Dell XPS 13 7390 vs. XPS 13 9380: Which is a better buy?

XPS 13
XPS 13 (Image credit: Dell)

Dell XPS 13 7390 vs. XPS 13 9380: Which is a better buy?

Best answer: Neither the Dell XPS 13 7390 nor 9380 models are available for purchase directly from Dell, but you may find some deals on either laptop elsewhere. The 7390 is the better model of the two being the more recent XPS 13.

Dell XPS 13 7390 vs. 9380: Specifications

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CategoryDell XPS 13 9380Dell XPS 13 7390
ProcessorUp to Intel Core i7-8550UUp to Intel Core i7-10710U
Display resolutionUltraSharp 4K (3840x2160)
FHD (1920 x 1080) non-touch display
4K InfinityEdge touch
1080p InfinityEdge touch
1080p InfinityEdge (non-touch)
RAM4GB/8GB/16GB DDR3 1866 MHz4GB/8GB/16GB DDR3 2133 MHz
GraphicsIntel UHDIntel UHD
Storage128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB PCIe SSD256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB PCIe SSD
PortsTwo Thunderbolt 3 with PowerShare
One USB-C 3.1 with PowerShare
microSD card reader
headset jack
Two Thunderbolt 3 with PowerShare
One USB-C 3.1 with PowerShare
microSD card reader
headset jack

Neither are on sale anymore

As Dell has refreshed the XPS 13 since the 7390 and 9380, making it difficult to locate these models. You may be able to find one through some third-party retailers or even as a refurb, but unless the price is significantly lower, it remains a recommendation of ours to purchase the latest Dell XPS 13 (9320).

We've rounded up the best Dell laptops, should you be considering one specifically from this brand.

Significantly better hardware

In this case, considering the new model against the older one is a simple affair. The refresh is entirely internal, with the same design on the outside accompanying the same great displays and incredibly compact form factor. 1080p touch and non-touch displays are on offer, as is a 4K touch panel, and you still get super-fast PCIe SSD storage on all spec levels of the new model.

Where the most significant difference lies is in the use of the 10th Gen Intel Comet Lake processors. These aren't quite as powerful as the Ice Lake processors in the XPS 13 2-in-1, most notably lacking the new Iris Pro graphics. However, they're still a double-digit performance improvement over the previous generation. Considering the last model XPS 13 used 8th Gen processors, that's a decent jump to get from the 7390.

Besides a better performing processor, 10th Gen also brings with it support for the new Wi-Fi 6 standard, which the XPS 13 7390 makes use of.

Other small improvements on the 7390

Besides the 10th Gen Core i3, i5, and i7 processors you now get to choose from, there are some smaller, more subtle improvements on the 7390 that make it worth getting. While it still only supports LPDDR3 RAM thanks to the Comet Lake limitations, it's now faster RAM at 2133 MHz compared to the 1866 MHz you got from the old model. The performance increase is small, but it's still a performance increase.

Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine