Dell XPS 13 review: The first budget laptop to rival Neo raises the bar for all PCs
The Dell XPS 13 flaunts build quality rarely seen at this price point, but not without trade-offs.
Dell's new XPS 13 laptop is designed to compete with and potentially surpass Apple's MacBook Neo. Upon initial testing, it appears that the XPS 13 not only matches but raises the bar for budget Windows laptops. The device boasts an extremely thin and lightweight design, with a sturdy build and high-quality components. The keyboard, trackpad, and display are all praised for their quality, with the display offering excellent color accuracy, brightness, and touch support.
The XPS 13's 13.4-inch IPS display features a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits of brightness, and a 2.5K (2560 x 1600) resolution. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum and supports touch. The display is also matte, minimizing glare. The laptop is lighter than the Neo (2.2 pounds) and has a slightly smaller overall footprint.
The keyboard is backlit, fully responsive, and silent, making it ideal for extended typing sessions. The trackpad is large, responsive, and feels premium. Port selection is minimal, with two USB-C (10Gbps) ports supporting power delivery and DisplayPort functionality, and Kensington lock slots integrated into the ports.
However, the processor and hardware have some limitations. The laptop uses an Intel Core 5 or 7 processor from Intel's Wildcat Lake line, designed for low-cost, battery-efficient devices with limited performance. The XPS 13 comes with 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of RAM, with the lower-end 8GB configuration being adequate for basic tasks but may struggle with more demanding applications.
The XPS 13 is priced at $699, which some might consider high for a budget laptop, but its build quality, display, and overall performance make it a compelling option in the market.
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