Taking the battle to the Floor Professional

Dell’s 13-inch convertible XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop computer has been around for a few years, however has historically opted for a hinged design that allowed you to fold the display proper again towards the keyboard, in order that you possibly can maintain it in your palms and use it like a pill.

However, after all, protecting the keyboard hooked up meant that the XPS 13 2-in-1 was rather a lot heavier than a traditional pill, so this newest replace has lastly taken the plunge and opted for a removable design that permits you to utterly separate the display and keyboard sections. You’ll be able to then use the display panel as a light-weight pill while you need to, and easily re-connect the keyboard when it’s good to get some actual work completed.

That is a transfer that places the XPS 13 2-in-1 squarely up towards removable rivals comparable to Microsoft’s just lately up to date Surface Pro 9. Dell has risen to the problem, although, as the brand new XPS 13 2-in-1 combines an admirably smooth and slim design with a aggressive value that provides the Floor Professional an actual run for its cash.

Worth and choices

• Show: 13-inch, 3K (2880×1920) with 500nits brightness
• Processor: Intel i7-1250U @ 1.1GHz (10-cores, 4.7GHz Turbooost)
• Graphics: built-in Intel Iris Xe
• Reminiscence: 8GB or 16GB
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB solid-state M2 NVMe

Costs for the XPS 13 2-in-1 begin at £1179 within the UK, for a mannequin with an i5-1230U processor operating Home windows 11 Dwelling, together with 8GB reminiscence and 256GB solid-state drive.

That interprets to $1249.00 within the US, which is much more aggressive as that value features a bigger 512GB solid-state drive. US consumers of the i5 mannequin will even get Dell’s Folio removable keyboard included within the value, whereas UK clients must pay an extra £199.57 for it.

Fortunately, although, the Folio keyboard is included while you step as much as the i7 mannequin that we evaluation right here, which makes use of a 10-core Intel i7-1250U operating at 1.1GHz (with most Turboboost as much as 4.7GHz).

That mannequin additionally contains 16GB reminiscence and 512GB storage, and prices $1399/£1679.04 with Home windows 11 Dwelling, or $1809/£1718.84 with Home windows 11 Professional. Fashions with an i7 processor additionally assist you to improve the solid-state drive to 1TB for an additional $150.00/£200, whereas clients within the US additionally get a 5G choice – albeit one which prices a somewhat hefty $360.00.

Even so, these costs nonetheless examine favourably towards the present Microsoft Floor Professional 9, which prices $1899/£1899 with a specification just like that of our XPS 13 evaluation unit – plus Microsoft nonetheless expenses additional for its removable keyboard.

Design

• Dimensions (hwd): 7.4 x 292.5 x 201.2mm
• Weight: pill – 736g; keyboard – 560g
• Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-A and headphone adaptors included)
• Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth

The brand new XPS 13 2-in-1 makes a superb impression straight out of the field, because the slimline pill part measures simply 7.4mm thick and weighs 736g – properly beneath the 9.3mm and 879g of the present Microsoft Floor Professional 9.

It does really feel a little bit heavy to carry in a single hand, but it surely’s high-quality should you maintain it in widescreen (panorama) mode with each palms or simply relaxation it in your lap.

The slimline design does come at a price, although, because the XPS 13 2-in-1 solely has room for 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports. There are two adaptors included within the field – a USB-A adaptor and a 3.5mm audio adaptor for headphones – which can be utilized with these Thunderbolt ports, however there is not any Ethernet for a wired community, and no HDMI for an exterior show (though we had been ready to make use of one of many Thunderbolt ports to attach a 4K show that has a USB-C interface).

It helps the newest Wi-Fi 6E for high-speed wi-fi, together with Bluetooth and – within the US solely in the intervening time – there is a 5G choice obtainable as properly.

Dell’s Folio keyboard provides one other 560g, however that also leaves the overall weight at 1.3kg, which compares favourably to traditional laptops, comparable to Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Professional (1.4kg). Low-profile keyboards aren’t all the time our favorite, as they’ll battle with high-speed typing, however the Folio keyboard does really feel good and agency, and the keys journey properly, given the keyboard’s slimline design.

There is a backlight for the keys, and a big trackpad too. You can even use the keyboard’s rear panel as an adjustable stand that gives three totally different viewing angles, and while you’re on the transfer it could fold flat to offer wrap-around safety for the back and front of the display panel.

• Show: 13-inch, 2880×1920 decision, 3:2 facet ratio
• Webcam: 1920×1080 (entrance) 4K/3840×2160 (rear)
• Audio: Stereo audio system – 2 x 2 watts

The 13-inch show is barely smaller than the 13.3-inch Floor Professional, however offers the identical ‘3K’ decision (2880×1920) with a 3:2 facet ratio. The display additionally has a wholesome 500nits brightness, which offers a shiny, vibrant picture that can work properly for duties comparable to internet looking and streaming video, or simply tapping away in Microsoft Phrase or Excel. And, whereas it is designed for common workplace productiveness somewhat than skilled design work, the display does help 100 per cent of the sRGB color customary, so it must be appropriate for primary graphics work and picture modifying if required.

The engaging show is backed up by a surprisingly good set of audio system. Regardless of the slimline design of the unit, the audio system produce a full sound that’s greater than ample for casually listening to music or streaming video. There is not any headphone socket, however Dell does embrace a 3.5mm audio adaptor that can assist you to join headphones or exterior audio system to one of many XPS 13’s Thunderbolt ports.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 even manages to squeeze in two high-quality cameras as properly – a ‘world-facing’ digicam that gives full 4K decision, and a entrance digicam that gives a transparent, sharp 1080p decision for video-conferencing.

Efficiency and battery life

• Strong mid-range processor efficiency
• Built-in graphics solely
• Energy: 45W adaptor with 49.5Whr battery

The twelfth era i7 processor is not going to interrupt any data, but it surely offers stable, mid-range efficiency that can permit the XPS 13 2-in-1 to deal with productiveness instruments comparable to Microsoft Workplace with no bother in any respect. It feels quick and responsive in pill mode too, easily rotating the Home windows desktop and my internet browser as we change between portrait and panorama modes.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 scores 2,050 for single-core efficiency within the GeekBench 6 check suite, and 6,700 for multi-core, which places it proper alongside the same i7 processor used within the Microsoft Floor Professional 9.

Its reliance on built-in graphics signifies that the XPS 13 2-in-1 is not a lot of a gaming rig, although – in reality, it flatly refused to run most of our 3D graphics checks. It ought to be capable to deal with 2D platform video games or card video games pretty properly, but it surely’s probably not geared up for motion video games with fast-paced 3D graphics.

However when you cannot actually anticipate high-speed gaming motion, an ultra-portable machine comparable to this could present stronger battery life. It is noticeable that Dell’s web page avoids any point out of battery life, and even when utilizing probably the most power-efficient settings with the display set at 50% brightness the XPS 13 2-in-1 barely managed to final for a full six hours of streaming video.

If you happen to’re not watching movies on-line all day lengthy then you definitely may be capable to stretch that out to a full eight hour working day, however battery life stays the one noticeable weak point of the XPS 13 2-in-1.

Verdict

The smooth, slimline design of the XPS 13 2-in-1 is each engaging and sensible, permitting you to rapidly change from a light-weight pill to a fully-featured laptop computer everytime you want. The show offers wonderful picture high quality for each work and play and its price ticket makes it incredible worth in contrast with Microsoft’s Floor Professional 9. Solely the modest battery life is more likely to make potential consumers suppose twice.