My new Dell XPS 13 with non-touch display is frankly amazing

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Terminal night, I managed to pick up the new Dell XPS 13 with a Core i5 processor and 1080p non-touch display. Here are my initial impressions later on using it for the last few hours.

And then many versions

To be articulate, there are quite a few options when getting the new Dell XPS 13. Dell actually sells a cheaper, $799 model that sports the 5th generation Intel Cadre i3 processor. For an extra $100, Microsoft today is offer the Core i5 variant. Truth exist told the Core i3 should not see meliorate bombardment life, due to the mode it idles and peaks in comparing to the Cadre i5 or Core i7.

The Microsoft Store is now selling this mode for $899 both online and in physical outlets (should yous be lucky plenty to have i nearby). I always recommend buying direct from Microsoft is you lot tin as you lot get the stripped downwardly 'Signature Series' and fantabulous support.

Microsoft and Dell are also selling other versions with beefier specs, including more storage, more RAM and QHD+ (3200 ten 1800) Infinity bear upon display. All in all, at that place are five versions bachelor to order. They range from an affordable $799 to the spec'd out $i,949.99 choice with Windows 8.1 Pro, Intel Cadre i7, 8G of RAM and a 512 GB SSD.

Let's take a closer expect at the $899 version'due south specifications.

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Dell XPS 13 ($899)

fifth Generation Intel Core i5-5200U Processor (3M Cache, upwards to 2.seventy GHz)
Intel Hard disk Graphics 5500
4 GB of RAM
128 GB SSD (88 GB available)
13.3-inch Full Hd (1080p) not-touch Infinity Display
2.half dozen pounds
fifteen hours of battery life
USB 3.0 x2
Mini display port
Kensington lock
Full SD card reader

For $899, I consider this a superb value. Proceed in mind that every version of the new Dell XPS 13 has the same body, just unlike internals. This sameness ways that fifty-fifty the $799 version looks exactly the same as the $1949 1, except for the display.

Broadwell Core i5 is fantastic (so far)

First impressions of the new Intel processor are first-class. For one, it runs exceptionally quiet. Even running a 1080P YouTube video or streaming Netflix, the fan barely kicked on, and the device scarcely got warm. Video playback was flawless at 1080P with no stuttering.

I take used a lot of processor over the years, and if I had to place where this 1 feels, it would autumn right in betwixt the 4th generation Haswell Core i5 and Core i7. If in that location were a Haswell Core i6, this would be it.

Of class, I need to do actual benchmarks, but in only using Windows 8.i to run some media, information technology feels very responsive. The new Broadwell flake is leaving a much better impression than the underpowered Cadre M found in the Yoga 3 Pro. Depression oestrus, quiet fan, and presumably better battery life. Speaking of…

Battery life

Dell claims that this version of their Ultrabook can reach 15 hours of usage. Like all battery estimates, I recall this is on the high-end of the spectrum. Lenovo also promised huge battery life gains with the Core M in the Yoga iii Pro, but later on I and others had called them out they revised the stat, so I remain skeptical.

It is also early on for me to have any solid figures for battery life. After all, I have just had information technology for hours now. All the same, I practise think this can easily get over ten hours of real, honest usage. I am sure if you lot put the laptop into Battery Saver way, dim the display, etc. you can probably go much more.

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Right at present, my XPS 13 is reading at 96% battery life (Counterbalanced Way), and the estimate is xiv hours and 23 minutes left. Of form, this is only existence on, idling at about 30% screen brightness. Still, that is a very high gauge, and I do not think Dell was puffing up the number too much here. Approximations vary considerably though depending on what is beingness done, so formal tests demand to exist performed. For instance, it dropped downwardly to around 8 hours with increased screen brightness and at 94% battery life only bounced up to over 12 hours a few minutes later.

Should I be disappointed? Definitely non. I accept yet to meet any Haswell laptops get over 10 hours of life. Fifty-fifty my Cadre i7 Surface Pro 3 tin can only get peradventure 5 hours. If I can get ten or 11 hours of regular usage out of this laptop, well, that is a win in my book.

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Fan

Super quiet, barely audible. Rarely kicks on for ordinary usage, at least and so far. Quieter than the Yoga 3 Pro with a Core M. The Dell XPS 13 also seem to stay very cool.

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Display (or OMG it is not a touchscreen!)

How am I coping with the XPS 13 existence non-bear on? Honestly, it is not that bad. Windows 8.1 has some corking tricks to get to those Charms, including correct swipe on the touchpad or just betoken the mouse cursor to the upper right corner. I likewise employ a 27-inch Dell XPS 27, and I never impact the gorgeous brandish. In other words, while touch is an excellent option for Windows 8.1, it is but that an option.

In terms of resolution, the Full Hd 1080p brandish at 13.3-inches, is fine by me. The QHD+ affect version is a stunner, no dubiety, merely you have to cistron in the increased price and the decreased battery life to see if it matters to y'all. Nothing is free in this world, and some people want the longer bombardment life. Kudos to Dell for giving people the pick.

The not-touch version is matte, for what it is worth whereas the touch version is sleeky.

Brightness is on the loftier end and is rated at 400 nits. Although the XPS 13 is not the brightest out at that place, I often find myself keeping information technology at 50% in well-lit room. I do err on the dimmer side though, so take it for what it is worth. I would non describe this display every bit dim.

I meet no obvious low-cal leakage either and the screen, made by Precipitous, looks to exist very evenly lit. Overall, I like it a lot.

Oh and that Infinity affair aka the super thin bezel? It rocks. Watching video is almost weird, as the edges of the graphic symbol experience like they are going to spill off of the display. I mean this all in a proficient way. It is centre candy.

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Trackpad and keyboard

The Dell XPS 13 ships with Microsoft's Precision Touchpad. In a nutshell, this is an initiative started by Microsoft in 2022 to take over gestures, finger tracking, etc. from third political party manufacturers. In theory, this gives users a unified experience that matches what Microsoft considers to be ideal for using Windows 8.1.

Here, the XPS 13 is a winner. It is a rather large surface area that clicks evenly on the lower half. Gestures for Windows viii.1 work very well, including compression-to-zoom and scrolling. It is pretty great.

The keyboard is likewise exquisite. The primal travel is on the low-terminate but not in a bad mode. The keys are backlight, and there is no "coil whine" (Dell assured me that that problem was addressed awhile ago, and it was due to a faulty third-party supplier). I similar the size of the keys and the fashion it all feels, so I surmise I will take no issues using this for heavy writing.

Front camera

Aye, the Dell XPS xiii does have a front-facing photographic camera in spite of its super thin bezel. Dell solves this by putting the camera on the lower left of the display. Odd? Yes, just it works decently, and the quality of the camera is one of the improve ones that I take used.

Sure, the angle is odd and can you see your hands sometimes, just since many of you causeless this did not even have a camera, I consider it a bonus.

Dell XPS 13 for 2022

Miscellaneous

When it comes to the Wi-Fi I have had no issues. I pulled down 73.07 Mbps and uploaded at 72.37 Mbps, which is equivalent to beingness plugged into the router.

Speakers, located on near the front on the sides, are superb. Well-baked, loud and well counterbalanced.

Build quality of the Ultrabook is just excellent. The outside of the device is metal with carbon fiber lining the inside with soft-touch paint for your palms. I was happy with the previous XPS design but I consider the 2022 version superior in every way.

The Dell XPS xiii is just gorgeous and for $899, this is likely the nicest Ultrabook you can buy.

Wrap upward

I have the Core i7 version with QHD+ on order from Dell, just I want to be clear: this $899 version is pretty kicking ass. In fact, I have no result in using this as a daily automobile and will be using it extensively for the next calendar week. I practise programme to use it for when I travel to Redmond next calendar week, then that can be a real road examination.

Although having a Cadre i7, QHD+ Touch display, viii GB of RAM and more storage is fantabulous, I do not experience as compelled to buy one for my needs. Considering that machine is surely going to go less battery life, y'all practise accept to consider your options wisely. The 1080P Infinity Brandish and fifth generation Cadre i5 though is already a winner but let's see how it holds upward.

Later this month, when the loftier-end version shows upwards I'll do a comparison betwixt the 2. Stay tuned.

Buy the Dell XPS xiii, starting at $799.99

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Enjoy a bigger display

The best docks for your Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 is a fantastic Ultrabook, but what if you want to use it desktop-fashion? You're going to want to become yourself a laptop dock for that. Here are some of our favorites.