DELL'S BEST LAPTOP EVEN GOT BETTER: XPS 13 (2019) REVIEW


Dell gave its XPS laptop an overhaul last year, but there have been some refinements in 2019. This year's XPS 13 laptop looks the same as the 2018 model, however, there has been a few improved features that attempt to do away with some of the downsides of the previous generation.

The "wrong" harped on the most since the inception of the XPS line is the up-nose webcam. The strange webcam placement has been a mainstay on the XPS 13 for some time now. Finally, Dell has managed to stick a custom made webcam inside the top of the XPS 13's display.

Those who don't use laptop webcams may roll their eyes at this change, but it's an important one to call out especially when discussing Dell's newest edition of its laptop. With all these, Dell is hoping it has created a near-perfect Ultrabook.


Look and feel


The new model is with a frost-coloured lid, which features the same woven as the last year's model. The devices also come in a black carbon-fibre model with a rose-gold lid. The texture of it is pronounced giving it a pleasant tactile feel that's just smooth enough not to interrupt your daily use of the machine. The extra touch makes it feel more comfortable and this has made it somehow a default alternative to the MacBook Air for windows lovers.

Dell may use satin metallic finishes on the lid of the XPS 13 (like so many OEMs are doing now), but I appreciate the understated flair that the woven fibreglass gives the XPS 13. It's unique to Dell's premium line, and it prevents the machine from looking like just another metal slab.

Also, the 13.3-inch display comes in FHD non-touch, FHD touch, and 4K touch-panel options, providing users with some variety. Since this is the regular XPS laptop rather than the XPS 13 two-in-one, a touchscreen isn't necessary for some users.

Specs at a glance


                                            Worst     Best         As reviewed   
Screen                                                                                                                                                                                                               13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Infinity Edge non-touch display13.3-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Infinity Edge touchscreen13.3-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Infinity Edge touchscreen
OSWindows 10 Home, 64 bit
CPUIntel Core i3-8145UIntel Core i7-8565UIntel Core i7-8565U
RAM4GB LPDDR316GB LPDDR316GB LPDDR3
HDD128GB PCIe SSD2TB PCIe SSD512GB PCIe SSD
GPUIntel UHD Graphics 620
NetworkingKiller 1435 802.11ac 2x2, Bluetooth 4.1
Ports2 Thunderbolt 3 ports (PowerShare DC-In, DisplayPort, 4 lanes of PCI Express Gen 3), 1 USB Type C 3.1 port (PowerShare DC-In, DisplayPort), headset jack, Noble lock slot, microSD card slot
Size11.9 x 7.8 x 0.46 in (302 x 199 x 11.6 mm)
Weight2.7 pounds
Battery52Whr
Warranty1 year
Price$899$2,309$1,709
Other specsThe fingerprint sensor on the power button, four mics (Cortana use), Dell Cinema (Color, Sound, Stream), Dolby Vision support


The device is designed to suit user needs, addressing the practical things one would worry when using a laptop. The placement of the webcam or the power brick may seem weird but those are real hassles and it feels nice to own a laptop to solve them.


The 2019 model of the Dell XPS 13 is all-round, and it is a sort of a relief to one of my biggest complaints about configuration choices or page downs instead of nose cams and unreliable keyboards. Dell has refined the laptop design, powered it up and made it better.
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