In case you missed it, Dell just launched its new $599–$699 XPS 13 laptop to target the affordable Windows laptop market and, presumably, to serve as a retort to Apple's $699 MacBook Neo (512GB, Touch ID). It's a move that should be applauded, given the depressing state of modern PC pricing, backed up by the comparatively positive reaction we had to the XPS 13 at Computex.

In a nutshell, the new Dell XPS 13 (DX13260) is lighter than the MacBook Neo (2.2 vs. 2.7 lbs) and includes extra niceties, such as a touchscreen and backlit keyboard. Memory capacity is the same for both, and we already addressed the debate over whether 8GB is "enough" for Windows 11. Overall, it's admirable to see a new laptop launch at the price it was targeting from the start.

However, the jovial celebrations seem limited to the United States, as another dollars-to-pounds miscalculation somewhat dashes the prospects for me and others in the United Kingdom. Worse still, Apple doesn't seem to struggle with this as much, so the XPS 13, starting at £899 (£749.17 without tax), almost immediately strips it of some appeal on this side of the Atlantic.

That $699 MacBook Neo listing for U.S. residents, naturally, excludes tax, which is something we aren't able to do in the U.K. Instead, our regional variant lists the Neo for £699 with 20% VAT included. That means Apple's budget laptop is implied to be worth a mythical, tax-free £582.50. Comparing that to Dell's taxless £749.17 for the XPS 13 has me sighing into my cup of tea.

So, while Apple adds a premium to MacBook Neo sales here, Dell is asking for around an extra £166–£200. Do we even get anything from either brand for that extra cash? Well, yes, our Consumer Rights Act helps protect our purchases, but there's still a glaring discrepancy with the XPS 13. Mercifully, Dell at least offers a student-discounted price of £699, but that's still £100 more than Apple's.

In a year where I already complained that there are too many Windows laptops, this transgression certainly doesn't help me make budget recommendations on Dell's behalf at home. My family asks for my advice on PC purchases every few years, and I've always been able to help them find a reasonably priced option with minimal gripes about our brutal pricing, but it's getting worse over here.

To clarify: the new XPS 13 is still a phenomenal deal for most in the United States, and you should absolutely consider buying one if your PC needs are relatively pedestrian, sticking to daily web browsing and standard productivity apps. For my fellow Brits, aim for the student discount if you can get it. Otherwise, consider holding off for deals — Amazon Prime Day approaches.

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Dell's new XPS 13 for 2026, which was only just announced at Computex a couple of weeks ago, is now available to buy. Prices start at $599 for students and $699 for all other customers, making it a new top Windows option to go up against Apple's MacBook Neo.

This initial launch of the XPS 13 includes models with Intel Core Series 3 processors and a Sky colorway; models with more powerful Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and an additional Storm color option are expected to launch later this summer.

The new XPS 13, which is using model number DX13260, is so far only available at Dell.com, where the student discount is also readily available.

Hands on with the affordable new XPS 13 for 2026

Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden and I each had a chance to go hands-on with the new XPS 13 at Computex. Zac had a lot more time to play around than I did, and he wrote about his first impressions.

The TL;DR? He couldn't believe how good it is in terms of design and pricing.

A few standout features include an ultra-thin aluminum chassis that weighs just 2.2 pounds (1kg), quad speakers with 8W of output and Dolby Atmos tuning, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and a 1080p webcam with an IR sensor for Windows Hello.

The best feature might be its 13.4-inch display, featuring a 2.5K resolution, 120Hz variable refresh rate, Dolby Vision, anti-glare finish, 500 nits brightness, and 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction.

I spoke with Dell and Intel executives at Computex to find out more regarding the strategy behind the XPS 13.

The laptop was being designed well before Apple announced its MacBook Neo, so it's not like it was rushed out to compete. Dell sees the XPS 13 as a perfect student or "starter" device for those just getting into Windows, especially when it's available for as little as $599 with a student discount.

As with the Neo, there has been plenty of discussion regarding what 8GB of RAM feels like in a 2026 laptop. Many have argued that Windows 11 simply doesn't function on 8GB; however, that's simply not true.

I used a Windows 11 PC with 8GB of RAM recently to test the experience, and I had no issues handling the same tasks that students and more casual users would need on a daily basis.

The best part? Unlike the Neo, which has a hard 8GB ceiling, the XPS 13 can be configured with up to 16GB or 32GB (Core Ultra) of RAM.

How does the new XPS 13 compare to the MacBook Neo?

Zac also offered a brief comparison to the $599 MacBook Neo in his article, noting that Dell actually had Apple's laptop readily available next to each XPS 13 in the product showroom.

That's the thing about the new XPS 13. It doesn't feel like Dell has cut any corners to arrive at the $599/$699 introductory pricing, and the best part is that Dell offers plenty of additional configuration options for those who need more RAM, more storage, and more raw processing power.

On that note, it is worth highlighting the new XPS 13's launch cadence. These first models available now come with Intel's "Wildcat Lake" Core Series 3 chips. The more powerful "Panther Lake" Core Ultra Series 3 options are coming later this summer.

If you're interested in a deeper dive into the similarities and differences between the two laptops, be sure to check out my XPS 13 vs. MacBook Neo comparison.

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Dell unveiled its reimagined XPS 13 at Computex 2026, and thanks to an introductory $599 price for students, it was immediately likened to Apple's MacBook Neo.

Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden and I both got a chance to go hands-on with the new XPS 13 in Taipei, and we both came away with a similar opinion: it's way better than either of us expected, and it's surely going to be a great Neo alternative for Windows fans.

So, how exactly does the new XPS 13 compare to the MacBook Neo? Here's what you need to know.

Dell XPS 13 (2026) vs. MacBook Neo: Specifications

Specifications don't tell the whole story, but they're a good place to start before I get into a broader explanation of the similarities and differences between the XPS 13 and MacBook Neo.

Dell's new XPS 13 has the features you want in a laptop

Much of the hype surrounding the new Dell XPS 13 has to do with its feature set. Namely, features that fill in the MacBook Neo's blind spots.

For example, the XPS 13 has a backlit keyboard. That's a feature you expect to have in a laptop in 2026, no matter the price point.

The XPS 13 has a 1080p webcam, just like the Neo, but it adds an IR sensor for facial recognition through Windows Hello. The Neo also offers biometrics, but only of the touch/fingerprint variety.

The XPS 13 doubles up the Neo's speaker count, totaling 8W of output, and both laptops come with Dolby Atmos tuning. The XPS 13 also has newer Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity, with the Neo falling back to Wi-Fi 6E.

Then there are the ports. While the Neo might still offer a 3.5mm audio jack, its main selection of USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) and USB-C 2.0 isn't exactly generous. It supports only one external display at 4K/60Hz.

The XPS 13 with Wildcat Lake chip (Core 5 320) has dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), and the XPS 13 with Panther Lake (Core Ultra 7 355) has dual Thunderbolt 4. If you plan on using your laptop with more than one external display, Dell's PC is the right choice.

The new XPS 13 is lighter than the MacBook Neo

Like the MacBook Neo, the XPS 13 is built from aluminum and feels every bit as premium as its more expensive siblings.

When I first handled the XPS 13, I was impressed with how light it was. At just 2.2 pounds (1kg), it's significantly more portable than the Neo at 2.7 pounds (1.23kg).

The XPS 13 is just as thin as the Neo at 0.5 inches (12.7mm), but it does have a more compact footprint.

TL;DR? The new XPS 13 has more attractive features than the MacBook Neo, including a backlit keyboard, an IR camera, four speakers, and more powerful ports.

Dell's XPS 13 has a higher-res display with 120Hz refresh rate

Dell is also putting Apple behind it with the 13.4-inch display in the XPS 13. Not only is it slightly larger (by 0.4 inches) despite the XPS 13's smaller chassis, but it also has a higher resolution at 2560x1600 compared to 2408x1506.

The biggest difference, however, is in the refresh rate. The XPS 13 pushes all the way up to 120Hz and drops as low as 30Hz. It's all handled through a variable refresh rate that adjusts the screen based on how you're using the PC.

At 120Hz, you're getting far more eye comfort than the locked 60Hz refresh rate on the Neo. And at 30Hz, battery saving gets even better in the XPS 13.

The XPS 13's touch display hits about 500 nits of brightness and has VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, as well as an anti-glare finish. It manages 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction, and it comes with Dolby Vision.

The Neo's display is not touch-enabled, but it does hit 500 nits of brightness and includes Dolby Vision certification.

TL;DR? The XPS 13's display is the superior option compared to the MacBook Neo, with a higher resolution and higher refresh rate.

Apple's A18 Pro chip has strong competition from Intel Wildcat Lake

Despite being aimed at budget devices, Intel's new Wildcat Lake CPUs offer respectable performance and efficiency that rival Apple's A18 Pro. I'll hold off on a deeper dive until we test the XPS 13 firsthand, but I can say that early Intel Core 5 320 benchmarks show a promising level of power.

In Geekbench 6, the Core 5 320 hits 2,575 single-core and 8,000 multi-core average scores, whereas the A18 Pro hits closer to 3,500 single-core and 8,500 multi-core.

👉 "We want this to be their first XPS": I found out more about Dell's XPS 13 strategy — and why it's the perfect starter PC

In PassMark CPU tests, the Core 5 320 hits 3,853 single-core and 15,033 multi-core scores. The A18 Pro managed scores of 4,086 (single-core) and 12,837 (multi-core).

If you do need more power, the XPS 13 will also be available with the Core Ultra 7 355 post-launch. It's important to also point out that the XPS 13 comes with up to 32GB of RAM and up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD. So while the entry-level models take on the Neo, the higher-end models are much better cut out for advanced users.

Battery life will be a big point of contention, I'm sure, but for now, I don't have concrete XPS 13 numbers. I can say that Dell is using a larger 52Wh battery with 800ED cells (providing extra density without taking up as much space).

Dell is claiming up to 17 hours of battery life when streaming video. Apple claims about 16 hours of life for the same task. It should be a close comparison, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Neo take the award for best battery life, even if it's a small margin.

TLDR? Dell's XPS 13 should put up a strong fight against the MacBook Neo's performance and battery life.

Dell XPS 13 (2026) vs. MacBook Neo: Which should you buy?

If you're a fan of Windows, Dell just gave you the perfect Neo competitor with the XPS 13. Students can pay the same $599 for a laptop with a superior display, more powerful ports, a keyboard backlight, facial recognition, quad speakers, and more.

If you're a regular buyer, the introductory price only jumps up to $699, and beyond that, there are options to boost RAM to 32GB and storage to 1TB.

Apple, I think, will hold the edge on performance and efficiency, at least until the Core Ultra 7 355 config of the XPS 13 becomes available post-launch. But I'll have more to share once we actually get an XPS 13 to test first-hand in the lab.

The XPS 13 for 2026 is expected to launch in June, while the MacBook Neo is available now.

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Dell's XPS 13 is the laptop that originally anchored the brand's ultrabook lineup in 2012, and it has had quite a history in the ensuing 14 years.

The most recent update in 2024, at least until this new announcement I'm covering today, brought us the XPS 13 9345 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips.

It arrived at a time when Dell was otherwise rebranding its PCs away from the XPS name, a decision it ultimately admitted was a mistake at CES 2026. There, I saw Dell reveal new XPS 14 and XPS 16 models redesigned and better than ever.

Dell also teased a return of the XPS 13 this year, and that time has now come with the new XPS 13 (DX13260) model unveiled at Computex 2026.

Dell's new XPS 13 arrives to take on the MacBook Neo

The new XPS 13 arrives at a critical time in the PC market. Apple's $599 MacBook Neo shocked practically everyone, myself included, when it was revealed earlier this year, spawning weeks of online arguments about Windows laptop costs and quality.

Well, I have good news. Dell plans to launch its new XPS 13 at a $599 price tag for students, which I can't help but assume will make it prime competition for Apple's MacBook Neo.

The XPS 13 doesn't just compete on price, either. I can't help but notice several standout features not found in the MacBook Neo, like a backlit keyboard, a touch display, support for multiple external displays, and up to 32GB of memory.

Here's a closer look at the specs arriving in the new XPS 13 (DX13260).

This is the thinnest XPS laptop I've ever seen

The new XPS 13 (DX13260) is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop Dell has ever created, weighing just 2.2 pounds (0.9kg) and measuring only 0.5 inches (12.7mm) thin.

It's made of CNC-machined aluminum for the rigidity, durability, and overall premium feel associated with XPS, and despite its slim size, it features a dual-fan cooling system.

Dell also managed to fit in four speakers with 8W of overall audio output with Dolby Atmos, as well as a slim webcam with 1080p resolution and an IR sensor for Windows Hello. Models with Intel Core chips get dual USB-C ports, while Core Ultra models jump up to dual Thunderbolt 4.

Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 chips power the new XPS 13

Dell plans to launch its XPS 13 first with Intel's "Panther Lake" Core 5 320 CPU, but it will add a more powerful Core Ultra 7 355 option after launch.

The Core 5 chip will be available with 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to a 512GB SSD, whereas the Core 7 Ultra chip unlocks 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

Dell is claiming up to 17 hours of battery life when streaming video, and although that number will come down in real-world use, that's still an excellent proposition.

No matter the CPU you choose, all new XPS 13 models have the same 13.4-inch touch display. It has a 2560x1600 (2.5K) resolution, 500 nits brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, DisplayHDR 400 certification, Dolby Vision, 30-120Hz variable refresh rate, and an anti-glare finish.

You don't have to wait long for the new XPS 13

Dell intends to launch its new XPS 13 in June 2026, and as mentioned, it will start at just $599 for students aged 16 and up. For everyone else, it climbs to $699. Not bad, but keep in mind that the price will be for a model with a non-Ultra Intel chip, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

Dell plans to launch the XPS 13 with Intel Core Ultra 7 355 chip "later this summer."

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Shopping for a Dell XPS laptop recently got complicated. Looking at Dell's website reveals a confusing mixture of "New XPS (2026)," "XPS (2025)," and "XPS (2024)." The hardware is identical to what was on sale a month ago, but some of the names have changed.

Earlier this year, Dell resurrected the XPS brand. The new XPS 14 and new XPS 16 marked the triumphant return of the iconic XPS family of laptops.

Dell redesigned the new XPS laptops from the inside out. They feature the familiar zero-lattice keyboard and haptic trackpads that have become synonymous with the lineup, but they were also rebuilt in the name of durability, simplicity, and usability.

They're gorgeous laptops that I was happy to see unveiled, and I was especially thrilled when they were discounted shortly after launch (though most deals have ended or shrunk since then).

In addition to being great laptops on their own, the new XPS 14 and new XPS 16 mark the end of Dell's flirtation with one of the weirder naming schemes in tech.

Dell abandoned its non-gaming laptop brands for over a year, leaving XPS behind. In its place were "Dell Premium" laptops.

Those PCs were essentially XPS laptops in everything but name, but the new naming scheme didn't catch on. In 2026, Dell brought back the XPS brand.

That left the Dell 14 Premium and Dell 16 Premium in a strange spot. They were XPS laptops in everything but name, but they were sandwiched between the XPS lineup from 2024 and newer XPS laptops in 2026.

For a few months, Dell discounted the Dell 14 Premium and Dell 16 Premium heavily under their original names. But over the last month, Dell renamed both and officially made them XPS laptops.

If you look back at an archived version of Dell's website, you'll see a toggle to view XPS & Dell Premium laptops. Now, the same site simply says XPS.

All the laptops from before remain available, they're just all XPS laptops now. The specific product pages for the renamed laptops have a small note along the lines of "Dell 16 Premium Laptop is now XPS 16 (2025)."

Dell Premium vs. Dell XPS

I never liked the Dell Premium name, so I'm happy to see it go away. I also thought dropping the well-known XPS brand was the wrong decision. Dell seems to agree, as evidenced by the company shifting back in one release cycle.

It's a bit strange to see laptops made into XPS machines retroactively, but the Dell Premium laptops were always secretly XPS devices anyway.

The timing of the name swap is interesting. I wonder if sales of the Dell Premium laptops dipped and inspired Dell to make the switch.

The result of the name change is that you can officially get a Dell XPS 14 that's only one year old for almost $900 off. I bet that's more enticing than the same discount on a "Dell 14 Premium," even if they are the same laptop.

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Dell announced the return of its XPS 14 and XPS 16 flagship laptops at CES 2026 following an ill-fated rebrand. Not only did Dell resurrect the XPS name, but it also completely redesigned the laptops to be used as the anchor in Dell's consumer portfolio.

They're thinner and lighter than ever, and they're equipped with the latest Intel "Panther Lake" mobile chips and new battery tech that makes them last way longer. They're certainly both enticing, but you only want one; this XPS 14 vs. XPS 16 comparison will help you make the right decision.

How do the new XPS 14 and 16's specifications compare?

Before jumping into a more detailed comparison between these two 2026 XPS laptops, here's a look at the specifications that make up the two PCs.

Can I buy the 2026 XPS 14 and XPS 16 models now?

Dell's new XPS 14 and XPS 16, announced at CES 2026, are now available to buy directly from Dell.

The XPS 14 is the more affordable option, at least to start, and you can pick up a model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 CPU, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch non-touch 1920x1200 (2K) display for $1,599 at Dell.

Dell offers plenty of configuration options, and you can go as high as $3,299 for a model with the faster Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, 64GB RAM, 4TB SSD, and 2.8K tandem OLED display. Plenty of options are available between those two extremes.

The XPS 16 starts at $1,749 at Dell for a model with the same exact setup as the introductory XPS 14 model, save for the larger 16-inch display. Going all out with the Core Ultra X7 CPU, 64GB RAM, 4TB SSD, and 3.2K tandem OLED display jumps the price to $3,449 at Dell.

For a lot of people, the approximate $150-200 price difference for the larger model will be negligible, making it easier to get the PC you want.

Are there any major differences between the XPS 14 and XPS 16 designs?

Dell made some major changes to the 2026 XPS design, which is good news for anyone who wasn't a fan of the haptic function row that appeared late in a former XPS life (and continued in the ill-fated Dell Premium PCs).

Both the XPS 14 and XPS 16 have returned to a physical function row above the keyboard, which remains lattice-free in both models. The haptic keyboard, which was seamlessly integrated in the palm rests in the older models, is now more defined to give users a better idea of where the pointer boundaries end.

Looking at the larger XPS 16, there's a fair amount of space on either side of the keyboard. The XPS 14 keeps it cropped a lot closer, thanks to its width measuring nearly two inches less than the XPS 16.

Both PCs are more slab-like than ever, and they're certainly reminiscent of Apple's MacBook hardware. That's not a bad thing; we've seen these PCs in person, and they're absolutely gorgeous.

The refreshed design language with CNC-machined aluminum and Gorilla Glass is apparent across both models, and there really aren't any major design or feature differences aside from sizing.

Both laptops offer the same 8MP webcam with 4K HDR support and Windows Hello for facial recognition. Both feature Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Both have a quad-speaker setup with 10W total output and Dolby Atmos tuning. And both feature three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.

Your choice will ultimately come down to how compact you'd like your laptop to be, as well as what size display you're most comfortable using when you aren't hooked up to an external monitor.

How do the XPS 14 and XPS 16 displays compare?

Dell is offering two display options each for the XPS 14 and XPS 16, and there are some notable differences aside from sizing.

The XPS 14's screen measures 14 inches (big surprise) and can be had in touch or non-touch configurations. The non-touch model is more affordable, but its IPS panel isn't as dazzling as the tandem OLED option and it has a lower 2K resolution.

It does, however, offer a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate. This allows the display to be incredibly smooth when it needs to be, and when it doesn't, it can drop the refresh rate to a standstill to help with battery life. The IPS screen jumps up to 500 nits of brightness.

The XPS 14's tandem OLED screen has a sharper 2.8K resolution, but it doesn't get quite as bright, and its variable refresh rate isn't quite as wide. It ranges from 20-120Hz.

On the XPS 16's side, the 16-inch display is also available in touch and non-touch options. The same 2K resolution, 1-120Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits brightness are available for the IPS option.

The tandem OLED XPS 16 display hikes the resolution to 3.2K, providing more pixels than the tandem OLED option in the XPS 14. It has a touch panel, a 20-120Hz refresh rate, and 400 nits brightness.

The upgrade from IPS non-touch to tandem OLED touch roughly costs the same across the XPS 14 and XPS 16. The tandem OLED screen upgrade itself is about $150, but because it's only available with certain performance hardware, it's more like a $600 jump compared to the introductory models.

Is the XPS 14 as powerful and efficient as the XPS 16?

Dell decided to offer the exact same performance hardware options across the XPS 14 and XPS 16. Configurations start with 16GB of LPDDR5x-7467MT/s RAM but can be upgraded to 32GB or 64GB of LPDDR5x-9600MT/s memory. RAM is soldered, so be sure to get what you foresee needing at checkout.

Similarly, both laptops start at a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, but there are options for 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB straight from the factory.

The biggest change comes down to what's running graphics in these laptops. Dell is no longer offering a discrete NVIDIA GPU in either PC, a departure from the usual setup we've seen in previous generations. This change hinges on the update to Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) mobile chips and their redesigned Arc integrated GPUs.

The Core Ultra 5 325 continues to rely on non-Arc integrated graphics, which is fine for anyone who doesn't get into specialized work or light gaming. However, the Core Ultra X7 385H features the new 12-core integrated Arc GPU that can deliver performance similar to the discrete NVIDIA RTX 4050 mobile chip. It even supports ray tracing and multi frame generation.

Because the XPS 14 and XPS 16 are available with the same performance options, the only difference might come down to thermal abilities. There's more space inside the XPS 16, and a less-cramped interior usually means less heat. I'll have more to share once we've tested both laptops side-by-side.

Similarly, I don't expect there to be a massive difference in battery life. Both XPS models feature a 70Wh battery. They're the first to use 900ED battery cells, which are significantly smaller and lighter than the usual fare. Dell says this new tech can help deliver more than 40 hours of local video playback on either PC; again, I'll have more to share once we've tested both.

Dell XPS 14 (2026) vs. XPS 16 (2026): Which should I buy?

Dell's flagship XPS 14 and XPS 16 models for 2026 have never been more comparable, and there's only a $150 price difference between the two introductory model sizes.

Sure, the XPS 16's tandem OLED display has a slightly higher resolution, and that might be a key in your decision. But with performance hardware options so similar between the two models, I suspect the final choice will come down to what size of PC you're more comfortable using.

At CES 2026, Dell did something PC companies almost never do: it admitted it messed up.

One year after the company tried to retire iconic brands like XPS in favor of a simplified “Dell / Dell Pro / Dell Max” naming scheme, the experiment is effectively over. XPS is back — not as a legacy holdover, but as the centerpiece of Dell’s consumer strategy going forward.

And Dell isn’t pretending otherwise. Vice chairman Jeff Clarke told press in New York that the company “underperformed,” “didn’t listen,” and is now “getting back to our roots.” He even acknowledged that reviewers and customers were right about the branding. For a company that ships hardware into a 280‑million‑unit‑per‑year PC market, that’s a rare level of candor.

But Dell didn’t just bring back the XPS name. It rebuilt the laptops themselves, and they look outstanding because even there, the company addressed some of the biggest complaints.

XPS 14 and XPS 16: thinner, lighter, cooler, and finally listening to users

Dell's XPS 14 and XPS 16 (aka Dell 14 Premium and Dell 14 Premium) are some of our favorite laptops here at Windows Central, especially the XPS 14, as it is one of the 14-inch laptops with an optional RTX GPU in it and is still super compact.

The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 are the first wave of this course correction. Both laptops have been redesigned from the inside out, with Dell emphasizing durability, simplicity, and usability — a stark contrast to last year’s controversial haptic function row experiment.

That experiment is now dead. The physical function row is back. (I've personally loved those LED keys, which were an engineering-thermal decision, not to be "cool," but boy did some users really hate them).

The new XPS laptops feature CNC aluminum, Gorilla Glass, cleaner parting lines, and a calmer tonal palette. For the first time, the XPS logo sits proudly on the lid — something fans have been requesting for years. The touchpad gets subtle etching to define the active area, and key travel has been tuned for more accurate, faster typing.

Dell also leaned heavily into sustainability: modular USB‑C ports, easier‑to‑remove keyboards, recycled steel hinges, and recycled cobalt and copper in the batteries. Both laptops meet the new EPEAT 2.0 standard.

And yes, they do look a bit Apple-ish, but all I can say is in person, they're gorgeous.

Performance meets efficiency: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and a major thermal overhaul

Inside, the XPS 14 and XPS 16 run Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 processors with 12‑core Intel Arc graphics. Dell claims up to 57% and 78% faster AI performance, respectively, and more than 50% faster graphics versus the previous generation.

That last part is critical. Dell is betting big on Intel's new integrated graphics, feeling confident it can replace an NVIDIA RTX 4050 from the previous XPS 14 (2024) and Dell 14 Premium (2025).

It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ’em.

But the bigger story is thermals. Dell redesigned the cooling system with its largest, thinnest fans ever, new insulation gel, and a layout that cuts TDP in half—the result: cooler, quieter machines with significantly better battery life.

And battery life is where Dell is flexing the hardest

Record‑setting battery life and smarter displays

Dell says the new XPS laptops deliver the best battery life in their class — up to 27 hours of Netflix streaming or 40+ hours of local video playback. That’s not a typo.

A big part of that comes from the new 1–120Hz variable refresh rate LCD panel, which can drop to 1Hz for static content and ramp to 120Hz for scrolling or video. It’s the first laptop panel of its kind.

For creators, tandem OLED returns after debuting in 2024, offering higher brightness, better efficiency, and longer lifespan than traditional OLED

Mobility: thinner than ever, lighter than expected

Both laptops are just 14.6mm thick. The XPS 14 weighs around 3 pounds — half a pound lighter than before — and is now physically smaller than the MacBook Air 13 while offering more screen real estate. The XPS 16 starts at 3.6 pounds, nearly a pound lighter than its predecessor.

That's what happens when you ditch NVIDIA, by the way.

Dell also engineered the thinnest 8MP/4K laptop camera it has ever shipped and is the first to use 900ED battery cells, which are 23% smaller and 12% lighter.

I will note that many of us thought the new XPS 14 was actually the XPS 13 (more on that below) because it is that thin/small (it's not super light at 3.05lbs, but it does feel dense, likely due to the 70WHr battery).

The surprise comeback: XPS 13 returns later this year

Here’s the twist: the XPS 13 wasn’t even on Dell’s roadmap 120 days ago. But after the backlash to last year’s branding, Dell fast‑tracked its return. It will be the thinnest XPS ever at under 13mm and the most affordable XPS price point to date.

In other words: Dell is rebuilding the entire XPS portfolio, not just refreshing two models.

Now, I did see the XPS 13 prototype in person, but the press were not allowed to take photos as, noted above, it was literally created just a few months ago, so it's not finalized. But it sure is a looker. Dell initially didn't want to do an XPS 13 because, as I mentioned earlier, the new XPS 14 is smaller than a MacBook Air 13. It felt there would be too much overlap between the two, not enough of a differentiator.

Alas, it said it figured out how to solve that, and it's going to be one hot seller, is my guess.

What about the processor? Dell didn't commit to Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm, at least not to me on the record, but it was very gushing of Qualcomm's potential. Considering the XPS 13 already had a Snapdragon X Elite version, it makes sense for the company to bring back to the new model with the brand-new Snapdragon X2 Elite, but we'll have to wait and see. I sure hope they do.

An even bigger tease? Dell had two XPS placeholders for other XPS devices coming. That's all I can say at the moment about them. Any guesses or wants?

Finally, a global marketing campaign kicks off in February to reintroduce the XPS brand, and Dell says it's going to push hard to win back consumers. I'll say it was refreshing to hear a PC company talk so much about consumers and not just enterprise for once!

Pricing and availability

The XPS 14 starts at $2,049.00 and the XPS 16 at $2,199.99, with limited configurations available January 6 in the U.S. and Canada.

More configurations — including an entry‑level model well under $2,000 — arrive in February. Ubuntu options and the new XPS 13 land later this year.

[Update: Price correction from Dell]

Dell’s reset moment

Dell’s 2025 rebrand was bold, but ultimately misguided. The company now seems determined to fix that mistake by doubling down on what made XPS successful in the first place: premium design, strong performance, and clear identity.

This time, Dell is listening. And XPS is better for it. I'm legit excited for the company and can't wait to see how these new XPS laptops are, but I'm confident they're going to be the big winner of 2026 (putting aside increased RAM prices, of course).

And as I teased above, Dell has a lot of plans for the XPS brand, by which I mean actually expanding it and trying to drive down prices.

But what about the other brands, you may be asking? XPS and Alienware Area 51 are its top brands for consumer and gaming, respectively, with Alienware staying as its normal gaming range.

That said, Dell is keeping "Dell" for its mid and entry-level laptops, and "Dell Pro" sticks around for enterprise, so it didn't completey reverse course, at least not yet.

Dell just pulled off one of the rarest moves in the PC industry: admitting a mistake and undoing a major rebrand. Now that XPS is back — thinner, lighter, and actually better — I want to hear from you.

• Did Dell make the right call bringing back the XPS name?
• Did the 2025 “Dell 14 Premium” era ever make sense to you?
• And are these new designs enough to win back trust?

Drop your thoughts below. Be honest. Be chaotic. Dell says it’s listening this time — let’s test that.

Dell's premium lineup of XPS laptops had a great run up until January 2025, when the company announced at CES a near-complete rebranding.

The XPS lineup? Gone in name, but not necessarily in form. While Dell carried on the essence of XPS with "Dell Premium" laptops, the older PCs have been hanging around as stock sells out.

Now, Dell seems to be more focused than ever on clearing out XPS laptops, with savings up to $650 on select XPS 13, XPS 14, and XPS 16 models. I've highlighted here the standout deals on these awesome laptops.

Dell's XPS 13 (9345) picked up the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite System-on-Chip (SoC), turning it into a true Copilot+ PC with full access to all of the AI tools now baked into Windows 11.

👉 Related: Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs. XPS 13 (9340)

Not only did the XPS 13 (9345) keep the same futuristic design with seamless haptic touchpad, capacitive touch function buttons, and lattice-free keyboard, but it also pushed battery life beyond 19 hours in our Procyon Battery Drain test.

Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden reviewed the XPS 13 (9345), remarking:

"The Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon fails to disappoint in the performance and battery life department. Thanks to that Snapdragon X Elite SoC on the inside, it's a mini beast of a laptop. Qualcomm's latest flagship processor is a real winner, making this laptop capable of pretty much most tasks outside of gaming and high-intensity creative projects."

If you're interested in an awesome Windows laptop with long battery life, 13.4-inch 3K OLED display, and plenty of RAM and storage, the XPS 13 9345 at $1,099 at Dell shouldn't be ignored.

Dell's XPS 14 jumps the screen size up to 14.5 inches while still offering many of the same futuristic features as the XPS 13. That display has a 3.2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and an OLED panel for unreal color and contrast.

The PC is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H; it's an AI CPU with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), but unfortunately, it doesn't make the cut for Copilot+.

👉 Related: Dell 14 Premium vs. Dell XPS 14

In any case, the XPS 14 remains a strong performer thanks to the inclusion of an NVIDIA RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, 16GB of LPDDR5x-7467MT/s RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

Battery life won't match that of the XPS 13 with an X Elite chip, but it's still respectable. Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino reviewed the XPS 14 (9440), stating:

"Packing this much power into a reasonably small laptop, the XPS 14's 70WHr battery does an OK job. In day-to-day usage and synthetic benchmarking, the XPS 14 never feels like it's draining too quickly and ranges from average to slightly above average compared to other laptops in its class and those above it."

The best clearance deal currently running at Dell has the XPS 14 down to $1,549.99 from the usual $2,199.99, a savings of $650.

Last but certainly not least is the mighty Dell XPS 16 (9640). It's the right laptop for creators, designers, and practically anyone else who can make use of a quality high-res display and a discrete GPU.

The discounted model I'm highlighting here includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 16GB of LPDDR5x-6400MT/s RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

Its 16.3-inch display provides the most screen real estate, and it uses an OLED panel for perfect contrast and deep color. Its 120Hz variable refresh rate is easy on the eyes, and the 4K resolution is incredibly crisp.

Senior Editor Rebecca Spear reviewed the XPS 16 (9640), saying:

"To my surprise, the XPS 16 lasted 10 hours and 16 minutes before it ran out of juice. I also generated a Windows Battery Report, in which the battery life estimates listed were between 10 hours and 22 minutes and 10 hours and 24 minutes."

The XPS 16 is understandably the priciest laptop from the XPS family, but the current $500 discount eats a big chunk of that difference. Pick it up now for $2,099.99 while supplies last.

Dell announced a near-full rebrand of its PC portfolio at CES 2025, getting rid of recognized names like XPS, Precision, Latitude, and more. While many of those PCs, including the XPS 14 (9440), are still available, so are many of Dell's new laptops.

More specifically, the larger Dell XPS replacements — now named "Dell 14/16 Premium" — launched in June 2025 with the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) CPUs and optional RTX 40- and 50-series Laptop GPUs.

There's not a huge difference between the XPS 14 and the new Dell 14 Premium, and as you'll see from my comparison, you can save a lot of money on one of the best Windows laptops of recent years as long as you don't mind working with a slightly older CPU.

Dell 14 Premium vs. XPS 14: Specs and pricing

Here's a look at the specs that make up the new Dell 14 Premium (DA14250) and the older Dell XPS 14 (9440) laptops.

The Dell 14 Premium starts at $1,649.99 at Dell, with the introductory model containing a Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, integrated Intel Arc Graphics, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 14.5-inch FHD+ display.

Custom config orders allow you to easily push the price up to about $2,649.99 for a model with an RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, 32GB of RAM, 2TB SSD, and that sweet 3.2K OLED display.

The XPS 14 (9440) debuted with a $1,699.99 price tag, $50 more than the Dell 14 Premium. However, now that it's aging out in favor of its replacement, it seems that Dell has applied a permanent $500 discount for all models.

That drops an XPS 14 model with Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and FHD+ IPS display down to $1,499.99 at Dell.

A similar XPS 14 model with 32GB of RAM and a 3.2K OLED display only costs about $1,899.99 at Dell, making it, by far, the better deal.

XPS 14 stock won't last forever, though, and we'll eventually arrive at a time when the Dell 14 Premium has completely taken over.

How much has actually changed with Dell's new 14 Premium?

If I placed the new Dell 14 Premium next to an older XPS 14 (9440) and mixed them up, I'd have a hard time telling them apart.

Despite Dell's massive initiative to completely overhaul its branding, the new Dell 14 Premium arrives with the exact same design and dimensions as its XPS 14 predecessor.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. As Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino remarks in his Dell XPS 14 (9440) review:

"One look at the XPS 14 and, like its smaller sibling, you think it's a prototype or laptop concept of what could be someday instead of shipping right now. Dell has made some bold choices with these new XPS laptops."

Those changes, which include a zero-lattice keyboard with large keycaps and 1mm key travel, a touch function row, and a seamless glass haptic touchpad, are the same in both laptops.

If you love the futuristic design, great. If not, you'll probably want to continue to steer away from Dell's high-end PCs altogether.

There are some smaller changes under the hood that I must note before getting into a closer look at performance.

The new Dell 14 Premium has been upgraded to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, whereas the XPS 14 Plus is on Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.3.

That's not a difference that the vast majority of users will notice, although the rare few with Wi-Fi 7 routers will benefit from higher speeds and improved efficiency.

The UHS-II microSD card readers are also slightly different, with the Dell 14 Premium picking up the newer v7.1 standard compared to v6.0 in the XPS 14.

Once again, this change isn't going to be noticed by most users, with v7.1 supporting microSD cards up to 128TB and slightly faster transfer speeds.

Ports otherwise remain the same across both PCs. It's unfortunate that the Dell 14 Premium didn't pick up Thunderbolt 5 support, but I expect that will arrive with the next generation.

The three Thunderbolt 4 ports on both laptops will nevertheless perform well, but a modern Thunderbolt docking station will be required for heavier workflows.

The two 14.5-inch displays available in each of these Dell laptops are the same, and the decision will come down to whether you want an FHD+ IPS panel or a 3.2K OLED panel.

The more affordable option has a 1920x1200 resolution, non-touch panel, 120Hz variable refresh rate, 500 nits maximum brightness, 100% sRGB coverage, anti-glare finish, and Dolby Vision.

You can also opt for an OLED touch display with 3200x2000 resolution, 120Hz variable refresh rate, 400 nits max brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, Dolby Vision, and anti-reflective finish.

Again, quoting our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino from his XPS 14 review:

"The only downsides to having a 3.2K OLED touch screen are increased price, weight, and decreased battery life. Dell's full HD option is better for those who value longer-lasting battery over visual acuity. But if you're a content creator, going 3.2K OLED is the only choice. You won't be disappointed."

The biggest changes are in the performance hardware

The Dell 14 Premium arrived sporting Intel's Core Ultra 7 255H CPUs, an upgrade from the XPS 14's older Core Ultra 7 155H chip.

The newer Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) hardware has a higher 2.0GHz base clock (compared to 1.4GHz), a faster 5.1GHz Turbo clock (compared to 4.8GHz), and otherwise similar specs, including a 28W TDP.

What does that mean for real-world performance? Intel's newer chips are more efficient and more powerful, and I'd say you can roughly expect about 15-30% better performance from the Dell 14 Premium's CPU, depending on single-core and multi-core workloads.

The integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU in the Core Ultra 7 255H is also faster than the 155H chip's GPU. For reference, I tried gaming on the Yoga Book 9i (Gen 10) with the same Arc 140T GPU (albeit in a Core Ultra 9 285H CPU), and I was able to run Forza Horizon 5 at about 48 FPS with a High preset and ray tracing enabled.

Of course, Dell offers an RTX 4050 Laptop GPU in both PCs, and anyone with aims to game or handle more demanding tasks should make the upgrade for best results.

Battery capacities are the same in both Dell laptops, so don't expect any massive changes there. Intel's newer CPUs are more efficient, but you'll see a bigger difference based on your screen choice and whether or not your model has a discrete NVIDIA GPU.

And while these PCs are both considered high-end AI laptops, neither has a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with enough power to run Copilot+ tools built into Windows 11.

My recommendation — buy the discounted XPS 14 while it lasts

With no changes to the overall design, single-generation improvements to the CPU, and no differences to the displays or discrete GPUs, I recommend that most people take advantage of the discounted XPS 14 (9440) pricing.

A model with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and 3.2K OLED display currently costs $1,939.99 after a massive $500 discount at Dell.

Compare those specs with a Dell 14 Premium model, and you're looking at paying about 2,449.99.

Even better, XPS 14 models start at $1,499.99 with the same $500 discount, and you get the NVIDIA RTX 4050 discrete GPU. That's about $250 less than a Dell 14 Premium model with integrated Arc graphics and half as much storage space.

The Dell XPS line has always been one of my favorites in the PC space, and the redesign that debuted with the XPS 13 Plus might be my all-time favorite ever laptop design. When that laptop was first announced, my first wish was that they'd make a version with an Arm processor, and now we finally have it with the Dell XPS 13 9345, featuring Snapdragon's latest X Elite system on a chip.

The Dell XPS 13 is one of few laptops on the market that can now be configured with either Intel or Snapdragon chips, which means there are direct comparisons to be made when it comes to how each chip differs. We already know the XPS 13 with an Intel chip is a great laptop, albeit one that can get a bit toasty and doesn't have all that great battery life.

So, does the Snapdragon version of the Dell XPS 13 address these complaints? Is battery life and performance better? Does the first XPS Copilot+ PC live up to the hype? I've been using the XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite for a few weeks now, and this is my full review.

This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by Dell. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

• Dell XPS 13 (9345) Snapdragon at Dell for $999.99

Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Price and specs

The Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon is one of the more configurable Snapdragon laptops on the market, available in all kinds of RAM, storage, and display configurations. The model we're reviewing is the near entry-level $1,259 one, which features a 1080p non-touch display, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. Right now for Black Friday this model is just $959! So grab it now while you can.

If you want more RAM or storage, Dell will let you kit out the Snapdragon XPS 13 with 32GB or 64GB(!) RAM, along with 1TB or 2TB storage. You can also upgrade the display to a quad-HD resolution with touch, or a 3K display with touch and OLED! Of course, these upgrades will cost you, coming in at around $2,099 for a fully kitted out XPS 13 with Snapdragon.

Recommended configuration

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Design and ports

The Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon utilizes the exact same design as the XPS 13 Plus that was released a couple of years ago with Intel inside. From the very first day that laptop was announced, I always wished Dell would release an ARM variant, and now they finally have.

There's not much to say about this design that hasn't already been said before. It's stunning and unique. It looks like a laptop from the future, featuring an invisible haptic trackpad and zero-lattice keys design, which removes the gaps between keys.

It also has a capacitive function row which acts as both function keys and media controls. Controversially, this is also where the escape key is, which lots of power users aren't a huge fan of. I personally haven't been bothered by it, but I can see why some people might want a more tactile response from their escape key.

Externally, the 13.4-inch XPS feels more like a 12-inch laptop with how thin the bezels are. The laptop is also incredibly light, which makes it super easy to maneuver and carry with you. You won't feel this laptop when it's in your backpack, making it a great choice for students.

When closed, the laptop lid sits flush with the keyboard deck and can be opened with one hand, which is always a nice addition. The device itself features a tampered wedge shape, which gives the illusion of being thinner than it is, similar to the Surface Laptop 7 or older MacBook Air. I really like this wedge-shaped design, and I don't understand why Apple moved away from it with the new MacBook Air. So I'm happy to see it here.

Regarding ports, this is where things start to fall down a bit for me. We have just two USB4 Type-C ports, both used for peripherals, external storage, and charging. I think there are too few ports, as I often find myself wishing for one or two more. I'd also like to see a microSD card reader here.

Lastly, let's talk about colors. The XPS 13 with Snapdragon is available in white or black colorways. I have the white one in for review, and I think this is the one to get if you're looking for that futuristic aesthetic. It's super clean and minimal, and it certainly turns heads in coffee shops.

Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Display

This part of the review is a little more difficult to quantify as there's three different display types to choose from, and I've only had the pleasure of experiencing one. I have been using the model with a full HD non-touch display, which wouldn't be my go-to choice if I was purchasing this laptop with my own money.

The display is a 13.4-inch 16:10 1920x1200 LCD panel, and it looks great for a full HD screen. It has an anti-reflective coating over the top of the panel, which reduces reflections when sitting in a bright environment. It works super well, but it does come at the cost of slight image clarity. Color accuracy is also great in the sRGB color range, measuring 98%. Color accuracy is less great in Adobe RGB at 77% and DCI-P3 at 75%. Brightness is also great, maxing out at around 520 nits peak brightness.

My personal opinion is that full HD at this screen size isn't high enough resolution. I can clearly see pixels on this panel at a regular working distance, which means text and images don't look as crisp.

Luckily, you can upgrade this display to something with a QHD or 3K resolution, and I recommend everyone do so if they are looking to buy this laptop. The minimum you should go for is the QHD option, which is an LCD panel with touch features and a higher pixel count. It's a win all around.

If you want to go all out, the 3K display with touch is the one to get. This also nets you an upgrade in technology, moving from LCD to OLED for deeper color contrast. As I've not had the chance to review these models with higher display resolutions, I cannot comment on their quality. However, we do know that the OLED model with its 3K resolution does impact battery life slightly, so keep that in mind.

Of course, if you're not too bothered about pixel density, you'll be perfectly served with the 1080p panel on the base model. Annoyingly, the 1080p display doesn't have touch, which I think should be included in every Windows laptop in the year 2024. So, even without the resolution bump, I'd recommend opting for a model with touch.

Unfortunately, all the display options available are limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, which I think is a real shame. I've tested many Windows laptops this year, and most of them have had a 120Hz display. Once you've tried 120Hz, you can't go back. 120Hz is so much more responsive and smooth to look at.

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Performance and battery life

The Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon fails to disappoint in the performance and battery life department. Thanks to that Snapdragon X Elite SoC on the inside, it's a mini beast of a laptop. Qualcomm's latest flagship processor is a real winner, making this laptop capable of pretty much most tasks outside of gaming and high-intensity creative projects.

If you use a Windows laptop for productivity-based tasks such as working in Microsoft Office, participating in virtual meetings on Teams or Slack, answering emails, creating presentations, browsing the web, and listening to music, the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon will be more than enough for you.

If you dabble with creative work in apps like Photoshop or Adobe Premiere Pro, you should also be good. Photoshop is natively compiled for Arm, which means it can handle even heavy projects with no noticeable issues. Currently, Adobe Premiere Pro runs under emulation, so it's only good for light video projects. This will change as Adobe moves to release all its apps natively for Arm.

In our performance benchmarks, the XPS 13 with Snapdragon proves itself well. It's comfortably ahead of the Dell XPS 14 with an Intel Core Ultra 165H in both Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024, which are both natively compiled for Arm64. In native performing applications, the XPS 13 is a step ahead of other Intel Core Ultra 1 laptops.

It also trades blows with the new AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in some benchmarks. In our PCMark 10 Applications test, the Snapdragon X Elite was almost 1,000 points higher than the Ryzen AI 9 found in the Beelink SER9 Mini PC. Not bad at all! It's not all good news, however. In emulated benchmarks, the numbers are a little more "back down to earth." In Crossmark, the XPS 13 with Snapdragon earned a score of 1,492, significantly lower than the XPS 14 with Intel Core Ultra 1, which ended the test with 1,741.

When it comes to gaming, the Snapdragon X Elite isn't a gaming laptop, so you shouldn't expect to see good gaming performance here. That's primarily due to the Arm64 architecture and most games not supporting it, but it's also because the GPU on Snapdragon X Elite isn't very good anyway. You will be able to play some games at 1080p low-medium graphics, but a lot of games just won't run.

Fan noise is mostly okay. The fan definitely spins up and becomes audible under load, with our decibel measurement coming in at around 45db. I will also say the fan in my unit, at full blast, omitted a faint buzzing sound that I haven't heard on other laptops.

Battery life is excellent on the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon, too. In our Procyon Battery Drain test, which runs productivity apps such as Microsoft Office on a loop until the battery dies, the XPS 13 managed 19 hours and 37 minutes, an incredible feat and beats most other Snapdragon X Elite powered Copilot+ laptops. The Surface Laptop 7 15-inch, for example, came in at over 18 hours.

Of course, battery life will depend on your kind of workflow. If you're running many apps under emulation, rendering video and doing lots of heavy multitasking, battery life will be considerably less. I attempted to drain the battery as fast as possible one afternoon, and I was able to get it down from 100% to 15% in about 10 hours of constant heavy use. That's an incredible result for an unrealistic workflow.

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard and trackpad on the XPS 13 with Snapdragon have been a little bit of a mixed bag for me. We'll start with the controversial function row, which I personally don't mind and actually prefer aesthetically. It looks really futuristic and clean, and with how rarely I even need to access function keys, it's really not been a big deal for me.

The keyboard design itself is also super nice, featuring tactile keys that feel great to type on. The XPS 13 with Snapdragon uses Dell's "zero-lattice" key design, which basically translates to having no gaps between each key on the keyboard deck. It's another aesthetic design choice, which I also like.

It does mean typing on this keyboard can take a few minutes to get used to, as your fingers adjust to there not being any gaps between keys. It doesn't take long, though, and the reduction in gaps means the keys themselves are actually bigger and easier to hit.

Onto the trackpad, which I've curiously had some issues with. Aesthetically, again, it's phenomenal. The glass trackpad is invisible, meaning there's no visible box or outline for where the trackpad is located. It's haptic, so it doesn't physically move, but instead vibrates when you press down on it.

The trackpad doesn't span the entire bottom half of the keyboard deck like you might expect it to upon first glance. It's about as wide as the space bar and alt gr keys, with full press functionality at any position between those two points.

It's not the design that I have an issue with, though, it's the haptic response. I usually love haptic touchpads, but something is iffy here. This may just be my unit, but on multiple occasions I found the haptic trackpad sticking or failing to respond when waking the laptop from sleep.

Often, I'd find that the trackpad had become too sensitive, performing a click whenever I was trying to just move the cursor. Other times, the haptic response would just disappear, leaving me without tactile feedback that a click had actually been registered.

All of these issues were fixed with a restart every time, but I found myself having to do this fairly regularly to the point that I became a little frustrated. Again, I can't tell if this is a hardware issue with my unit specifically, or a bug in the trackpad driver or firmware that needs to be addressed. It's something to keep an eye on.

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Camera, mic, and audio

The built-in webcam and microphone are top-tier on the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon. Thanks to that built-in NPU, the webcam and microphone look and sound great with a little help from Windows Studio Effects, which is able to isolate the audio so that your voice is front and center and clean up the picture ever so slightly.

As a result, the imaging pipeline on the XPS 13 with Snapdragon is much better than the XPS 13 with Intel, even though they use the same hardware. The image appears brighter with less noise, and the microphone also sounds rich. The built-in mic will get you by in Teams meetings with no problems.

The webcam also has built-in IR hardware for Windows Hello face unlock, which is my preferred method of bio-authentication. Face unlock is secure and superfast, and even works in the dark just like an iPhone.

Those sensors are also paired with some presence-sensing hardware, which isn't available in all Copilot+ PCs. This hardware allows Windows to do some magic when it comes to waking and sleeping the laptop. The device is able to detect when you are in front of it without using the actual webcam, putting the screen to sleep when you step away for a few moments and automatically waking back up when you re-approach.

These features are super handy, especially if you're in a shared working environment. You can step away from your computer and know that it will automatically lock in a few seconds, and you know the device will already be waking back up before you even sit back down. It can be a little annoying though if you are frequently moving back and forth from the laptop, especially if you don't want the laptop to sleep. Luckily, you can turn off these settings.

The built-in speakers are okay. They're definitely not the best speakers I've heard on a Copilot+ PC, but they do get the job done and sound clear enough for virtual meetings. They are particularly lacking in bass, and pumping the volume up to full blast does omit a slight rattling sound, at least on our unit. I'd recommend using headphones with this laptop for any real audio listening.

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Competition

I think the closest competitor to the Dell XPS 13 is Lenovo's new Yoga Slim 7x, which is also powered by the Snapdragon X Elite and features a similar footprint to the Dell XPS 13. Both come with excellent displays, and it even has an OLED option, just like the XPS 13.

If you want a larger device, a close competitor is definitely the ASUS VivoBook S 15, which also has a Snapdragon X Elite SoC, along with a 15.6-inch OLED display. It doesn't have a touchscreen, though, so you might want to consider that.

The Surface Laptop 7 13-inch is also a strong competitor to the Dell XPS 13, which we called the best Windows laptop of 2024. It has a better (in my opinion) 3:2 aspect ratio and nicer feeling keyboard and trackpad. There's also the MacBook Air, which I think the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon competes with nicely.

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Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if...

• You want the most portable Copilot+ PC on the market right now.
• You need a great travel laptop with all-day battery life.
• You want something that's lightweight.
• You want an OLED display and a futuristic design.

❌ You should not buy this if...

• You want to play AAA games.
• You have certain peripherals or apps that won't work on Arm (yet.)
• You need to edit video or audio in Premiere Pro and Audition.

Overall, the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon is a fantastic laptop. It's an ultraportable machine that's now more capable than ever thanks to that Snapdragon X Elite. It lasts all day and can handle most tasks with ease. It runs quiet for the most part, and looks super stylish and unlike any other laptop on the market.

Just as was the case with the previous Intel versions, some of the aesthetic choices will be jarring to some people. I get not liking the capacitive function row or invisible trackpad, but I personally love how they look and don't mind them.

I am a little more concerned about the buggy trackpad drivers I've encountered on this machine that left me struggling to use it on multiple occasions. I've not seen this on any other laptop with a haptic trackpad, so I'm inclined to believe it's something specifically going on with Dell and the XPS 13.

Assuming these issues were specific to my unit, the XPS 13 is a great buy with the Snapdragon X Elite. It's not overly expensive if you stick to the 1080p model, which also gets some of the best battery life we've seen on a Windows laptop.

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Black Friday might technically be over, but Best Buy has notably extended certain deals an extra day. This one on the Dell XPS 13 (9345) with an OLED display is a doozy. This is Dell's flagship Copilot+ PC, capable of running the latest AI tools built into Windows 11. That's thanks to the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite SoC inside, which is joined by 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

The discounted model, available at Best Buy for $500 off until the end of today, comes with the coveted OLED display that greatly improves the color and contrast no matter how you're using the laptop. Not even Dell's Black Friday sale can top this extended deal at Best Buy, which has it down to $999.99.

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Dell's XPS 13 is one of my favorite laptops, and the Copilot+ update only makes it better

Dell announced the XPS 13 (9345) as one of the world's first Copilot+ PCs in May 2024, arriving with a now-familiar design that first came to the XPS 13 Plus. It's a design that leans more into the future than any other laptop on the market, complete with a lattice-free keyboard (meaning there's minimal space between keycaps), seamless glass haptic touchpad, and capacitive touch function buttons above the keyboard.

Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino reviewed the XPS 13 Plus in 2022, and the design has remained largely the same for the XPS 13 (9345) Copilot+ PC. In his review, Rubino says regarding the keyboard:

"Besides looking futuristic, the keyboard is one of the best I have used. As a touch-typist, I had zero problems adjusting to the layout and feel. Indeed, I was typing away with confidence within a minute, requiring no learning curve for adjustment."

He also comments on the overall look and feel of the premium Windows laptop:

"The Dell XPS 13 Plus, like previous XPS 13 laptops, has again set the bar for design. There's no way to get around that, and it's undeniable. And while some people have concerns about the usability of those function keys, keyboard, and touchpad, it seems like a nothing-burger from my usage. Real function keys would be better, but the keyboard and touchpad are exceptional."

Considering my main warning to potential buyers is to be certain you can adjust to the design changes, Rubino's words should instill some extra confidence. If you want more information, here's an interview Rubino had with Dell experts regarding the updated design.

The Copilot+ part of the XPS 13 (9345) ties in heavily with the Snapdragon X Elite System-on-Chip (SoC) inside. It's an ARM-based chip with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of running Windows 11's latest AI tools, and the SoC's overall supreme efficiency means you can expect true all-day battery life with minimal performance sacrifice.

Yes, Dell offers the less powerful Snapdragon X Plus chip as an option, but Best Buy cuts straight to the good stuff with this deal. The XPS 13 (9345) discounted by $500 includes the Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80) SoC, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and a 13.4-inch OLED touch display with a crisp 2880x1800 resolution.

Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden recently reviewed the XPS 13 (9345) and came away impressed with the performance and efficiency:

"The Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon fails to disappoint in the performance and battery life department. Thanks to that Snapdragon X Elite SoC on the inside, it's a mini beast of a laptop. Qualcomm's latest flagship processor is a real winner, making this laptop capable of pretty much most tasks outside of gaming and high-intensity creative projects."

On the subject of battery life, another of the XPS 13's strong points, Bowden says:

"Battery life is excellent on the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon, too. In our Procyon Battery Drain test, which runs productivity apps such as Microsoft Office on a loop until the battery dies, the XPS 13 managed 19 hours and 37 minutes, an incredible feat and beats most other Snapdragon X Elite powered Copilot+ laptops. The Surface Laptop 7 15-inch, for example, came in at over 18 hours."

Another common complaint about the XPS 13 is that it costs too much, but that's easily solved with this deal at Best Buy. A similar configuration at Dell's Black Friday sale, albeit with 32GB of RAM, currently costs $1,300 even with a discount. If you'd like to give Windows on ARM a try and want one of the best AI laptops on the market today, spending $999.99 at Best Buy should be quite tempting. This deal ends today, so don't wait too long.

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• Samsung: Holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more are live

There are few laptop brands that demand as much love and attention as Dell XPS, with many adding these premium, luxury devices to their personal wishlists. The most powerful and capable of the bunch, the Dell XPS 16, originally enjoyed a hefty limited-time discount for Amazon Prime Day, but that ended... Until now. Best Buy has revitalized the sale for a short period in a slightly different configuration, netting you a gorgeous Windows machine that can do creative work and gaming in equal measure with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU and wonderful 4K OLED display.

You can get all of this Dell XPS 16 beauty for just $2,299.99 at Best Buy, a savings of $750 that secures you the latest and greatest of one of the most beloved laptop lines in history.

• Shop all of Amazon's October Prime Day deals

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A laptop that can do more, for less

It's no secret that we're fans of the Dell XPS laptop, as it has consistently earned itself a place on our list of the best Windows laptops. It's not just the futuristic design with razor thin bezels, a borderless haptic touchpad, or the button-less function row — these laptops are also built incredibly well and pack a surprising amount of performance. The largest of the current Dell XPS lineup especially embraces this, with our Dell XPS 16 (9640) review praising it for offering powerful AI PC performance in a gorgeous chassis.

I personally love the design of the Dell XPS 16, and it stands out in a crowd of 16-inch Windows laptops clamoring for your attention. This is 100% a premium, top-of-the-line product that's meant to compete directly with the best of the best, and it succeeds. While the design and build quality are nothing to scoff at, I especially love the beautiful 4K OLED display that impresses in the same way a professional creator's laptop like the ASUS ProArt P16 (2024) does.

It also helps that the Dell XPS 16 packs enough firepower to work and play. You can even play all the latest and greatest video games on the Dell XPS 16, with many referring to it as a "sleeper gaming laptop." The XPS 16 model that's being discounted for $2,299.99 at Best Buy rocks the high-end, first-gen Intel Core Ultra 9, a beefy NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of VRAM, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage alongside that aforementioned 4K OLED display for $750 less than you'll find at Dell.

If you don't quite need that much power or don't mind a lower resolution and less power hungry display, you can also pick up the Dell XPS 16 for $1,499.99 at Best Buy. This configuration drops the CPU, GPU, and display down by one notch each while leaving everything else the same and offering a $700 price cut, saving you an extra $800 in the process.

The XPS 16 also aims to offer all-day battery life, so its NVIDIA GPU is held back a little compared to the most powerful gaming laptops, but it's certainly no slouch. You're also getting some of the best speakers in any Windows laptop, Windows Hello biometric authentication, and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports to connect to any accessory, monitor, or docking station. It's a feature-packed laptop that screams "luxury," although it's not without some compromises.

If you need a ton of legacy ports like HDMI and USB Type-A, the Dell XPS 16 relies on dongles and docking stations for that. If you despise the thought of replacing the physical function row with capacitive buttons, the XPS 16 also makes that change in the name of superior thermal management and a sleeker design. Apart from that, though, there's a reason the Dell XPS line is so popular among our readers.

This new deal doesn't offer quite as much power as the original Amazon Prime Day sale, which boasted an upgraded RTX 4070 GPU for $100 more, but it's still an excellent price cut on a premium and capable Windows laptop.

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

We at Windows Central are scouring the internet for the best Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals, but there are plenty more discounts going on now. Here's where to find more savings:

• Xbox controller deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Xbox SSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Gaming headset deals: Walmart | Dell | Target | Best Buy | Amazon
• MicroSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Gaming handheld deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Copilot+ AI laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Monitor deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Mini PC deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg
• Gaming keyboard deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg
• Gaming mice deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg

Dell was one of the laptop makers to introduce hardware in the first wave of Copilot+ PCs. Revealed May 20, 2024, the XPS 13 (9345) is readily available to buy, and it's already enjoying a rather steep discount with some extra benefits baked in for students.

Why is the XPS 13 so good for students? It's one of few Windows laptops that runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite SoC, offering outstanding performance and efficiency with true all-day battery life. 

The three things most students prioritize in a laptop are enough power to handle multitasking and hit deadlines, enough runtime to not worry about plugging in during lectures, and ample mobility for easy carrying between classes. The XPS 13 (9345) checks all the boxes.

Dell is usually a great place to shop this time of year thanks to Back to School sales, and indeed the flat $200 off the XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD), and 13.4-inch FHD+ display with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and 500 nits brightness brings the PC down to $1,100.

Students who verify with Dell that they are indeed headed back to school get an extra coupon with 10% off the laptop's price. In this case, that's another $110 off the total, bringing the XPS 13 down to about $990. During the checkout process, you'll also be greeted by an offer for 16% off the price of a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan, dropping the former as low as about $59.

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The XPS 13 (9345) is ideal for students headed back to school

Microsoft and Qualcomm came together in May to announce Copilot+ PCs powered by the latter's new Snapdragon X Systems-on-Chip. The combination of ARM64 computing, advanced AI features, and Windows on ARM has sparked what Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino calls "a great reset" in the PC industry.

Copilot+ is the umbrella term for AI features baked into Windows 11 as well as the laptops with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) powerful enough to run them locally. While AMD's Ryzen AI 300 chips now hit the NPU benchmark for Copilot+ and Intel's "Lunar Lake" chips will also meet the requirement, Qualcomm has Copilot+ exclusivity until the end of 2024.

While Copilot+ AI features are still a bit of a novelty, the real benefits of a Windows on ARM laptop are performance and efficiency. As one of our favorite Copilot+ PCs, the Dell XPS 13 (9345) delivers both in a futuristic and premium design.

The aluminum chassis and features we first saw in the XPS 13 Plus — including a lattice-free keyboard, seamless glass haptic touchpad, and capacitive touch function buttons — are now the norm across the modern XPS laptop lineup. The impressive AI laptop is as modern as can be on the outside and the inside.

The discounted XPS 13 (9345) I'm highlighting here has a Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80) SoC, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and a 13.4-inch FHD+ IPS display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, up to 500 nits brightness, and HDR support with Dolby Vision.

The laptop will tear through productivity tasks and homework without breaking a sweat, and the ARM64 efficiency provides actual all-day battery life that students need. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity are cutting-edge, and the dual USB4 ports can be easily expanded with the right laptop accessories.

Students can save an extra 10% and get 16% off Office 365

The XPS 13 (9345) Copilot+ PC is discounted by $200 for any buyer, but students who verify their education status with Dell can expect an extra 10% off the total. That brings the laptop down to less than $1,000, which is well within a reasonable amount for a premium Windows laptop that will remain relevant for years to come.

An extra benefit of shopping an XPS 13 straight from Dell is an offer for 16% off of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans. You can usually expect to pay about $70 or $100, respectively, so that's not a small saving if you need Microsoft's suite of Office tools to help with schoolwork.

Dell's XPS 16 (9640) is one of our favorite AI PCs on the market today. We tested and reviewed this laptop first-hand, and Editor Rebecca Spear loved it enough to hand it a Windows Central Best Award alongside a near-perfect score.

The XPS 16 is the successor to the discontinued XPS 17 model, and despite the redesign, it remains the flagship Dell laptop for power users who need elite performance and a large OLED display. 

Pricing for the XPS 16 usually starts at about $1,700 before any discounts, climbing to more than $4,000 for the most powerful configurations. Even mid-range models like the one featured here normally sit at more than $3,000, but that's why this discount is so impressive.

An XPS 16 with Intel's Core Ultra 9 185H processor (CPU), Windows 11 Pro, NVIDIA RTX 4060 discrete laptop graphics card (GPU), 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD), and 16.3-inch UHD+ OLED touch display is currently $645 off the regular price. That brings the total down to $2,500. 

That's about the equivalent of a model with an FHD+ IPS display, half as much storage, and a Core Ultra 7 CPU. Speaking of other configs, Dell has lesser discounts on nearly all combinations of hardware. These are the best prices we've seen in the XPS 16's lifetime.

Why we love the Dell XPS 16 (9640): Review highlights

The entire XPS lineup took on a more futuristic look in 2024, absorbing the design we first saw in the experimental XPS 13 Plus. The changes make the XPS 16 stand out in a sea of 16-inch notebooks. 

It's a stellar alternative to the MacBook Pro, but like Apple's laptop, it doesn't usually come cheap. That's at least solved with this discount. The only other drawbacks that Editor Rebecca Spear noted in her XPS 16 (9640) review were a lack of privacy shutter for the webcam, no HDMI or USB-A ports, and the fact that the redesign might be divisive.

The keys have minimal spacing between them, but the keycaps are larger for easier presses. The touchpad, now using haptic feedback instead of moving parts, blends into the glass palm rests for a seamless look. And above the keyboard are capacitive touch buttons instead of physical keys. It might take some time to get used to the changes, but Dell has ultimately created a premium setup that's unlike other high-end Windows laptops.

The XPS 16's OLED display is undoubtedly one of its best features, and it's included in this mega deal. Spear tested the OLED display, seeing 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 color reproduction, as well as more than 400 nits brightness. It has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, an anti-reflective finish to reduce glare without a matte appearance, and touch functionality for extra versatility. Here's what Spear had to say about the OLED display:

"I was likewise unsurprised in the brightness and contrast testing to see that the OLED display offered fantastic contrast. This result is because OLED screens produce true black by turning pixels off when they are supposed to be at their darkest, making the colors around them seriously pop in comparison. As you can imagine, this makes for a beautiful viewing experience when playing games, watching shows, or working in creative software."

The XPS 16 model highlighted here has an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), making it an AI PC. The inclusion of an NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD means you'll be able to crush design, development, and editing work, with some gaming on the side. I'd still recommend you check out a proper gaming laptop if you want to primarily have fun, but the XPS 16 will be able to handle itself well with many titles.

The $645 discount currently running at Dell brings the high-end model down to the best price we've ever seen, but it looks like all configs are on sale. Prices start at $1,400, so there's plenty of room to experiment.

What you need to know

• Dell's XPS 14 (9440) and XPS 16 (9640) are two of the best Windows laptops you can buy.
• Dell permanently dropped prices by $200 across all configurations, smoothing out one of the main drawbacks to the laptops.
• The AI PCs feature Intel Core Ultra H-series processors, optional NVIDIA RTX Laptop graphics, and high-res OLED displays.

Dell's XPS lineup of premium laptops contains some of the best Windows Laptops on the market today, especially if you're interested in a cutting-edge design with strong performance. We loved the XPS 14 (9440) and XPS 16 (9640) so much that we attached Windows Central Best Awards in our reviews.

However, one drawback that's immediately evident — and noted in our reviews — is pricing. Dell still isn't giving these AI PCs away, but a recent $200 price drop on all configurations has certainly smoothed out some of the concern.

The XPS 14 (9440) now starts at $1,500 for a model with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor (CPU), integrated Intel Arc graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD), and 14.5-inch FHD+ display with 500 nits brightness.

The XPS 16 (9640) now starts at $1,700 for a configuration with a Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, integrated Arc graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and 16.3-inch FHD+ display.

The price drop is felt less as you scale up hardware, but there are some points to consider. Dell charges $300 for the upgrade to a high-res OLED display in both laptops (3.2K in the 14-inch model and UHD+ in the 16-inch model), so you can essentially grab the better screen for $100 instead.

These prices, at the time of writing, only apply to Dell's website. It's expected that third-party retailers with XPS listings like Best Buy will eventually catch up. In any case, if you were on the fence about picking up one of these high-end laptops, you can now take advantage of what is essentially permanent deal pricing.

Dell's XPS 14 (9440) is the more portable option

In our Dell XPS 14 (9440) review, Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino highlighted the laptops punchy performance, updated webcam, quad speakers, and OLED display. It's one of the best AI laptops on the market thanks to the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in the Core Ultra 7 155H chip, and the ability to add a discrete NVIDIA RTX 4050 Laptop GPU pushes it over the edge for anyone who needs extra power in a sleek chassis.

The optional 3.2K OLED display also makes it great for anyone editing photos or videos. It's even awesome if you primarily watch TV and movies on a laptop, especially when combined with a quad-speaker setup that pumps out quality sound. The screen has a smooth 120Hz variable refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR 500 support, anti-reflective finish, and perfect sRGB and DCI-P3 color reproduction.

Rubino wrapped up the review by saying, "For all these reasons, recommending the XPS 14 is easy to do so long as you can afford its steep asking price." With the recent (and permanent) $200 price reduction, it's easier to recommend than ever for anyone who wants a cutting-edge and portable design with lots of power inside.

Dell's XPS 16 (9640) goes all-out on performance

The Dell XPS 16 (9640) we reviewed also wowed Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear thanks to its (even stronger) performance, (larger) OLED display, and similar cutting-edge design with lattice-free keyboard and seamless glass haptic touchpad. 

The larger chassis has more space to fit performance hardware, making it the right choice for power users who need a beefier CPU and GPU combination. Dell offers up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 4TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage space, altogether delivering more than enough power for specialized work.

It's also better suited to those who often multitask on their laptop, as the 16.3-inch display has plenty of space for splitting windows. Configurations come by default with an FHD+ display, but moving to an OLED panel with 3840x2400 (UHD+) resolution and touch functionality only costs $300.

Spear wrapped up her review by stating, "If you like having the latest and most stylish-looking devices, then this is definitely a laptop that will catch your eye. It's elegant-looking and offers solid CPU performance, a fantastic display, and great speakers." Like the XPS 14, it's now even easier to recommend after the permanent price cut.

It's been a busy day in the world of Windows laptops. Microsoft, Qualcomm, and a host of major laptop manufacturers teamed up to unveil what our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino calls a "Great Reset" in the Windows PC industry. 

Seven major laptop brands, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Surface unveiled new PCs powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips. From budget-friendly laptops to flagship 2-in-1s meant to illustrate what a Copilot+ PC can be, there's a lot to digest. We have separate pieces for each laptop announced today, but with so many computers hitting headlines, a quick rundown is in order.

Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7

Arguably the biggest announcements of the day were Microsoft's new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop (officially known as the Surface Pro 11th Edition and Surface Laptop 7th Edition, respectively). Both those devices showcase what Copilot+ PCs can be. They run on Snapdragon X processors, are designed with AI in mind, and have the latest features to utilize their high-end specs.

The Surface Pro 11th Edition finally has configuration options with OLED displays. The convertible PC also runs on Snapdragon X processors, supports plenty of AI features, and even has a new keyboard option. The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard costs $349.99 and has a haptic trackpad, carbon fiber reinforcement, and can connect wirelessly. Add in some new color options, and you have a worthy flagship to usher in the deluge of Copilot+ PCs.

Microsoft made more visible changes when designing the Surface Laptop 7th Edition. The newest Surface Laptop has thinner bezels and rounded corners on its display. Like its convertible sibling, the Surface Laptop 7th Edition runs on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus. Those chips power a plethora of AI features and promise better battery life than their Intel counterparts. You can preorder the Surface Laptop 7th Edition in either 13.8-inch or 15-inch variation.

Acer Swift 14 AI

The Swift 14 AI is Acer's only new Copilot+ PC announced today, but its starting price of $1,099 makes it a strong contender for anyone who wants to test out the new Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus CPUs without breaking the bank. That price tag needs to be placed in context, because we normally wouldn't call a $1,099 laptop a budget-friendly PC.

Copilot+ PCs have minimum requirements higher than what more affordable PCs ship with, such as 16GB of RAM. They also feature Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors, which are the latest innovations from Qualcomm. Those chips have been the center of months of hype, and Microsoft literally optimized Windows 11 to work with them. That level of tech has a cost. While Qualcomm's new chips are competitively priced compared to their Intel counterparts, they are still new processors.

The Acer Swift 14 AI is available with either a Snapdragon X Elite or a Snapdragon X Plus, both of which power the new AI features exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. A QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color, a 1440p camera, and a 75Whr battery round out an impressive spec sheet.

ASUS Vivobook S 15

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 features a 70Whr battery. When paired with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, that battery can get up to 18 hours of life, according to ASUS. Anything close to that figure in real-world usage would be impressive, especially when you consider the fact that the Vivobook S 15 has a 15.6-inch display with a 3K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Those aren't the types of laptops that get 18 hours of battery life, at least before the new "Great Reset" in the Windows PC industry.

The Vivobook S 15 includes two USB4 ports that support fast charging, powering 4K external displays, and transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps. The laptop also features Wi-Fi 7, which supports speeds up to 5.8 Gbps.

The first Copilot+ PC from ASUS looks to deliver excellent battery life and the plethora of AI features currently exclusive to select PCs with a Snapdragon X processor inside.

Dell XPS, Inspiron, and Latitude

Dell revamped its XPS 13's design earlier this year, but now the PC maker has shaken things up on the inside of its thin-and-light laptop. The XPS 13 (9345) runs on a Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus. Those processors power the new AI features highlighted by Microsoft, including Windows Studio Effects. Of course, the PC also has a Copilot key, which is a requirement to be called a Copilot+ PC by Microsoft.

The Arm-powered XPS 13 pairs Dell's futuristic vision for its XPS lineup that finally hit mainstream this year with Qualcomm's latest chips. Dell sold the XPS 13 alongside the XPS 13 Plus for a while, but the company has since shifted its entire XPS 13 lineup to have the more modern design. That design includes a zero-lattice keyboard, haptic trackpad, and a row of haptic function keys. Now, the XPS 13 will be available with that refreshed design and the benefits of Arm computing. Of course, Dell will continue to sell Intel versions of the XPS 13 for those who prefer those chips.

While not as flashy as the XPS 13 announcement, Dell also shared that new Inspiron 14 and Inspiron 14 Plus laptops are on the way. Full specs of those AI PCs are still to come, but we know that they will run on a Snapdragon X Plus processor.

The Inspiron 14 Plus has a 14-inch display with a 2560x1600 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. That screen reaches 400 nits of brightness and supports touch. The laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and either 512GB or 1TB of SSD storage. Support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 give users solid wireless connectivity options and two USB-C 4.0 Gen 3 ports, a USB-A port 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a microSD card handle the physical connections. Dell hasn't shared battery life figures for the Inspiron 14 Plus yet, but the PC has a 54Whr battery.

HP OmniBook X and EliteBook Ultra

HP made waves this week by revamping almost its entire lineup, at least when it comes to naming. The company killed off all of its consumer and commercial PC branding, including Spectre, Pavilion, Dragonfly, and more. HP shifted to a new Omni brand for its consumer PCs and a new Elite brand for its business laptops (HP OMEN remains unchanged branding wise). HP took the opportunity to realign its PC families as AI PCs are thrust into the mainstream.

"As AI PCs quickly transform the personal computing landscape, we saw an opportunity to take increasingly complex technology and communicate it in a strikingly simple way," said HP.

There is still some subtlety in the branding to make it clear what type of PC you're looking at. HP will sell OmniBook and EliteBook laptops, OmniStudio and EliteStudio All-in-Ones, and OmniDesk and EliteDesk desktops. All of those categories will have different tiers as well. Altogether, there's a lot to learn when it comes to buying HP PCs going forward, but the idea is that you'll learn the naming convention once and then know HP's entire portfolio going forward.

HP kicked off its rebranding with the OmniBook X AI PC and HP EliteBook Ultra G1q AI PC, both of which are Copilot+ PCs running Snapdragon X processors.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s and Yoga Slim 7x

Business users who want a Copilot+ PC can check out Lenovo's new ThinkPad T14 (Gen 6). Lenovo focused on professionals when making the latest laptop in its ThinkPad T14 series. The business laptop runs on a Snapdragon X Elite and has up to 64GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The PC is available with up to a 2.8K OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 color, Dolby Vision, HDR True Black 500, and EyeSafe certification.

Lenovo claims "multi-day battery life" for the ThinkPad T14 (Gen 6), which would be handy for business users on the go. Professionals will likely appreciate the 1080p camera with human presence detection and a range of ports that includes dual USB4, dual USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The ThinkPad T14 (Gen 6) has more than one hundred ISV certifications for enterprise software and apps and several security features that people have come to expect from ThinkPad PCs.

Over on the consumer side of things, Lenovo unveiled the Yoga Slim 7x. As its name suggests, the laptop is rather thin, measuring 12.8 x 8.86 x 0.51 inches. At 2.82 pounds, the Yoga Slim 7x should be easy to carry in a bag.

Powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, the Yoga Slim 7x has a 3K OLED touch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. That screen can reach an impressive 1,000 nits of brightness, which is outstanding and should be visible outdoors. That screen is also DisplayHDR TrueBlack 600 certified and supports Dolby Vision.

Sticking with the impressive specs theme, the Yoga Slim 7x has a 70Whr battery despite its thin form factor. While there are laptops with larger batteries out there, they are generally thicker devices. The Yoga Slim 7x running on an Arm processor should help the PC get the most out of its large battery.

Three USB-C 40Gbps w/PD 3.1 DP 1.4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 provide a nice range of connectivity options as well.

The Yoga Slim 7x will start shipping in June 2024 with a starting price of $1,199.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

Samsung announced the Galaxy Book4 Edge this week. Preorders are already open for the 14-inch and 16-inch laptops, with prices starting at $1,350. If you preorder one of the new laptops, you'll also get a Samsung TV for free, which is a nice bonus.

The Galaxy Book4 Edge runs on a Snapdragon X Elite processor and features a sleek design. At 0.51 inches thick, the Galaxy Book4 Edge is even thinner than the Lenovo Slim 7x. Both sizes of the laptop are light as well, with the 14-inch model coming in at 2.6 pounds (1.18kg) and the 16-inch model weighing 3.4 pounds (1.54kg).

Both laptops have 16:10 displays with a 2880x1800 resolution. Those screens are AMOLED and have a refresh rate of 120Hz. They also support VRR (variable refresh rate).

The GalaxyBook4 Edge looks like a more premium Copilot+ PC. In addition to its AI features and promise of good battery life, the laptop benefits from the ever-growing partnership between Samsung and Microsoft that helps connect phones and PCs.

What you need to know

• Today, Dell announced the XPS 13 9345, an upcoming AI PC laptop that's compatible with the newly announced Copilot+.
• The device features a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100/X Plus X1P-64-100 processor with a Qualcomm Oryon CPU, accompanying Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, and a Qualcomm Adreno GPU.
• Possible configurations include an OLED screen, up to 2TB SSD, and up to 64GB LPDDR5X-8400 of RAM.
• Preorders are currently open for the device, with a starting price of $1,299.

Dell is well known for its flagship XPS (eXtreme Performance System) line of laptops, which aim to provide convenience and power in a relatively slim and elegant form factor. Today, the company announced that its new XPS 13 (9345) revision is now available for preorder starting at $1,299 at Dell. It is an AI PC laptop that utilizes the new AI-boosting Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU. 

Since the new Snapdragon X Elite is an AI-boosting CPU, it features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), known as Qualcomm Hexagon. Meanwhile, a Qualcomm Adreno GPU handles the laptop's graphics. 

When building your XPS 13 (9345) configuration, you have the option of choosing between 16GB, 32GB, or a whopping 64GB of RAM. As for storage, you can go up to a 2TB PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD with the option of going up to 4TB post-launch. Three 13-inch display options are available to you when building this laptop. The lowest-costing FHD non-touch display reaches a respectable brightness of 500 nits and an impressive refresh rate of 120Hz. For a little more, you can go with the QHD+ touchscreen which also reaches 500 nits and 120Hz. Lastly, there's the OLED 3K touchscreen, which trades off crisper visuals and more vibrant coloring for a lower 400 nits of brightness and only a peak refresh rate of 60Hz. 

To meet your connectivity needs, this new XPS 13 revision uses Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth 5.4, so you can connect to various accessories and networks with ease. Additionally, there are two 40Gbps w/PD DP 2.1 USB-C ports, which will allow you to charge up with the included USB-C power adapter as well as transmit video information to connected devices. As with all modern XPS laptops, this one does not feature any built-in USB-A ports.

In order to be considered an AI PC by Microsoft's standards, a laptop must feature a Copilot key, and that's exactly what the new XPS 13 does. As is typical, this key is located to the right of the Alt button, next to the space bar. Pressing it quickly brings up Microsoft's AI assistant so you can ask questions or give prompts and then quickly get generated answers or imagery via DALL-E. Of course, Microsoft also announced Copilot+ today, so if you're interested in that the button will be even more appealing. Just to clarify, this laptop is capable of working with Copilot+ thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite NPU. 

We don't currently know how long the 55Wh battery lasts for, however, the Dell XPS 13 line usually offers a respectable battery life. As always, the length of time the laptop lasts for will depend on certain configuration options, especially your choice of display.

As with many smaller laptops, the XPS 13 (9345) is relatively compact and lightweight. It only measures in at 11.62 x 7.84 x 0.58+ inches and has a starting weight of 2.6 pounds, but can get a little heavier and thicker depending on the components chosen for it.

Dell XPS 13 is now a Windows on ARM laptop, and that's a good thing

We're going to be seeing a whole lot of Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite AI PC laptops announced this week, thanks to a mixture of embargo lifts and the Microsoft event going on today. Since it does tote a Snapdragon X Elite CPU, that means that this XPS 13 revision features an ARM-based chip for Windows (you can learn more at our Windows on ARM FAQ). ARM SoCs have been around for a long time now as can be found in the Apple MacBook with its "M"-Series chips or Microsoft Surface laptops with their SQ-Series chips. However, a new ARM revolution led with the powerful Snapdragon X Elite is making it so many new ARM-based laptops are coming to the market this year. 

Now, there was a time when ARM-based laptops were considered limited and couldn't run all programs, but that is no longer the case. In fact, it doesn't matter if your computer runs on ARM, all of your apps will work on Windows 11. So you can confidently purchase one of these new ARM-based AI PCs.

Of the devices announced, the Dell XPS 13 (9345) is a rather impressive option for anyone looking to get a smaller AI PC laptop. While not the most lightweight laptop on the market, the Dell XPS 13 (9345) is a relatively slim shape that is easy to tote around. Thanks to its NPU-toting CPU, this laptop should be more than capable of handling local AI tasks faster (including various Copilot+ features) than non-AI PC laptops. 

What is an AI PC and Copilot+ anyway?

There's been a lot of talk about AI PCs and Copilot+ today, but what exactly are these things? How does Copilot+ differ from the original Copilot service? 

Let's start with AI PCs. You can read more in our AI PC guide, but the gist is that these types of laptops and computers feature an AI-boosting NPU as part of the CPU. You can learn more at our NPU guide, but the idea is that the NPU takes certain AI-specific tasks off of the CPU load and GPU load in order to free up those processors. This in turn allows the system to run more efficiently so the CPU and GPU can focus on bigger tasks while the NPU takes care of smaller tasks. The typical result for this setup is an extreme increase in performance when running AI tasks locally. Traditionally, a lot of heftier AI applications like text and image generation have been done on the cloud via a distant server, but having an AI PC means you can conduct similar tasks on your own PC. This also means AI tasks are more secure and private. 

Now that that's been cleared up, let's discuss Copilot+. According to Microsoft, this is an umbrella term for various next-gen AI features that will be shipped with all Copilot-branded PCs this year. In case you need a refresher, the original Copilot is an AI assistant that can answer questions or respond to text prompts by doing the heavy lifting on a distant server and giving you answers via the cloud. 

Meanwhile, Copilot+ stands apart by offering improved functionality and additional experiences, but generated locally on your own device. As such, in order to use Copilot+, your computer needs to have an NPU capable of at least 40 TOPS of power or higher. So what new AI features are we talking about? This includes enhanced image and text generation, advanced Windows Studio Effects, Auto Super Resolution, Live Caption translations, and the ability to bring up (Recall) things you've previously seen. The first Copilot+ PCs start shipping this June. 

Just a few days after renders of Dell's upcoming Snapdragon X Elite laptops—including an XPS 9345 and Dell Inspiron 7441—leaked, Videocardz got its hands on a massive Dell XPS roadmap leak with some tasty information about Qualcomm's plans for the future of Snapdragon X.

The 311-page leaked roadmap includes tidbits about next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips and information about new XPS laptops powered by the first Snapdragon X platform, which we expect to be announced in the coming weeks.

Qualcomm Snapdragon "Oryon V2" and "Oryon V3"

An "XPS Thinking Roadmap" slide from the leaked report on Scribd lists QC Oryon (QC stands for Qualcomm) as set to arrive with the XPS 13 Plus in 2024. It also lists a "QC Oryon V2" expected for the second half of 2025 and a "QC Oryon V3" towards the end of 2027. 

Oryon is the name of the processor (CPU) used in the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus Systems-in-Chip (SoC), joined by an Adreno-integrated GPU and a Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

Beyond the V2 and V3 names, not much is known about Qualcomm's plans for the future of Snapdragon X. It is not, however, much of a surprise that Qualcomm plans on improving its Snapdragon X chips with generational updates. With a relatively quick turnaround for the Oryon V2 and a longer gap for the Oryon V3, it might suggest that Qualcomm plans on more significant rework for 2027.

Turning back to the ARM-powered XPS 13 expected this year, it looks like it will be available with the 10-core Snapdragon X Plus and 12-core X Elite chips. Dell lists 17.5W and 25.5W maximum TDPs, with a 20+ hour target for battery life while video streaming.

In a comparison chart, Dell shows the Qualcomm-powered XPS 13 Plus as hitting up to 21.9 hours of video playback with a QHD+ display, up 98% compared to Intel's 12th Gen Alder Lake Core i7 chip. In an otherwise similar comparison, battery life improvements drop to 68% when using an OLED display. Of course, this is also not a completely fair comparison, as Intel has made improvements in efficiency with its newer CPUs.

As for other listed specs, the ARM-powered XPS 13 Plus will come with up to a 2.8K OLED touch display, a 1080p webcam, LPDDR5x-8400 RAM support, and something called Qualcomm Fluence Audio. It will not offer 5G connectivity, but Wi-Fi 7 support is included.

This XPS 13 news aligns with a host of Snapdragon X laptops expected to be announced later this month and in June. It also coincides with Microsoft's May 20 event, at which it is expected to unveil new ARM-powered Surface PCs and Windows AI features.

Dell's plans for the XPS brand

Dell's roadmap provides some interesting information about the future of the XPS brand. Its XPS 13 Plus (codenamed Tributo R), powered by Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips, is expected to be officially announced very soon. It will ride alongside models with Intel Core Ultra Meteor Lake chips.

The XPS 14 (currently codenamed Pista), which uses Intel's Core Ultra CPUs, looks like it will receive a performance bump to Intel Arrow Lake CPUs and next-gen NVIDIA GPUs in 2025. In 2026, it will receive a more serious overhaul (with a new "Huracan" codename), sporting Intel's next-gen Panther Lake CPUs and Qualcomm's Oryon V2 chips. Dell has these laptops pegged at a 40W TDP.

A new XPS 13 model (codenamed Divo) is also expected at the beginning of 2026. The roadmap lists it as using Intel Lunar Lake CPUs and Qualcomm's Oryon V2 chips, with Dell listing them at a 20W TDP.

The current XPS 16 (codenamed Diablo) that uses Intel's Meteor Lake CPUs is expected to receive a refresh in 2025 for Intel's Arrow Lake chips and new NVIDIA GPUs, with another update in 2026 for Intel Panther Lake. Dell has 2027 as a big year for the XPS 16, with a new "Performante" codename signaling a more significant refresh. Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are all listed, with an 80W TDP target.

It's interesting to note that Dell plans to phase out the XPS 15 by the start of 2025. That's not a huge surprise, with the new XPS 14 and XPS 16 models taking over to offer extra performance from discrete graphics and more powerful CPUs.

As with all leaks, the information should be approached with caution. However, this document has all the makings of a genuine internal report. It's also worth noting that roadmaps don't always work out as planned. Only time will tell, but the info here helps back up Qualcomm's claims about efficiency from its new Snapdragon X chips.

Dell is no stranger to pushing boundaries on design. While it only revamps laptop designs every 3 to 5 years, those designs still look like no other laptop on the market. Credited with the first Infinity Edge display (super-thin bezels) and now some bold design choices, its XPS line represents the best the company offers in the world of Windows PCs.

Dell's brand new XPS 14 (9440), announced at CES 2024, is the middle child in the revamped "ultra-futuristic" XPS line, sitting between the revised XPS 13 and the new XPS 16. It's also one of the best 14-inch laptops I have ever used simply because of how much is packed into what would have been a 13-inch laptop just a few years ago. 

But while the XPS 14 (9440) looks the part, can performance, battery life, reliability, and ease of use hold up to our testing? I have the answer after spending one week with Dell's crown jewel laptop.

Disclaimer: This review was made possible with a review unit provided by Dell. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Dell XPS 14 review: Pricing and specifications

Pricing highlights

• The Dell XPS 14 starts at $1,699 with Intel Arc integrated graphics.
• The top configuration of the XPS 14 costs $3,699.
• *There will be a special business configuration available with a slightly more powerful Core Ultra 7-165H
• The XPS line is never cheap, but it is Dell's top-tier laptop class, so it makes sense prices go higher than typical 14-inch laptops, especially with an NVIDIA GPU, which is rare.
• Value rating: 4/5

Dell's XPS line of laptops is its premium tier, so it should be no surprise that they're some of the most expensive, especially when brand new (older models usually get steep discounts).

The XPS 14 starts at $1,699 and has an Intel "Meteor Lake" Core Ultra 7-155H processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. Intel's H-series is its most powerful, sitting above the P-series and U-series. This configuration comes with a full HD IPS display instead of 3.2K OLED, and it relies on Intel Arc for graphics instead of an NVIDIA RTX 4050 L GPU. However, this is an excellent option if you want something larger than the XPS 13 but don't need an NVIDIA GPU.

You could also spec that model above with a 3.2K OLED touch display and still keep the price just below $2,000.

From there, you can add the RTX 4050 L GPU and get 16, 32, or even 64GB of RAM. Likewise, storage runs from 512GB up to 4TB. 

For "pro" users, the $2,699 model includes 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, 3.2K touch OLED, and that RTX 4050. 

Maxed out with 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD, you're dropping $3,699.

The configuration tested here has 32GB of RAM, 2TB SSD, RTX 4050, 3.2K OLED, and costs $2,899. 

My recommended configuration

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Dell XPS 14 review: Design and build quality

Design highlights

• XPS 14 is similar to XPS 13 but has speakers on the top deck, intake vents on the sides, and is heavier.
• The LED function/media row and "invisible" haptic touchpad give Dell's engineers more thermal room.
• This is one of the cleanest and most minimalist laptop designs you can find. 
• More ports than the XPS 13, and it has a headphone jack!
• Dell’s USB-C to USB-A & HDMI adapter is included in the box.
• Design rating: 5/5

No one can accuse Dell of copying any other laptop maker regarding design. Indeed, Dell has been leading laptop design for many years with the XPS series of laptops, which often feature the thinnest bezels of any laptop, clean and minimalist looks, and, more recently, offered in a white colorway. 

Indeed, when last year's redesigned XPS 13 Plus came out, I spoke to team members behind it to answer those design and engineering questions. You can watch the 40-minute YouTube interview below to learn more about the decision-making that has baffled some and excited others. 

One look at the XPS 14 and, like its smaller sibling, you think it's a prototype or laptop concept of what could be someday instead of shipping right now. Dell has made some bold choices with these new XPS laptops. The zero-lattice keyboard (no spacing between the keys), touch function row, and invisible touchpad have caused some debate amongst laptop users that Dell is sacrificing functionality for its looks. 

However, as I mentioned in my Dell XPS 13 Plus review, Dell made all these choices for engineering reasons. Here are a few examples:

Zero-lattice keyboard: Larger keycaps with 1mm of travel

Haptic glass touchpad: Thinner module that gives more space for internal components, including a larger battery. It's more reliable with no moving parts and a consistent clicking area. Configurable haptics. The Gorilla Glass deck is smooth, sturdy, and smudge-free. Excellent palm rejection.

Touch function row: With no physical keys, Dell had more room for its thermal solution.

Sure, Dell could have put lines on the keyboard deck for the touchpad area to delineate its edges, but the haptic touchpad is so large that you never lose where it is in relation to your fingers or thumb.

One of my favorite design choices is Dell put two intake vents on the bottom sides of the XPS 14 instead of having a grill on the bottom like most Windows laptops. This is huge if, you know, you use the XPS 14 in your lap. Bottom grills tend to get blocked by your thighs, reducing airflow and making your laptop hotter. With side vents, this issue is solved (Dell also added a third "vent" that houses the bottom speakers).

There is the InfinityEdge display, which has long been a hallmark of its XPS line. Razor-thin bezels on all four sides allow a smaller laptop footprint and look amazing since you're getting an all-screen solution.

Build quality is also excellent, with no creaking or flimsy parts. The entire device is smooth and, due to the aluminum, has an exceptionally premium feel.

If you're unsure about Dell's design choices and how they impact your workflow, I encourage you to try one out. Far too many people who have never used a modern XPS laptop have strong opinions about its functionality, but from my experience, they are often wrong. Of course, whether you like the design is a separate issue.

Ports include two Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) on the left and one more Type-C (also Thunderbolt 4) on the right. There is also a microSD card reader (increasingly rare) and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the right. 

While there is no Type-A port, Dell tosses its USB-C to USB-A and HDMI adapter in the box.

You have to give Dell credit for creating one amazing-looking Windows laptop. Three years from now, it'll still look ahead of its time.

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Dell XPS 14 review: Display

Display highlights

• The full HD non-touch option is more affordable, delivers longer battery life, and is less heavy.
• 3200x2000 OLED option with touch is VESA DisplayHDR 500 certified with Dolby Vision and is anti-reflective. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. 100% DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamut, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
• Both models have variable refresh rates and peak at 120Hz.
• Display rating: 5/5

Dell has always done well with its displays, often leading the charge with some of the best panels on any laptop rivaling Apple. The XPS 14 continues the trend by offering a 14.5-inch 3200 x 2000 OLED touch display with HDR500 and 100% DCI-P3 coverage.

Most of those stats I just listed are unsurprising as any modern OLED laptop screen typically matches those, demonstrating the power of (usually Samsung's) OLED technology.

Dell, however, goes the extra mile by making the display anti-reflective (AR) and smudge-resistant. AR differs from matte in that the screen maintains the punchy colors and contrast of a glossy display. Still, it significantly reduces glare from indoor lighting or any windows. When combined with blue-light reduction technology, the result is a screen that you can stare at all day without straining your eyes.

In my tests, Dell's claims hold, with HDR brightness holding steady at 396 nits (although it can peak momentarily to 500 nits in some HDR scenes) and easily scoring 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 for color gamut. Blacks are super black, and colors pop when they need to. Being OLED, the XPS 14's screen can also get very dim when set to 0% on the slider, resulting in just 3.5 nits. Such low brightness is excellent if you work in a very dark environment late at night or on an airplane.

Dell includes excellent software in its My Dell app that lets you set the panel for different scenarios like vibrant, internet, cinema, HD video, and photo, all with slightly different looks. Dell even includes sliders to let you manually adjust brightness, contrast, black level, temperature, and gamma for presets, which I don't usually see in laptops. Likewise, you can optimize Dolby Vision with three presets, including bright, dark, and vivid.

The only downsides to having a 3.2K OLED touch screen are increased price, weight, and decreased battery life. Dell's full HD option is better for those who value longer-lasting battery over visual acuity. But if you're a content creator, going 3.2K OLED is the only choice. You won't be disappointed.

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Dell XPS 14 review: Performance and thermals

Performance highlights

• Intel Core Ultra 7 combined with RTX 4050 Laptop GPU is powerful
• While the Dell XPS 14 can game, it's still not a gaming laptop
• The XPS 14's CPU even runs great in "best power efficieny" mode
• Performance rating: 4.5/5

Note: The configuration Dell sent us for review uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H. However, that configuration is a special order version, as most XPS 14s are shipping with the Core Ultra 7 155H. Both chips are similar in every way except one big one: The Ultra 7 165H is 200MHz faster than the Ultra 7 155H. We have now benchmarked both versions, highlighting the Core Ultra 7 155H. Our results indicate that performance-wise, there is very little difference. (March 28, 2024)

The XPS 14's performance is quite good, especially considering its size compared to much larger laptops. For instance, on Cinebench R23, the XPS 14 performs neck and neck with Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the Dell XPS 15 (9530), both with Core i7-13700H processors. It also edges out the XPS 15 on Crossmark and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro, with last-gen processors. 

Performance on Geekbench 6, a raw CPU test, brings things closer to the XPS 15 and XPS 17, again both with Core i7-13700H processors (14 cores, at 5.0GHz).

Dell's SSDs are very fast, with 7,054 MB/s for read and 5,887 MB/s for write. While not the fastest we've tested, it's within the margin of error for read, while slightly behind on write compared to other top performers. Dell is also using some high-speed LPDDR5x RAM timed at 7467MT/s.

During normal laptop operations with performance set to balanced, the dual fans were inaudible, and the XPS 14 stayed cool. Going into high-performance mode (used on all benchmarking) and under extended stress, the fans kicked in and were audible but still quiet compared to most other Windows laptops. 

After running for 20 minutes at 100% CPU, the keyboard deck peaked at 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius), but only in the middle between the two fans. Measuring the heat coming directly out of the vent, it reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

The XPS 14 can be described as warm to the touch but never hot when used at full capacity for extended durations. Dell's thermal cooling in the XPS 14, while not up to the level of a proper gaming laptop, is doing a better job than last year's XPS 13 Plus, which had much higher temps and Intel's older 13th Gen Core processor (and no NVIDIA GPU).

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Dell XPS 14 review: Battery experience

Battery highlights

• Battery life on the XPS 14 with NVIDIA GPU will vary widely depending on how it is being used.
• PCMark 10's Applications battery rundown the XPS 14 got 8 hours and 1 minute with the display set at 200 nits (~77%). 
• Core Ultra 7 is so powerful that you could run it with "best power efficiency."
• The XPS 14's battery is average to above average for daily tasks.
• Battery rating: 4/5

All testing was performed in the default balanced mode with auto-display brightness disabled (and the display set to 200 nits).

Packing this much power into a reasonably small laptop, the XPS 14's 70WHr battery does an OK job. In day-to-day usage and synthetic benchmarking, the XPS 14 never feels like it's draining too quickly and ranges from average to slightly above average compared to other laptops in its class and those above it. 

For instance, the Dell XPS 17 gets one more hour in PCMark 10 Battery (Modern Office) but has a bigger 97WHr battery. Intel's Meteor Lake Core Ultra processors are more efficient than its 13th Gen, but it's also not a night and day difference.

I could run the XPS 14 in "best efficiency mode" instead of "balanced" to get even more battery life for my day-to-day usage. Because the Core Ultra 7 is so powerful, I never noticed the difference in performance for web browsing, watching videos, messaging, Slack, and other office/knowledge worker tasks.

Running the XPS 14 in "best efficiency mode" with auto-brightness enabled, I could easily get over 8 hours of real-world usage and even push 10 hours. Of course, if you start hammering that CPU and RTX graphics, you'll get considerably less.

Related to that, one of the biggest battery drains on laptops is not the CPU/GPU but the display and how bright it is. Using auto-brightness and running things a bit dimmer can yield much longer results than running it at a constant 300 nits. This also applies to variable refresh rate where the display can jump up to 120Hz and go back down to save battery life, or you could leave it as just 120Hz at the cost of battery power.

The My Dell app also lets you jump between different power modes like quiet (slower fans, but warmer laptop), cool (louder, faster fans), performance (louder and faster fans, max CPU performance, 47W sustained), or balanced (default, 42W). If you don't feel like jumping between My Dell and the Windows 11 power modes, Dell lets you link them, which is the first time I've seen an OEM do that, making managing things a bit easier.

For charging, Dell includes the smallest 100W charger I've ever seen. It's three-pronged, so you may face limits on some older airplanes that only accept two prongs. Fast charging is OK, going from 0 to 50% in about one hour.

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Dell XPS 14 review: Keyboard and touchpad

Keyboard highlights

• The XPS 14's keyboard and touchpad design may be hit or miss for people.
• The Haptic Gorilla Glass touchpad with Precision Drivers is accurate and very smooth.
• While not the best keyboard, it's quite good once you adjust to the XPS 14, especially with 1.0mm travel.
• Keyboard rating: 4.5/5

The keyboard on the XPS 14 is the same as last year's XPS 13 Plus (now just the XPS 13) and on the new XPS 16. It's a zero-lattice design, which means large keycaps with no spaces between the keys. Each key has a slight divot in the center, so there's some tactility. Travel is 1.0mm with good bounce back.

As noted in my XPS 13 Plus review, I like this keyboard a lot. It's not my favorite, which goes to HP and its EliteBook and Dragonfly series, but it's not far behind. There may be a slight adjustment curve for some, but I never had that issue.

Backlighting is a bit tricky on the Platinum colorway (white version) due to the backlighting also being white, but Dell did tweak it this year to make it a bit easier to read. The Platinum models now use the ambient light sensor for the display to "de-activate keyboard backlighting in well-lit environments for a better typing experience. In darker environments, backlighting comes on with a key press and times-out after inactivity." It all works quite well.

If you don't like Windows Hello facial recognition, you can use the Windows Hello fingerprint reader built into the power button. It works great.

Also new this year, Dell is one of the first laptop makers to include Microsoft's dedicated key for Copilot AI. It replaces the right-side menu key (which I have never used) with Copilot, so you can bring up the AI assistant with one touch (the menu function is there, too, but you now have to use Fn + Copilot).

Whether you think a dedicated Copilot key is good or bad depends on how you use Copilot. I love the addition as someone who pays $20 monthly for Copilot Pro. But, being honest, if you don't like the key, it's pretty simple to ignore it, too.

Likewise, for the touch LED function/media keys (you can toggle between function keys or media keys to always show and lock in your preference). I think they look fantastic, and I have no complaints besides that it'd be cool to get some haptic feedback when touched. A new feature is that they time out after 5 minutes, which is ideal for watching a movie, and you don't want any distractions (you can modify this behavior in the BIOS).

Finally, the all-glass (Gorilla Glass) palm rest/touchpad area feels and looks great with no fingerprint smudges. The touchpad is haptic, so there are no moving parts, and Sensel is one of the haptic touchpad suppliers for this laptop (and XPS 16). I've written extensively about Sensel and haptic touchpads, including why they're superior to traditional mechanical ones. They're less likely to break, are more accurate, and you can configure how the click "feels" in the Settings for Windows 11.

So, the tl:dr is this is one of the best touchpads you'll get on a Windows laptop. 

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Dell XPS 14 review: Camera, mic, and audio

Other hardware highlights

• Dell has FINALLY moved to full HD webcams for the XPS line.
• Windows Hello is extremely fast, and presence detection sensors are fantastic.
• Windows Studio Effects plus Intel's NPU mean stutter-free video calls with advanced features enabled. 
• 8-watt quad speakers are outstanding.
• Other hardware rating: 4.5/5

While Dell's InfinityEdge displays look amazing, the tradeoff always involved the webcam. It first had to put them below the screen and, in later models, in the top bezel. However, because the bezels are so small, they could only fit in a smaller 720P camera. 

Thankfully, that is fixed as the XPS 14 has a full HD camera incorporating Intel's Image Processing Unit (IPU) 6th Gen and Windows Hello IR for face recognition. You have a powerful combo when combined with Intel's NPU (neural processing unit) for Windows Studio Effects.

I've used a lot of laptop cameras over the last ten years, and this Dell XPS 14 is one of the best I've used. Images are sharp, color balance is good, image noise is reduced, and Windows Studio Effects (background blur, eye gaze correction, auto-tracking) is the smoothest I've ever seen, which is all due to that NPU. Previous image-blurring tech relied on your CPU or GPU, but Intel's NPU makes it all more efficient and purpose-driven, which means less stuttering and dropped frames in your video.

Other bonus features include human presence detection (HPD), a feature found with Intel's latest processors so long as the laptop maker includes the optional sensors near the webcam.

HPD can do things like notice when you're not looking at your display and then dim it to save power (and protect privacy). When you look back, it returns to your previous brightness. It can also turn your display on and off when you walk away from or return to your laptop. This also locks the screen, which can be unlocked by Windows Hello facial recognition, all without touching the XPS 14. Cool stuff.

The quad-speaker array is also outstanding if you choose the proper sound profile, e.g., movie, for your task. The spatial separation, sharpness, and volume are above average, delivering a delightful multi-media experience.

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Dell XPS 14 review: Software and apps

Software highlights

• Dell does a great job with software and optimizations, with no bloatware.
• Dell only has a few apps: My Dell, Dell Update, Dell Digital Delivery, Killer Intelligence Center (Wi-Fi management), and SupportAssist.
• You only really need to use My Dell, which is excellent.
• Software rating: 5/5

Delll thankfully keeps things simple for software with no preloaded bloatware or anti-virus trials. 

While there are a few Dell apps like Dell Update, Dell Digital Delivery, Killer Intelligence Center (Wi-Fi management), and SupportAssist, the only app you need to use is My Dell, which is a simple hub for Dell-specific settings for power (recharging types), audio (speaker tuning, EQ, spatial), display & color (profile presets, tuning) and presence detection (turn on/off, change options).

I rarely say this about OEM software, but My Dell is a solid app that is simple to use.

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Dell XPS 14 review: Competition

Competition for the XPS 14 is almost hard to define since it's one of the first to merge the concept of an Ultrabook (thin, relatively light) with a 15-inch workstation (powerful CPU and GPU). This is only possible because Intel is going to smaller CPU nodes for Meteor Lake, and other components are shrinking. 

Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio 2 is one contender. It has a similar 14.4" display (though nowhere as lovely as the XPS 14's OLED), GeForce RTX 4060 (so slightly more powerful,) and the Core i7-13700H, which is one generation behind Core Ultra, although it offers similar performance. The Laptop Studio 2 also benefits from being a traditional laptop with stage mode and studio mode. My Surface Laptop Studio 2 review was one of the more enthusiastic ones. Pricing is high, however, starting at $1,999 for the non-RTX model and $2,399 for the 4060.

Lenovo has its new Slim Pro 9i, which, like XPS, comes in 14 and 16-inch variants (we reviewed the 16-inch Lenovo Slim Pro 9i back in August). That laptop is still on Intel's 13th Gen CPU, but Lenovo should be announcing a refresh with Meteor Lake/Core Ultra any day now.

Our HP ZBook Firefly 14 (G10) review praised its design, display, and keyboard. However, being a business/professional workstation, its RTX offerings range from the A500 to the NVIDIA Quadro T550.

Our recent Razer Blade 14 review gushed about its 240Hz 2560 x 1600 display, RTX 4060/4070 GPU, and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS. It's not cheap, either, starting at $2,199. It is a gaming laptop first and productivity one second, but it's a solid alternative to the XPS 14 if you want everything more traditional with an RGB keyboard to boot.

Finally, if you want the same design as the XPS 14, you can go smaller with the XPS 13 (no RTX graphics) or larger with the new Dell XPS 16.

For more recommendations, check out our best Windows laptops for other options.

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Dell XPS 14 review: Score card

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Dell XPS 14 review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

You should not buy this if ...

The Dell XPS 14 is my favorite laptop of 2024 so far. For years, I've noted in my reviews how 14-inch laptops are the sweet spot for most people, and because bezels have shrunk, they're now not much larger than 13-inch ones.

Besides the futuristic design, the XPS 14 brings a lot of power to what used to be Ultrabook territory. At 3.6 lbs (so not heavy nor light), it's about a pound heavier than most thin-and-lights, but in turn, you're getting a slightly less powerful miniature XPS 15 (4.23 lbs). That's awesome.

In any laptop review, I note the importance of getting the fundamentals right: Display, sound, keyboard, and touchpad. The XPS 14 nails all of these, making it a joy to use. The port selection is modern but satisfactory (especially with the included adapter), and the tiny 100-watt charger is easy to carry without adding bulk or weight.

The only bad thing I can say is that battery life is not mindblowing, but it can be pretty good, too, or rather, it's much better than expected. It still trails Apple's MacBook line and likely Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Elite processors, but the former doesn't do Windows (and is a boring design). At the same time, the latter can't be paired with an NVIDIA GPU (and won't be available until at least June).

For all these reasons, recommending the XPS 14 is easy to do so long as you can afford its steep asking price.

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If you're in the market for a fantastic, premium Windows tablet, two devices that are practically guaranteed to make the list are the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) and Microsoft Surface Pro 9. While both aforementioned devices share a form factor, there are plenty of differences between them to help inform any buying decision.

With both the XPS 13 2-in-1 and Surface Pro 9 counting among the best Windows tablets you can buy, here's what you need to know before making a decision.

XPS 13 2-in-1 vs. Surface Pro 9: Quick specs overview

On paper, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) and Microsoft Surface Pro 9 appear pretty similar, but the specs alone scarcely begin to tell the whole story. Experience-wise, these devices are quite different. Still, here's a quick overview of the key specifications for each device, so you can get a quick rundown of their capabilities.

XPS 13 2-in-1 vs. Surface Pro 9: Form or function

One of the easiest ways to differentiate the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) from the Surface Pro 9 is with the age-old argument of form over function. The Surface Pro 9 may not have the perfectly symmetrical, beautifully squared chassis of the XPS 13 2-in-1, but it does feature an integrated kickstand and subtly hidden vents for superior thermal performance in its busier design. It may not have the slim, even bezels all around the display, but its chunkier top and bottom bezels do make space to magnetically prop up the Type Cover keyboard, securely stash away and charge the Surface Slim Pen 2 and include a higher quality front-facing camera.

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 may be slimmer and lighter, but sacrifices performance, battery life, and features to deliver that industry leading design. I personally prefer the look and feel of the XPS 13 2-in-1, but that alone isn't worth the compromises you'd have to accept. The spec sheets may appear similar, but there's basically only one area in which the XPS 13 2-in-1 is actually better than the Surface Pro 9, and that's with the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor in the power button in addition to the Windows Hello-equipped front-facing camera.

In all other areas, the Surface Pro 9 is either just as capable, is objectively superior, or includes an extra feature that the XPS 13 2-in-1 lacks. In two areas the Surface Pro 9 is dramatically better, with a far higher quality 120Hz display and significantly longer lasting battery life (in both Intel and ARM variants). The Surface Type Cover and Slim Pen 2 also hold some key advantages over Dell's comparable XPS Folio and Pen, like a more comfortable all-around typing experience and better stylus integration.

Even when it comes to design, in which the Dell's victory is entirely subjective, the Surface Pro 9 offers more colorways, including blue and green, and its Type Covers can be purchased in a wide variety of fun colors. Having additional configuration options like the efficient ARM-based Microsoft SQ3 processor and more RAM on the Intel models are also reasons to consider the Pro 9 over the opposing Dell.

At this point, it may seem easy to choose the Pro 9 over the XPS 13 2-in-1 every time, but outside of hardware there's one major difference between these two devices that largely justifies the XPS 13 2-in-1's relative shortcomings. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) is much, much cheaper.

XPS 13 2-in-1 vs. Surface Pro 9: A matter of price

In its most affordable configuration, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) starts at USD $949.00. The Surface Pro 9, on the other hand, starts at $999.99. This may not seem like a huge difference, but these base configurations are not the same. Both models come equipped with an Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM, but the XPS 13 2-in-1 has 512GB of storage while the Pro 9 only has 128GB. That's a huge difference in storage, and the XPS 13 2-in-1 is $50 cheaper.

The discrepancies only widen as the configurations become more expensive. Configured to an identical spec (Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage), the XPS 13 2-in-1 is just $1,199.00 for the tablet on its own, while the Surface Pro 9 is $1,899.99 — a whopping $700 difference. Want to double that storage to 1TB? Dell will charge you a mere $150 extra, but Microsoft will layer $300 on top of that already beefy price tag.

You want 5G? The 5G-enabled Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB storage will run you $1,649.00, while the Surface Pro 9 with a Microsoft SQ3 ARM chip and the same RAM and storage retails for $1,899.99. Here's the kicker, though — the 5G version of the XPS 13 2-in-1 always comes with the XPS Folio keyboard (all previous comparisons were just for the tablet by itself), while you'll still need to add the $179.99 Surface Type Cover to the cost of the Surface Pro 9. Get the gist?

Even Dell's accessories are more affordable. The XPS Folio is an even $100 where the Type Cover is $179.99. The XPS Stylus is also $100 even, where the Surface Slim Pen 2 retails for $129.99 — and that's with no charger in the box, as the Pro 9 has no onboard way to charge the Slim Pen 2 without the matching Type Cover, unlike the XPS 13 2-in-1. Want the bundle? $200 for the XPS 13 2-in-1, $279.99 for the Surface Pro 9.

Microsoft's premium Windows tablet is always more expensive than the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315). While sales on the Surface Pro 9 seem more frequent, and you can save when you bundle accessories like the Type Cover and Slim Pen 2, the gap is wide enough that the XPS 13 2-in-1 is still always the more affordable machine. Even though the Surface Pro 9 is better, whether it's worth the added cost is up to you.

XPS 13 2-in-1 vs. Surface Pro 9: Which should you buy?

You should buy the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) if ...

• You need a premium Windows tablet without breaking the bank
• You much prefer the symmetrical, squared design of the XPS 13 2-in-1
• You don't need extra features like an integrated kickstand or high refresh rate display

You should buy the Surface Pro 9 if ...

• You want the very best Windows tablet you can buy
• You don't mind paying a lot extra for the complete package
• You want an ARM-powered option

I genuinely enjoyed my time with the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, but blow-for-blow the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is simply the superior Windows tablet. After all, there's a reason it's one of our top picks among the best Windows laptops. That quality and refinements comes with a staggeringly high price tag, though, which is where the XPS 13 2-in-1 excels. While its Windows tablet experience is compromised due to the display and battery life, it still offers a fantastic overall value that could potentially save you hundreds.

If money is no object, I recommend the Surface Pro 9. There are more options for configurations, including fun colors and Type Cover designs, and it's simply unbeatable as a premium Windows tablet. If you want this form factor (crossing the other members of the Dell XPS family off your list) but without paying that admittedly high cost, though, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) gives you most of the experience of the Surface Pro 9 for far, far less.

Dell's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale has included new doorbusters every day, and many of them are on the verge of disappearing right now. If you're looking for a new laptop, try the Dell XPS 15 that's on sale for $1,399. This limited-time sale is already at least 50% claimed, so if you have any interest you should hop on it quick. The XPS 15 normally sells for something around $1,900, which means you're saving $500 here.

This isn't the only "Black Friday Limited-Quantity Deal" going on through Dell's online store right now. Check out the remaining discounted laptops, desktops, and monitors and find something that fits your needs (or your budget). Remember all of these may vanish at any time, especially the ones that are closer to 100% claimed.

The XPS 15 is a great laptop that could suit productive and creative needs or even scratch a gaming itch or two. The specs include a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor, a 512GB solid state drive with NVMe tech for fast read/write times, 16GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. Most XPS laptops use integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is a nice leg up on getting the most out of your new machine. 

You also get a ton of features with these laptops including two super fast Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports that have DisplayPort and Power Delivery tech built in. You'll get another USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port as well. Add in a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader for added security, a 720p webcam, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and stereo speakers for good measure.

As Black Friday Cyber Monday deals go, this Dell XPS 13 laptop sale might be one of the best Black Friday laptop deals we've managed to find through the whole week. 

The Dell XPS 13 is a truly exemplary laptop that marks a resurgence for Dell's industrial design both in terms of quality, portability, and power, marking a perfect balance across every vertices in its ever-present battle with companies like Apple and Windows PC OEMs. 

There are two Dell XPS 13 laptop deals we have here. One is for a Core i5 12th gen Intel 8GB RAM model, dropping down to $750, while the invariably more powerful Core i7 16GB RAM model goes down to just $999, a rather impressive $350 off its typical asking price. 

These laptops are ultimately oriented around productivity first and foremost, but they will also drive some modest gaming scenarios too across titles like Minecraft and Fortnite. You could also pair it up with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and play more photorealistic titles via Microsoft's cloud servers too if you fancied it, but this is more of a laptop that will crush through those Excel spreadsheets, web browser research paper sessions, lengthy word processing efforts, and all of your super-fun work calls. 

A great webcam meets a bright and beautiful display, impressive key travel for an exemplary typing experience, and various other features that make it a tried-and-tested champion in its ultrabook laptop category. This is without a doubt one of our best and most-highly recommended laptop deals for Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

In our most recent Dell XPS 13 review, we dropped five stars on this flagship product from the firm, and remarked that it's one of the best laptops you can buy, period. This particular model rocks a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1250U processor with ten cores, complete with Windows 11 and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. The FHD+ display sports a 4:3 aspect ratio, with smooth 60Hz action and anti-glare glass. It could be a little brighter maxing out at 500 nits, but for most indoor conditions you're not going to have any issues there.

The 512GB NVMe storage is super speedy and will net you plenty of space for large files and even modest games. While you likely won't be playing the latest photo-realistic titles on this Dell XPS 13, it'll crush lighter games like Minecraft or Fortnite with relative ease. Its 16GB of RAM makes for a generous degree of multi-tasking, with Bluetooth 5.2 to ensure your favorite earbuds stay connected as reliably as possible. 

This early Black Friday Dell XPS 13 deal is time-limited, so if you're interested, don't spend too much time on the fence. 

Each week we cover the latest news in the world of Microsoft, Windows, gaming, and more. To wrap up the week and kick off the weekend, we round up all the biggest news stories in a single post. This week we saw the announcement of the Dell XPS 13 and 13 2-in-1, Windows 11 version 22H2 rolling out to more Insiders, and a major update for the Surface Duo 2.

We also reviewed several PCs, accessories, and games, including Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 2.

Surface Duo 2 gets a major update

Microsoft's Surface Duo 2 picked up a significant update this week that included several new features. The phone's Glance Bar now supports third-party messaging apps, greatly enhancing its usefulness. The Slim Pen 2 can now receive firmware updates when paired with the Duo 2 as well.

The latest update for the foldable also improves battery health through a new setting that gradually charges the phone overnight.

Unfortunately, the update also removed a feature for the Surface Duo 2 and original Surface Duo. The foldables can no longer pair to the original Surface Pen. The pen can still be used to draw on and interact with the Duo and Duo 2, but its buttons don't work with them.

In related news, YouTuber Shane Craig answered some questions about the unofficial project to get Windows 11 running on the Surface Duo.

Dell announces XPS 13 and XPS 13 2-in-1

Dell announced two new laptops this week, the XPS 13 and XPS 13 2-in-1. While they don't feature as radical of a redesign as the XPS 13 Plus, both of Dell's new laptops are compact improvements over the previous generation.

"At first glance, it’d be easy to dismiss it as just another refresh with its famed CNC machined aluminum and glass chassis but with a newer processor slapped in and some new colors; however, that is severely underestimating the internal work Dell has done," said our executive editor Daniel Rubino.

The XPS 13 (9315) is the thinnest and lightest XPS 13 to date. It also runs on Intel's 12th Gen U-series processors.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 is a radical shift away from previous versions. Rather than a convertible clamshell laptop, it's a detachable device, much like the Surface Pro 8. In addition to a new form factor, the laptop gained 12th Gen Intel chips. It also features a 13-inch 3K display with HDR400.

Windows 11 version 22H2 now available through Release Preview Channel

Insiders in the Release Preview Channel can now grab Windows 11 version 22H2, which is the next major update to Microsoft's operating system. Both business and non-business Insiders can update their PCs.

Windows 11 version 22H2 includes several changes, the most notable of which are:

• App folders in Start menu
• Resizable pinned area in Start menu
• Drag and Drop on the Taskbar
• Focus Assist integration with Notification Center
• New "spotlight" wallpaper feature
• New Voice Access accessibility feature
• New Live Captions accessibility feature
• New gestures and animations for touch users
• New snap layouts bar when moving app windows
• New Task Manager app
• Better OneDrive integration with File Explorer
• Numerous UI improvements and consistency updates

Our senior editor Zac Bowden breaks down the new version of Windows 11 in more depth.

Head of HoloLens reportedly resigning

Two weeks after a bombshell report by Insider about Microsoft's Alex Kipman, the HoloLens head is reportedly set to resign. Kipman was accused of effectively watching "VR porn" in front of employees and fostering "a culture that diminishes women’s contributions." There were claims of inappropriate touching as well. A report was also filed by over 25 employees that complained about his behavior.

While Microsoft has not commented on the allegations, Insiders' report stated that Kipman will leave the company. The Mixed Reality Hardware group will be put into the Windows & Devices organization under Executive Vice President and & Chief Product Officer Panos Panay. The Mixed Reality Presence and Collaboration group will be put into the Microsoft Teams organization.

GeekWire, which corroborated Insider's reporting, shared part of an internal email from Scott Guthrie, the head of Microsoft's Cloud & A.I. Group. “Over the last several months, Alex Kipman and I have been talking about the team’s path going forward. We have mutually decided that this is the right time for him to leave the company to pursue other opportunities.”

Apple announcements at WWDC

While not strictly Microsoft news, Apple is a large enough company to warrant a look across the aisle. WWDC this week, including major hardware and software announcements. Our friends over at iMore covered the event in-depth, so we'll point you their way for comprehensive coverage.

The news arguably most related to Microsoft followers was the fact that iPadOS is gaining support for floating and resizable windows. The feature was alluring enough to convince me to commit to an iPad for my next productivity machine.

Our executive editor Daniel Rubino also highlighted that Apple may be copying Microsoft’s Surface strategy (again) with its rumored new 12- and 15-inch MacBooks

Review roundup

As we do every week, our experts shared their reviews of the latest pieces of hardware and software. Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 2 takes top billing, but we reviewed several other items as well:

• Surface Laptop Go 2 review: Faster, longer battery life, and now more affordable
• Bionic Reading review: Improving access to text on the web
• SK hynix Platinum P41 review: One of the best PCIe 4.0 SSDs is well worth the wait
• Veikk VK2200 Pro graphic monitor review: Affordability comes at a cost
• The Quarry review: A summer horror blockbuster
• ASUS Zenbook 14 (UX3402ZA) review: A lightweight laptop with a gorgeous OLED display
• NZXT C1000 Gold review: Clean power for AMD Threadripper PC builds
• Corsair H150i Elite Capellix review: A powerful match for an AMD Ryzen Threadripper enthusiast PC

What you need to know

• The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a seamless glass trackpad, zero-lattice keyboard, and a light-up row of function keys.
• The dramatically new design has drawn some criticism but is liked by the majority of Windows Central readers.
• Over 78% of polled readers said that they like the radical redesign of the Dell XPS 13 Plus.

Dell launched its XPS 13 Plus last week, which has a dramatically different design than previous XPS laptops. The XPS 13 Plus has a zero-lattice keyboard that features a row of capacitive function keys. Below the unique keyboard, the laptop has a seamless glass trackpad that's also capacitive.

Those changes, along with other design tweaks, turned heads and sparked debate. After seeing its design, some thought the XPS 13 Plus looked like one of the best Windows laptops. Others believed that Dell sacrificed function in the name of form. We ran a poll over the weekend to see where the majority of our readers fell on the XPS 13 Plus.

Over 78% of those that voted liked the design of the XPS 13 Plus, meaning less than 22% disliked it. We didn't leave any wiggle room in the form of a third option in order to encourage discussion about the device.

Cody Patterson echoed the sentiments of the voters in our comment section. "ABSOLUTELY, yes. This is the best design in years. The tracks pad idea is sweet the capacitive area helps keep the look minimal. The thin bezels are glorious," said Patterson. "By no doubt, best visual appearance of a laptop to date. Surface Laptop still close second ;) just needs smaller bezels and bigger trackpad imo to still get back to first."

While the majority of voters expressed a positive view of the XPS 13 Plus' design, many of the commenters from our post disagreed. "Voted no. Don't like the keyboard or hidden trackpad at all. Maybe it will work better in practice than it seems from the outside," said xsikai.

Several people expressed concerns about the typing experience on Dell's new laptop. aXross argued that the XPS 13 Plus' design is best tested out in person. Our executive editor Daniel Rubino has made a similar claim on Twitter.

While both of these devices are some of the best Windows laptops available, the Dell XPS 13 is ultimately the stronger option if you want top-notch quality since it has better features, a killer display, and more modern hardware. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5 is an excellent alternative choice if you want to save money, as it has a lower overall price while still offering reliable and robust performance.

XPS 13 vs. Surface Laptop 3: Comparison and specs

In many respects, both of these devices are similar. Both laptops have very capable Intel processors (the Dell XPS 13 pulls ahead slightly with newer 11th Gen chips) and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility for top internet speeds, and they both also use similar graphics power (again, the Dell XPS 13 has a notable advantage with Intel Xe) and have up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Also, both of them are compatible with Windows Hello biometric security. The Dell XPS 13 has the edge over the Surface Laptop 3 when it comes to storage, as it can be configured with a 2TB SSD while the Surface Laptop 3's SSD options max out at 1TB. However, it's worth noting that you can upgrade the SSD on both devices to whichever amount you want yourself. Overall, these two devices perform similarly when it comes to web browsing, work tasks, and media consumption, though the Dell XPS 13 has a clear edge.

Where the Dell XPS 13 truly starts to take the lead is in the display and features department. Unlike the Surface Laptop 3's display, the Dell XPS 13's is anti-reflective, brighter, sports a higher resolution, and has better color accuracy. All of these advantages make it the definitively better screen in this matchup. On top of the killer display, the Dell XPS 13 also has dual USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports (a USB-A to USB-C adapter is included in the box) and a microSD card slot, which trump the Surface Laptop 3's offerings of a single USB-C and USB-A port. The Thunderbolt 4 ports are a big deal, as they allow the user to do things like hook up an external GPU for improved gaming performance or transfer data to and from external drives much faster. The Dell XPS 13 also comes with a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello and a camera, while the Surface Laptop 3 has only a camera. Finally, the battery performance of the Dell XPS 13 is better, too, offering up to seven more hours of life on a full charge than the Surface Laptop 3.

The Surface Laptop 3 isn't without some small advantages of its own, though. It has better speakers and also compatibility for inking with digital pens that use the Microsoft Pen Protocol. The Dell XPS 13 displays can't be used with pens, although it still supports your finger's basic touch.

XPS 13 vs. Surface Laptop 3: Which should you buy?

Both of these laptops are great, and they both offer reliable performance and have a fantastic premium design. With that said, the Dell XPS 13 will be the better choice for most people, as it provides better overall quality compared to the Surface Laptop 3 13.5. If you want something more affordable, though, don't count out the Surface Laptop 3 13.5. While it lacks several of the things that make the Dell XPS 13 incredible, it's still a great device in its own right, and the lower-end versions of it are more affordable than their Dell XPS 13 equivalents.

Keep in mind that the Surface Laptop 4 is available, too, and due to its newer hardware it's a more modern competitor to the Dell XPS 13 that you should strongly consider. You can sometimes even find low-end configurations of the Surface Laptop 4 that are less expensive than the cheapest models of the Surface Laptop 3, so keep an eye out for those deals.

If neither one appeals to you, check out our best Windows laptop picks.

Overall, the Dell XPS 13 will be the better choice for most people due to the fact that it's more affordable across the board and doesn't require purchasing the keyboard separately. With that said, the Surface Pro 8 is a phenomenal device that goes toe-to-toe with the Dell XPS 13's specs, and also offers additional flexibility thanks to its convertible nature and slightly better battery life.

Dell XPS 13 vs. Surface Pro 8: Clamshell or convertible?

In several ways, the Dell XPS 13 and the Surface Pro 8 are very similar. Both devices feature near-identical CPU and GPU specs, and both also have tons of options for lots of RAM and storage (the Dell XPS 13 has an additional option for a 2TB SSD as well as a microSD slot). Both also have fantastic displays; the Dell XPS 13 even has a 4K variant available, though the Surface Pro 8 has the edge in terms of refresh rate as its display is 120Hz. The devices both also support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, though the Surface Pro 8 can also be configured with LTE connectivity if you want internet connectivity on the go and don't mind the increased cost or the impact on battery life.

The primary things that separate the Dell XPS 13 and the Surface Pro 8 are pricing and form factor. Every single configuration of the Dell XPS 13 is more affordable than their Surface Pro 8 equivalent, which makes the XPS 13 more affordable and accessible overall — especially since the Surface Pro 8's Type Cover keyboard is sold separately. That being said, the convertible design of the Pro 8 does make it more flexible, and its Type Cover even comes with a handy slot for charging and storing a Surface Slim Pen 2.

Dell XPS 13 vs. Surface Pro 8: Which should you buy?

While both the Dell XPS 13 and Surface Pro 8 are fantastic, we ultimately feel that the Dell XPS 13 will be better for most people since it delivers the same top-notch performance as the Surface Pro 8 for a lower cost. There's also an option for a 4K display, a 2TB SSD, and a slot for additional microSD storage that you can take advantage of.

If you want the versatility of a convertible, slightly better battery life, LTE connectivity, or a 120Hz display, the Surface Pro 8 is a superb alternative. It may be more expensive than the Dell XPS 13, but it's one of the best Microsoft Surface PCs yet, and we definitely recommend getting it if its advantages appeal to you.

For more high-quality options to consider, don't miss our roundup of the best Windows laptops available.

Choosing between the best 2-in-1 on the market and one of the best Ultrabooks ever made is a tough decision to make. Both have similar class hardware, support Wi-Fi 6, and have plenty of storage and RAM options depending on your budget. But there are some key areas that one or the other could make more sense. With Black Friday approaching, there will likely also be good chances to save money on both.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs. Dell XPS 13: tech specs

Surface Pro 7 is cheaper and has pen support

Not all Surface Pro 7 spec levels are cheaper — indeed, at the highest end, you can spend more than on an XPS 13. More importantly, the cost of entry into a Surface Pro 7 is much lower than the XPS 13 at just $749 compared to $999 (initial price). Both entry models are comparable, too, albeit with a newer CPU now in the XPS 13.

Even considering the extra cost of buying a Type Cover if you want to go full laptop, the cheapest Surface Pro 7 is still cheaper than the cheapest XPS 13. Best of all, you don't need a Type Cover. Thanks to the wonderful standards of USB and Bluetooth, you could always grab something cheaper to type with. There's also the fact that every Surface Pro 7 has a touchscreen, while the cheaper XPS 13 does not.

Performance between the two machines will be largely similar — they're even about the same size — but there's one area the Surface Pro 7 has a clear advantage. Officially Dell doesn't support pen input on the touch-enabled XPS 13, while the Surface Pro 7 is an absolute beast for inking. Whether drawing or writing, the Surface Pro 7 is one of the absolute best devices for digital pen users that money can buy.

Pair it up with an optional Surface Dial, too, and you get even more flexibility. The Surface Pro 7's form factor also lends itself perfectly to using a pen since it's a tablet first.

Dell XPS 13 has 4K, Thunderbolt 3, and better battery life

The Dell XPS 13, by contrast, is a traditional Ultrabook with comparable internal specs to the Surface Pro 7. However, it does have some tricks up its sleeve that might make more sense to you when making a purchase choice.

For one, the XPS 13 boasts a better battery life. One drawback to the Surface Pro 7 is just limited space inside for all the tech since there's no keyboard portion. The XPS 13 has more space for more battery.

The XPS 13 also has two things that the Surface Pro does not. The first is Thunderbolt 4, which Microsoft still doesn't support, though at least USB-C made it onto the Surface Pro 7. This means you're free to use any Thunderbolt docks or accessories instead of having to get locked behind Microsoft's Surface Connect port.

A 4K display may also be important to you, and you're able to get one on the XPS 13. For most people, the 1080p display will still represent the best overall value, but for some, such as video editors, having 4K is important, and you can't get it on the Surface Pro 7.

Get a Surface Pro 7 if you want a 2-in-1

One of the easiest ways to decide is to figure out if the flexibility you get from the Surface Pro 7 is important to you. If you just want a laptop, then it's probably not the best choice, but if the idea of having both a tablet and a laptop, something you can use for entertainment, drawing, or handwriting, as well as crunching out some work, sounds good, then it's still the one to get. It's also the most affordable at the entry level.

XPS 13 is still a top Ultrabook

The XPS 13 is everything that we love about Ultrabooks. It's compact yet powerful, stunningly designed, and executed, and the latest model is even more amazing than its predecessors. It doesn't have the flexibility the Surface Pro 7 does (but it does come with a keyboard!), but if you're looking for the best laptop, then this is what you should buy.

There's no better time to shop and save money on a new laptop. Be sure to check out our continuously updated article on the best Dell XPS 13 Black Friday deals.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 is essentially an Ultrabook like the XPS 13 but without a fixed keyboard. It's much more versatile than Dell's flagship notebook and can be used as a tablet or laptop, but if you're after a notebook experience alone, you may want the XPS 13 instead. It's about as good a laptop you can buy right now and is included in our best Windows laptop collection.

The Dell XPS 13 was refreshed recently, and so we don't expect it to go on sale, but you will be able to find deals on plenty of Windows PCs for Black Friday. Be sure to keep an eye out for discounts on both of these notebooks, though even at full price, the XPS 13 really is class-leading.

Dell XPS 13 (9310) vs Surface Pro 7 tech specs

Impressive portable performance

There aren't many differences between the Surface Pro 7 and Dell XPS 13, especially when comparing specifications. Both options come with the possibility of choosing an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, but Microsoft can undercut Dell by around $200, which is a considerable sum of change.

This is largely due to Dell using Intel's more recent 11th Gen processors. But the company also achieves this is by offering less RAM on the base model (4GB vs. 8GB in the XPS 13) and less storage (128GB vs. 256GB in the XPS 13). These won't matter too much in the great scheme of things, but if you plan on doing anything other than checking email, browsing websites, and chatting to friends and family on instant messengers, you'll want to consider at least 8GB of RAM.

The Surface Pro 7 and XPS 13 have plenty of options to choose from, including Intel CPU SKUs, up to 16GB of RAM, and 512GB storage for the XPS 13 or 1TB storage for the Surface Pro 7. There is a slight downside to the Surface Pro 7 in that it doesn't technically come with a keyboard ... at least not a physical one. You'll need to shell out some more for the fancy Type Cover, but it's well worth it.

Dell has Thunderbolt 4 only, while Microsoft has more ports (and Thunderbolt 3) in the Surface Pro.

Laptop or tablet?

There's no real wrong answer here. Specifications are close, as is pricing when you consider optional accessories you really cannot live without on the Surface Pro 7. However, it comes down to whether you need a laptop or tablet. If you want something more like a tablet experience that you can use without a keyboard with your feet up on the sofa or relax reading a book on, the Surface Pro 7 is the winner.

The XPS 13 is about the best Ultrabook money can buy, and it's perfect for anyone who wants a great laptop. You can't ink on it, and the keyboard is always attached, but it's a machine. Whether you need to hit the road for the day, treat it like your desktop workstation, or unwind with some top-notch PC gaming, the XPS 13 has the ability to handle everything you throw at it. It's just a shame about the lack of any 4G option.

Dell XPS 13 for laptop lovers

If you want the best Ultrabook, look no further than the XPS 13. It houses the latest Intel processors and can be kitted out with plenty of RAM and storage to let you get on with the day.

Go with the Surface Pro 7 for something a little different

There are plenty of laptops out there to choose from, and the XPS 13 really is the best of the best. However, if you fancy trying something new, the Surface Pro 7 gives you both a notebook and tablet experience wrapped up in a gorgeous form factor.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, Zac and Daniel are joined in the first segment of this week's episode by Adam Levenson of Waves Audio to discuss the speaker technology found in Dell's new XPS 15 and XPS 17 laptops.

From there, the guys mourn the closing of Mixer and all of Microsoft's retail stores. They also touch on the decline of Windows 10 stability and Apple's move to ARM-based processors.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on June 26th 2020.

Links:

• Maxx by Waves | Intelligent Audio Processing for Consumer Electronics
• Microsoft is closing Mixer — what went wrong? | Windows Central
• Microsoft closing all physical stores as part of 'strategic change' | Windows Central
• Windows 10 stability is going downhill, and not even Surfaces are spared | Windows Central
• Apple's ARM switch will be the end of Boot Camp | Windows Central

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Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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What you need to know

• The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) has been suffering from login failures when using the fingerprint reader with Windows Hello.
• Dell has pinpointed the issue and released a new driver with a fix.
• You can download the updated driver directly from Dell.

If you picked up Dell's latest XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) and have run into issues with the fingerprint reader, you're not alone. Dell has created a support article for the issue, and has released a driver update that corrects it.

In short, the issue causes the fingerprint reader to fail when used to log in with Windows Hello. Here's how Dell describes it:

To correct the issue, you have to download and install the latest Goodix Fingerprint Sensor driver from Dell's support site. The version you're looking for is A04 (v3.0.35.516), which was published on October 25.

The new XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) makes the jump to Intel's latest 10th Gen Core CPUs, sports a new keyboard, and features a new 16:10 display with HDR on board. In short, it's a major upgrade over the previous generation of XPS 13 2-in-1. If you're interested, the laptop is available now starting at $980.

The Surface Book 2 is due for an update at this point, and in most areas the XPS 13 2-in-1 has it beaten on a pure hardware level. Unless you want the added horsepower you get from the GTX 1060 in the 15-inch Surface Book 2 for gaming or professional work, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is the better choice right now.

Surface Laptop 2 vs. Surface Book 2 tech specs

Get an XPS 13 2-in-1 unless you need dedicated graphics

For as good as the Surface Book 2 is, it's at a point in its life cycle now where it makes little sense to buy one. If you were considering the 13-inch model at all, you should probably discount it and get the XPS 13 2-in-1. The only real positive for the 13-inch Surface Book 2 is that the display detaches entirely so you have a proper tablet, and you can use it with some of the handy Surface accessories like the Dial and Dock. Even though it can come with a GTX 1050, Intel's latest integrated graphics won't be a million miles behind on the 10th Gen processor.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 is just better all-round, especially when considering overall value. The Surface Book 2 is still really quite expensive, especially considering it's still using Intel processors that are a couple of generations old at this point, along with slower LPDDR3 RAM. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is also good for inking with a digital pen thanks to its fold-around display and Dell Premium Active Pen support.

The biggest reason for still getting the Surface Book 2 is if you want the added power provided by the GTX 1060 in the 15-inch model. Even then you need to be absolutely sure it's something you'll use a lot be that for professional applications or gaming since you'll be paying more and dealing with a larger laptop. It still only has 8th Gen Intel processors, which still perform well, but when you're paying this kind of money you shouldn't be buying outdated hardware.

The next revision to the Surface Book is the one to wait for if you absolutely definitely want one at this point in time.

Dell's XPS 13 2-in1 is the one to buy

Dell revamped the XPS 13 2-in-1 with new 10th Gen Core CPUs, along with a switch to a 16:10 screen and a revamped cooling system. It's packing more up to date hardware than the Surface Book 2, with faster RAM on top of the latest processors, and it still has a cheaper entry-level model than the Surface Book 2. It's easy to recommend as the one to get right now.

Wait for the next Surface Book

If you're still really keen on a Surface Book it's probably best to wait right now. The current model is still pretty expensive and it's pretty outdated internally compared to the XPS 13 2-in-1. We'd expect a refresh in the not too distant future, so it really doesn't make sense to recommend it right now.

Microsoft's 15-inch Surface Book 2 is one of the finest laptops on the market today, but that doesn't mean it stands without some stiff competition. Dell's XPS 15, also a fine device with impressive hardware inside, comes at a significantly lower price but without a few of the key features that make the Surface Book 2 the special device it is. Let's take a look at exactly how the two 15-inch laptops compare to help you decide which is best for your needs.

• See at Microsoft
• See at Dell

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Specifications

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Performance

The 15-inch Surface Book 2 is intended as the high performance option of the lineup, so it comes only with an eighth-gen Intel Core i7-8650U processor (CPU). You're getting four cores for great performance, but it also has a 15W thermal design point (TDP). Compared to the seventh-gen Core i7-7700HQ in the XPS 15 that has a 45W TDP, the eighth-gen CPU is going to be sucking up less power.

When it comes to raw performance, these two CPUs are closely matched, though the one in the Surface Book 2 has a higher single-core turbo frequency at 4.20GHz. If you're going to be primarily multitasking, you'll likely be able to squeeze better performance out of the XPS 15 when all cores are engaged. If you're in need of a PC with less processing power, the XPS 15 does also come in Core i3 and Core i5 configurations, saving you a bundle of cash.

Likewise, you can go as low as 8GB or as high as 32GB of RAM in the XPS 15, whereas the Surface Book 2 is set at 16GB. As for the hard drive, the XPS 15 has some budget-friendly hard-disk drives (HDD), but like the Surface Book 2, also comes with PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) options up to 1TB in size.

The big difference in performance here is in the graphics card (GPU). The cheapest XPS 15 model uses integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, but the rest have a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1050 with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. This is enough for a decent gaming experience, but compared to the NVIDIA GTX 1060 with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM in the Surface Book 2, it won't compete.

Winner: Surface Book 2. The XPS 15 does come in more configuration options, but the GTX 1060 in the Surface Book 2 will outperform the GTX 1050 all day.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Display

The IGZO displays that Dell uses in the XPS line are downright gorgeous, stretching seemingly from edge to edge without much bezel at all. Whereas older models were capped at 1800p, you can get a 4K touch version alongside the standard 1080p non-touch version. Either one will serve you well, offering up a high color gamut and deep contrast.

The Surface Book 2's display has a 3:2 aspect ratio, making it seem boxier than usual. It's perfect for tablet mode when you remove the display from the keyboard, and is the perfect shape for use with the Surface Pen (which is no longer included with the laptop). The bezels here are also thicker than on the XPS 15, something that might help a lot of you decide.

Winner: XPS 15. The fact that the Surface Book 2's display can be removed and be used on its own with a Surface Pen does certainly count for something, but strictly speaking appearance, the XPS 15 has it beat.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Design and features

The Surface Book 2 has a modular design, meaning the display can detach from the keyboard base. There's still decent battery life in the tablet, though the bulk of it, along with the dedicated GPU, is housed in the base. The two pieces attach at the fulcrum hinge, and can be separated with the click of a switch. For something a bit different — mainly to get the display closer to you while retaining a base to sit on, the display can be replaced backwards to face out when closed.

The XPS 15 is far less complicated, designed to be a standard notebook and not much else. Made from aluminum on the outside and a carbon-fiber finish on the inside, the XPS 15 sits at about four pounds for the non-touch version and 4.5 pounds for the touch version. The Surface Book 2 weighs about 4.20 pounds.

For ports, you have similar USB-A 3.0 and an SD card reader, and while the Surface Book 2 has two proprietary Surface Connect ports, it is lacking a Thunderbolt 3 port that the XPS 15 has. If you're a gamer, though, the Surface Book 2 has Xbox Wireless built right in, making it easy to connect a gamepad.

The keyboard and touchpad on both laptops are comfy, though you're getting more key travel with the Surface Book 2 (1.55mm compared to 1.3mm). Both have large Precision touchpads, and there is an adjustable backlight behind the keys.

As far as logging in with Windows Hello, the Surface Book 2 has an IR camera above the display. The XPS 15's standard 720p is below the display — giving a nose view at best — and doesn't support Windows Hello, but you can choose to add a fingerprint reader.

Winner: Surface Book 2. Though the XPS 15 makes a great notebook, the Surface Book 2's modular design and bonus features make it the winner.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Battery

If you opt for the basic XPS 15 model, you'll get a 56WHr battery, smaller to make up for the size of the HDD. For other models using an SSD, you get a 97WHr battery. Battery life varies depending on whether you have a dedicated GPU and whether you have the FHD or 4K version, but you can expect about ten hours of straight use with the lower-res display and running a GTX 1050.

The Surface Book 2 can hit about the same life, getting about 10 hours of standard use from a charge. This number is impacted by the GTX 1060, and if you remove the tablet from the base, you'll only have access to about 20 percent of the total battery reserve.

Winner: Tie. Both laptops can provide all-day life, but are impacted by the dedicated GPUs.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Price

Considering the 15-inch Surface Book 2 starts at a whopping $2,500 and the XPS 15 comes in with a model that costs just $1,000, it's kind of clear who the winner is for anyone who wants a cheaper device.

See at Microsoft

However, that base model of the XPS 15 has no dedicated GPU, has an HDD, and is running a Core i3 CPU. Compared to the Surface Book 2, there's no performance contest. If we look at an XPS 15 that's closer matched to the entry-level Surface Book 2 — Core i7, 16GB RAM, dedicated GPU, and a 512GB SSD — it's clear that you can still save nearly $1,000 by sticking with Dell's laptop.

See at Dell

Winner: Dell XPS 15. You get a lot of laptop for the price you pay, and though the Surface Book 2 has a lot going for it, the price can be prohibitively high.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Conclusion

Like with a lot of laptop comparisons, the final score comes down to a tie. Here, the XPS 15 has a better display, costs far less, and offers a Thunderbolt 3 port, but the Surface Book 2 offers better performance, a few important extra features, and a killer design.

The price will likely play a big part is choosing between these two, but it's safe to say that the XPS 15 makes a great notebook while the Surface Book 2 makes a great notebook and more. If you're in it for Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), keep in mind that either of the laptops can run it, though you'll likely want to check out my guide to adapters to get it all set up.

More resources

Check out our in-depth reviews for far more information about these great devices.

• Surface Book 2 15-inch review: The ultimate Windows laptop gets bigger and better
• Dell XPS 15 (9560) review: An impressive laptop with key upgrades and few flaws

People have been asking me to review the Dell XPS 13 for as long as I've been looking at laptops. So when Dell offered to loan me the latest version of its nearly bezel-less notebook, equipped with the newest eighth-generation Intel Core i7, I jumped at the chance. What I found was a laptop with a conservative design that surprised me – but with enough power (in the processor and the battery) to see me through the longest of workdays.

The Dell XPS 13 is a workhorse in the truest sense, and because of that I can't help but respect it. Join me for MrMobile's Dell XPS 13 review, and be sure to check out Windows Central Executive Editor Daniel Rubino's more-timely take as well!

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Microsoft has a new series of TV commercials promoting Windows 10. The latest campaign shows how ordinary people use the OS on the Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre x360 laptops. The ads also claim the laptops offer features that are not on Mac notebooks. The new campaign, along with commercials for the Surface Pro 4, are popping up in the middle of the lucrative "back to school" shopping season.

The new ads for Windows 10 and the Dell XPS 13 focus on Mike and Anne Howard, who turned their worldwide honeymoon journey across all seven continents into a online travel blog and business. The Howards state how much they like the touchscreen and high battery life on the Dell XPS 13, combined with the use of Windows 10.

See at Dell

The commercials with the HP Spectre x360 and Windows 10 have college students Kelsee and Nkeiru talking about how they can take notes in class on the notebook's display, via OneNote. There's also time for fun, as they can call upon Cortana to start running Netflix for a study break.

See at HP

What do you think of Microsoft's latest push to sell Windows 10 PCs to consumers? Let us know in the comments!

This week fans of Microsoft and Windows 10 had lots of new devices to drool over. Between Microsoft's massive event on Tuesday and Dell's release of the new XPS 15 with Infinity display, the one thing that is hurting is people's wallets. There is more to come from Lenovo and Acer this month too, so we're not done yet.

One question I see many users asking is which laptop should you get: Dell XPS 15 or the Microsoft Surface Book?

The question is some ways self-answering as I don't see these two devices necessarily in the same class. For once, the Surface Book "only" has a 13.5-inch display while the XPS 15 comes in at 15.6-inches. Those two inches matter a lot and if you want something big then XPS 15 – which now starts at $999 – is an easier choice.

• Hands-on with the new Dell XPS 15
• Hands-on with the Surface Book

Likewise, the Surface Book is also a tablet something the XPS 15 clearly cannot do. So, if you think you may need a pen and tablet capabilities, there is no choice here.

Besides those differentiators, we have just raw specs and pricing. Let's look.

Tough choices are good choices

Putting aside the tablet and screen size differences you can see that Microsoft is certainly treating the Surface Book as premium. The Surface Book starts at $500 higher than the lowest Dell XPS 15 and goes $500 higher than the maxed out 4K XPS 15. Those are some serious markups especially when you consider that the maxed out Dell XPS 15 gets you a higher resolution display.

Still, the Surface Book has some fantastic options too including being a tablet and slightly longer battery life (than the 4K Dell XPS 15, but not the FHD version).

• Dell XPS 15 Main Page
• Microsoft Surface Book

The Bottom Line

Come on, folks. You know the answer here. This contest – on paper – is like choosing between a Ferrari and a Lamborgini. We can fight over details but in the end you are talking about two top-tier PCs that will garner looks and envy wherever you go.

If you are on a budget the XPS 15 – even maxed out – is still $500 cheaper than the Surface Book. You could buy a Surface 3 on the side for that cost difference. But in terms of all-around versatility the Surface Book stands in a class all its own.

Frankly, what is going to push either device into the winner category will be any show-stopping flaws. To find those out, we'll have to wait to get our hands on both devices for reviews. Stay tuned!

Putting money aside which PC would you want? The 13-inch category defying Surface Book or the A-bomb powerhouse – but traditional – Dell XPS 15? Let us know in comments!

• Order the new Dell XPS 15 from Dell
• Pre-order the Surface Book at Microsoft

Let's talk!

Want to debate and discuss more about these devices? Jump into our user forums and get started!

• Dell XPS 15 forums at Windows Central
• Microsoft Surface Book forums at Windows Central