Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
Semi-detached
LAPTOP-TABLET | £1,069 from Dell www.snipca.com/45305
Microsoft’s range of Surface devices may have pioneered the concept of a Windows tablet with a detachable keyboard that turns it into a laptop, but it’s not the only player in town. Dell’s new XPS 13 2-in-1 is a similar take on the concept. It’s sleek, stunning and meticulously crafted, comprising an aluminium chassis and a screen made from Gorilla Glass Victus (see www.snipca.com/45317). There’s no creaking, no unsightly seams, and absolutely nothing out of place.
It’s a stunning design, but the screen isn’t as good as Surface devices
The power button/fingerprint sensor sits at the far right of the top edge (when in landcape mode), while the split volume buttons are at the top left. On the left edge you’ll find two USB-C ports that are Thunderbolt 4-compatible. There are also dual speakers on either side; a simple magnetised NFC pad at the top to charge any stylus you want to use; and pins on the bottom edge to connect to the included keyboard cover.
Its 13in panel – with an aspect ratio of 3:2 – is fairly large for a tablet, and there’s also plenty of room around the screen edges so you can comfortably grab the whole thing without obscuring the screen.
The screen isn’t up to the standards we’ve come to expect from Microsoft’s Surface devices. It looks great head-on, but has poor viewing angles, and becomes washed out if you’re looking at it from off-centre. Also, as an IPS panel, it doesn’t provide the perfect blacks we’ve come to enjoy on OLED screens.
Inside there’s a choice of Intel Core i5-1230u or i7-1250u processors. You can also choose between 8GB and 16GB of RAM, and 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of SSD storage. The cheapest configuration is £1,069, while the priciest version will set you back £1,889. Our review unit sat in the middle, with the i5 processor, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. It’s a good compromise, but at £1,489, it’s still a bit pricey.
Unlike Pcspecialist’s Tempest Elite reviewed opposite, Dell hasn’t furnished this with the latest processor, though the i5-1230u unit that we tested proved more than enough to keep up with everyday Windows tasks. We have no reason to believe that the cheaper 8GB/256GB model wouldn’t also hold its own, though it will no doubt start to struggle if running complex software or the SSD becomes too full.
SPECIFICATIONS
Ten-core Intel Core i5-1230u processor • 8GB or 16GB memory • Intel Iris Xe graphics • 13in 2880x1920- pixel IPS screen • 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD • Wi-fi 6E • 2x USB-C ports • Windows 11 Home • 7.4x293x201mm (HXWXD) • 736g • One-year warranty www.snipca.com/45305
VERDICT A decent rival to Microsoft’s Surface laptop-tablets, but pricey compared with conventional laptops at a similar specification
★★★★★
ALTERNATIVE Acer Swift 3 14in £999 Less flexible and won’t transform into a tablet, but offers significantly more power for your money