked to seek out that the 2-in-1 model has the identical stellar construct high quality. Its CNC aluminum chassis weighs 2.9 kilos, and our assessment unit’s white fiber glass inside complemented its silver edges properly. There’s little to no flex to this laptop computer, so whereas it is not a MIL-SPEC licensed machine, it ought to be capable of maintain its personal in your bag surrounded by all of your different necessities.

With its variable torque, the brand new sequential hinge lifts the chassis barely whenever you open the lid and offers all the machine a greater angle for viewing and typing. The brand new hinge additionally makes opening the machine simpler, which is an enchancment over final yr’s mannequin. Because the 2-in-1 is so skinny, prying the lid away from the chassis might be troublesome whenever you needed to open the gadget. The brand new hinge makes this a one-handed endeavor.

Contained in the hinge, the remainder of the chassis has an improved thermal administration system all through that makes use of twin followers, a vapor cooling chamber, hidden exhaust venting, and GORE thermal insulation to maximise air move and warmth rejection. Making the brand new followers out of twin carbon liquid-crystal polymer allowed Dell to make their blades thinner, so it may then use a couple of and unfold them out within the chassis. Thinner followers—plus the usage of the brand new vapor cooling chamber as a substitute of conventional warmth pipes—stored the XPS 13 2-in-1’s chassis as skinny as Dell may get it.

However—as we have seen in lots of shopper electronics—skinny would not at all times imply greatest. Certain, the 13mm thickness on the XPS 13 2-in-1 makes it a simple journey companion and a slick gadget, but it surely limits the convertible’s ports drastically. Like its laptop computer counterpart, the XPS 13 2-in-1 solely has two Thunderbolt Three ports, one on both facet of the chassis. There’s additionally a Three.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card reader as properly. However you will discover no USB-A ports right here, and you will not discover HDMI, DisplayPort, or Ethernet ports both.

Loads of customers would somewhat sacrifice a number of millimeters of thickness so as to get only one useful USB-A port. I do know I might—I exploit a MacBook Professional as my private laptop computer, and I usually attain for one among many dongles or hubs so as to join USB-A equipment. Whereas I can usually depend on Bluetooth for a few of these equipment, not each USB-A accent helps Bluetooth. Each HP’s new Spectre x360 13 and Lenovo’s fourth-gen ThinkPad X1 Yoga have no less than one USB-A port, and people convertibles will excel over the XPS 13 2-in-1 for that cause alone within the minds of many customers.

However different customers will rejoice once they see the brand new display and panel choices on the XPS 13 2-in-1. The 13.Four-inch show is available in two choices: an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) touchscreen is normal, or you possibly can go for the UHD+ (3200 x 2400) panel with HDR-400 certification. Each embrace EyeSafe know-how, which reduces blue mild routinely whereas sustaining colour integrity, and each are 16:10 side ratio panels.

The latter will probably excite many customers who’ve been calling for a 16:10 (or Three:2) show on Dell’s flagships. Even the XPS 13 laptop computer would not have this barely taller display but, and you’ll see the distinction between it and its convertible counterpart instantly. Whereas the laptop computer nonetheless has a comparatively giant chin underneath the show with the Dell emblem on it, the XPS 13 2-in-1 barely has a chin in any respect. Its prime edge is equally skinny, holding solely the two.25mm webcam that the laptop computer mannequin additionally holds.

By supplying you with extra display house to scroll, this side ratio makes most duties—like writing lengthy paperwork, studying articles, and the like—simpler. Since I take a look at so many laptops and convertibles, I am accustomed to working with several types of show side ratios. I do not demand a 16:10 panel on a regular basis, however I can see and really feel the distinction once I do use one. Whereas going from 16:9 to 16:10 could also be a small change on paper, it should make all of the distinction for many who detest utilizing widescreen panels on smaller notebooks.

Lastly, the XPS 13 2-in-1’s chassis has some magnetic parts so you possibly can hold monitor of its energetic pen, do you have to purchase it. Not like the HP Spectre x360 13 that features a stylus within the field, you will have to purchase Dell’s energetic pen individually if you wish to use it with Home windows’ inking skills on this machine. Admittedly, not each consumer who desires a convertible has use for an energetic pen, however together with it within the field could be an important perk that artists and note-takers alike would have appreciated.

Keyboard and trackpad

The second-generation MagLev keyboard on the XPS 13 2-in-1 will nod an excessive amount of to the butterfly keyboard on the MacBook Professional for some customers. I like the brand new format that extends the keyboard to the left and proper edges of the chassis, and I just like the bigger, rounded sq. keycaps. The important thing journey is shallow, although, and won’t fly for many who hate Apple’s butterfly keys and those that crave extra depth to their typing expertise.

What the keys lack in clicky-ness, they make up for in quietness: the XPS 13 2-in-1 is without doubt one of the greatest machines I’ve used in the event you’re in search of a keyboard that makes little noise. Since I am used to the MacBook Professional’s keyboard, the up to date MagLev keyboard did not hassle me, and I used to be capable of kind at my regular pace. However even customers coming from final yr’s XPS laptop computer or 2-in-1 will really feel the distinction on this keyboard—it is prone to be probably the most polarizing issues in regards to the XPS 13 2-in-1.

The entire keys are positioned usually, and Dell included an influence button with a fingerprint reader on the top-right nook. As a substitute of a separated, spherical button, this one blends into the highest row of keys with its rounded rectangular body. You will have to make use of the fingerprint reader to log in if you wish to achieve this with biometrics as a result of the XPS 13 2-in-1 would not have an IR digital camera.

The redesigned keyboard additionally allowed Dell to extend the scale of the Precision touchpad by 19%. The change is welcomed, particularly for these accustomed to extremely giant trackpads on laptops. Whereas not too large, it is a step up from the usually too-narrow trackpads on flagship Home windows laptops.