Dell’s stunning XPS 13 drops to under $1,000, packing a massive 32GB of RAM

Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon — The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard, seen here with a Surface Pro 11, can be used wirelessly or when attached and features a haptic trackpad. (Image credit: Windows Central)

It feels like PC prices are climbing by the day, so it's refreshing to see a premium laptop like the XPS 13 on sale for $999.99. For that price, you get a Snapdragon X Elite and a whopping 32GB of RAM. At a time when laptop makers are resurrecting options with just 8GB of RAM for only a little bit less, the XPS 13 is quite the bargain.

Why buy the Dell XPS 13 (9345)?

Our Alexander Cope highlighted the best XPS discounts available through Dell right now, but the savings on the XPS 13 stood out. Getting any PC with 32GB of RAM for under $1,000 is rare these days, let alone an excellent laptop.

The XPS 13 easily delivers all-day battery life. It managed over 19.5 hours in a battery test done for our XPS 13 review. Of course, your results will vary depending on your workload. That test ran Microsoft Office on a loop. But even in real-world usage, our Zac Bowden took about 10 hours of constant heavy use to drain the XPS 13 from 100% to 15%.

This XPS 13 has the futuristic design many have come to know and love. That means a zero-lattice keyboard, a haptic trackpad, and extremely thin bezels. It's the pinnacle of this era of XPS computing, packing power and performance into a compact form factor unlike anything else on the market.

I don't want to bore you with a history lesson of the XPS lineup. Instead, I'll just say the new XPS 13 that came out this year is very different and aimed at a different type of customer.

The XPS 13 that's on sale for $999.99 has a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. It pairs those internals with a lovely 2K, 120Hz display that can reach 500 nits of brightness.

If you want to upgrade, models with other display options are also $400 off. The 3K OLED screen is worth a hard look.

I love this version of the XPS 13. It took Dell years of refinement to get here, and the laptop maker should be proud. For my money, this XPS 13 is worth more than the new XPS 13 or any other laptop at this price.

FAQ

Will my everyday apps run on the Snapdragon X Elite?

Yes, the vast majority of them will. Mainstream apps like Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, Spotify, Zoom, and Adobe Photoshop run natively on this Dell XPS 13. Many legacy apps can run through emulation if needed.

The only major exceptions are apps requiring kernel-level drivers, such as certain third-party antivirus programs or games utilizing anti-cheat software.

Can you upgrade the RAM or SSD later?

No, the 32GB of RAM is completely soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded.

What ports does this model have?

This XPS 13 has two USB4 Type-C ports (one on each side) that support data transfer, Power Delivery for charging, and DisplayPort for external monitors.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.