Thenew version of the Dell XPS 13is hovering on the edge of something better, orat leastsomething truly unique.
Something there would make me say, Wow, things are going to change.
It has nothing to do with the old ARC vs. x86 debate.
© Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Its the dream of the lightest possible laptop, still with a physical keyboard, that can do everything.
But the XPS 13 (9350) config doesnt get there.
Its interesting to look at.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
It doesnt change with a new chip.
My version of the XPS 13 comes with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V and a non-touch LCD.
It has a fair display, and it sure looks unique.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
The battery life is incredible, so long as youre not doing anything strenuous.
At the same time, its too perfunctory for its own good, especially at this price point.
The laptop packs 16 GB of DDR5x RAM and 512 GB of storage.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Thats not to say you should ignore this version altogether.
Of course, any PC with a dedicated GPU will be far better for graphics tests like 3D Mark.
Why would I, though, when the experience is worse than other laptops?
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
Worse still is the touch function row, which simply disappears when the PC is turned off.
Worse, with this eggshell color, the light-up touch keys disappear like ghosts in direct sunlight.
The light-up keys may become an accessibility nightmare for anybody with vision issues.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
All that is such a shame because I would otherwise enjoy using the XPS 13.
This thing is light at only 2.6 pounds.
For comparison, an M3 MacBook Air weighs 2.7 pounds.
Its just a few grams lighter than an Asus Zenbook S 14.
Beyond the weight, its packing WiFi 7 and a bright display for indoor and outdoor use.
The 13.4-inch LCD runs at a 1920 by 1200 resolution with a VSS between 30 and 120 Hz.
It can get moderately loud, at the very least.
Thats a big promise, and we already knew it was only tested in video playback.
Thats very good and the kind of battery youd want from such a lightweight design.
As for daily use, its also a very strong contender.
I forgot to charge it and could still go half a workday without reaching for the plug.
The battery drained far faster when supporting more than one monitor, as expected.
Its easily one of the lightest, most well-balanced laptops Ive used.
The OLED touchscreen version is even more pricey.
Its a perfectly usable laptop and perhaps one you could begin to love.
But Im a curmudgeon, and I dont like it when I tap a key and accidentally tap two.
Perhaps I should blame myself for my imprecise digits.
Instead, however, Ill blame the laptop.
Update 12/10/24 at 9:38 p.m.
ET: This story was updated to correct the reference to the laptops fanless design.
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