The Dell XPS 13 (2020) is one of our favorite laptops on the market, but does the new model do enough to keep it relevant?
The Dell XPS 13 has consistently sat in the best laptops and Ultrabooks lists for years. Thanks to its impeccable design, excellent display and sheer power under its thin and light hood, this line has stayed at the top of the game, even with the competition getting tougher every single year.
In 2020, Dell XPS 13 continues this tradition of delivering sheer power in a truly portable laptop that looks and feels great. Only this time, it’s even better with much-needed improvements like even thinner bezels and an innovative webcam. Though sadly, it now comes with a higher price tag.
For a Dell XPS 13 configuration with an Intel Ice Lake Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, you have to spend $1,249 (₤1,399, AU$2,499). That price is certainly starting to approach Apple’s levels. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with equivalent components to the XPS 13’s base configuration is just a bit more expensive at $1,499 (₤1,499, AU$2,299). And, you’re getting two more Thunderbolt 3 ports along with a QHD display.
This means that if you’re just looking for a reliable workhorse that can get some work done, there are more powerful yet cheaper alternatives out there. The Dell XPS 13 has graduated from an affordable best-in-class Ultrabook to a luxury item that only a few can afford. And, if Dell’s not careful, it could lose out to the likes of the HP Spectre x360, which now offers the same specced configurations and an equally stunning design for a bit less.
Regardless of how much it costs, the Dell XPS 13 truly does excel. With its bright and beautiful display, a comfortable keyboard and a super compact design that you’ll immediately adore, this is one gorgeous piece of hardware. And, if you’re looking for a premium laptop that you can show off at the coffee shop while doing less intensive work, you’ve got an ace here.
The Dell XPS 13 9300 starts off at $1,249 (₤1,399, AU$2,499), with a 10th-gen Intel Core i5,8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD – or a 512GB SSD in the UK and Australia. At this level, you’re also getting a 1080p display without touch capability – you’ll have to pay extra to touch your screen.
Of course if that’s not enough, you can configure the new Dell XPS 13 with more powerful hardware and better displays, with the price tag going up in turn. The unit we reviewed, with the hardware listed to the right, will set you back $1,749 (₤1,599, AU$3,099), with a 10th-gen Core i7 and a touchscreen. Again, however, we have to mention that the 1080p touchscreen doesn’t seem to be available outside the US.
It’s definitely an expensive piece of kit, but much like the MacBook Pro it’s trying to compete with, the XPS 13 feels like an expensive piece of kit. We have our reservations with charging this much for this level of hardware, but premium design is something you’re into, Dell is serving it up here.
And, if you really want to go all-out with it, you can have Dell strap a 4K touch screen on here for an extra $200 (about ₤160, AU$330) and a 2TB SSD for an added $300 (about ₤250, AU$500). This means that with everything added up, a fully kitted out Dell XPS 13 9300 is going to set you back a whopping $2,249 (about ₤1,850, AU$3,720).
This will probably not surprise anyone, but the Dell XPS 13 is an absolute stunner. Not only is this laptop extremely lightweight at 2.8 lb (1.27kg), but it’s super thin, too, measuring in at just 0.58 inches (14.8mm) at its thickest point. This makes the Dell XPS 13 an incredibly easy laptop to just throw in your backpack and carry around. However we do have to admit that we didn’t actually toss it in our backpack in our testing – thanks to that social distancing.
But there’s dozens of laptops out there that can say they’re thin and light, where the XPS 13 really excels is in other areas of the design.
