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Dell's new XPS 13 proves Windows laptops are back in vogue

by Parm Mann on 7 January 2015, 09:30

Tags: Dell (NASDAQ:DELL)

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Considering a mobile-computing upgrade? Then do yourself a favour: forego those low-cost tablets and save up for a proper laptop PC, as the latest 2015 models seem particularly special.

We've just seen Lenovo unveil a mouth-watering upgrade to the popular ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and now Dell's getting in on the CES action with a new XPS 13 that claims to be the smallest 13in laptop on the planet.

Arguably the highlight of Dell's show, the latest revision of the XPS 13 incorporates an 'Infinity Display' that reduces the top and side bezels to just 5.2mm. The seemingly edge-to-edge panel has been developed in collaboration with Sharp and has allowed Dell to squeeze a 13.3in display into a form factor similar to that of an 11in laptop.

At launch, the Infinity Display will be made available in two flavours; a full-HD non-touch panel (1,920x1,080); or a premium UltraSharp QHD+ touchscreen that touts a lofty 3,200x1,800 resolution and 276ppi.

Measuring 304mm x 200mm x 9-15mm in size and tipping the scales at 1.18kg (or 1.26kg if you opt for the touchscreen), the XPS 13's machined aluminium chassis is beautifully thin and light yet it packs a punch courtesy of fifth-generation Intel Core processors. A choice of i3, i5 and i7 parts are available, along with integrated HD 5500 graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3L memory and up to 512GB of solid-state storage.

Performance should be very decent for anything other than gaming, and what's really tickling our fancy is Dell's claimed battery life. According to the manufacturer, the 1080p model should manage up to 15 hours of run time from a single charge.

We're looking forward to going hands-on, but if you've already made up your mind, the new XPS 13 is now available to order in the US with prices starting from $800 for a full-HD Core i3 system, rising to $1,600 for QHD+ and Core i7. UK consumers will need to wait until January 20, with pricing on our shores set to start at £1,099.

HEXUS Forums :: 20 Comments

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Posted by AlexKitch - Wed 07 Jan 2015 10:12
Looks stunning. I have the 2012 version of the XPS 13 and it's great, on the whole. The only complaint I have is that the trackpad is a thing of nightmares.

I'd be really keen to know if these issues have been resolved in these new refreshes.
Posted by Tpyo - Wed 07 Jan 2015 10:29
$800 in the US and £1099 in the UK? Even accounting for VAT etc. any UK buyers should make sure the seller uses a condom.

EDIT - possibly a typo somewhere (no pun intended) for the UK price? US prices from elsewhere are in agreement: 'Prices start at $799 for a Core i3-5010U with 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, and the 1920×1080 non-touch screen, up to $1899 for a Core i7-5500U with 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and the 3200×1800 touch screen.'
Posted by Saracen - Wed 07 Jan 2015 10:34
HEXUS
Considering a mobile-computing upgrade? Then do yourself a favour: forego those low-cost tablets and save up for a proper laptop PC, as the latest 2015 models seem particularly special.

and

HEXUS
…. with pricing on our shores set to start at £1,099.

Is it just me, or do others see the logical fallacy there?

Forgive me for being dense, but if a “low cost tablet” will do the job, why on earth would £1100 on a laptop be if interest? Forget the small works van too, and buy an Aston Martin, too, maybe?

On the other hand, if I need a decent £1000+ laptop, these may very well be a tempting thing to wait for, but only an idiot would think a low-cost tablet would do.

They're different tools, for different jobs, with different prospective buyers.

Personally, I am looking for a new laptop, but it doesn't need to a flashy, or a fashion statement, or ultra-thin. It just needs to be a useful work tool, that'll do the job, for a sensible price which, by the way, will be more like £300-£500, not £1100 for either a powerful machine, or a fashion icon.
Posted by MrRockliffe - Wed 07 Jan 2015 10:52
I think you're generalising there. I didn't need the specs of my mac, nor did I buy it for the fashion statement. I wanted something that will last me years, without the performance degrading a lot. Mechanical hard drives can't offer this, nor can cheap plastic. Sure, metal bends and scratches, but plastic undergoes plastic deformation, not elastic (ie, it's brittle and snaps).

The mac doesn't offer any more power than cheaper laptops, but the user experience as a whole, is better, for me personally.

However, I do agree with your point, the original post does argue against itself somewhat…
Posted by Denis_iii - Wed 07 Jan 2015 11:07
Will have to wait and see on UK pricing but currently my next is looking to be between ThinkPad X1 Carbon, new Dell XPS13 and those new ultra light Lenovo's.

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