Updated XPS 13 Model by Dell Enhances Battery Life to Last Several Days, Despite Persistent Invisible Touchpads
Revamped Version:
Sneak a peek at the revamped and, let's face it, divisive Dell XPS 13 – it's been almost two years since its unveiling. The design stirred quite a buzz with its invisible touchpad, flattened, borderless keyboard, and LED function row. Joining the market soon, the XPS 13 boasts Intel's upcoming Lunar Lake processors, promising efficiency that can stream for a whopping 26 hours!
At IFA, Dell hyped the XPS 13 redux, claiming it's packed with a "multi-day battery," albeit that means marathon Netflix sessions at low brightness for 26 hours. Coupled with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, the battery could potentially deliver close to 20 hours – a monumental leap compared to previous XPS 13 models or the latest XPS 14 with Meteor Lake.
Beneath the sleek, 2.6-pound compact body, the XPS 13 lineup starts at $1,400 for the entry-level model sporting a capacious 512 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU. You can swap RAM and storage to up to 32 GB and 1 TB, with multiple Core Ultra 7 CPUs available, with the top-end Intel Core Ultra 9 288V. It's available for pre-order now.
We haven't had a chance to test these chips, but Intel boasts some sizeable improvements in productivity benchmarks and even considerable leaps in gaming performance for these slender laptops.
Prepare for a major upgrade with the XPS 13's 13.4-inch display, as it gets a significant boost from the advanced OLED technology. Apple paved the way for dual-layer OLED screens with the iPad Pro M4. This setup offers improved brightness compared to typical OLED displays, with Dell promising a full-screen brightness of 500 nits. However, more layers of tech bump up manufacturing costs, which explains the laptop's $350 price hike over 2022's version.
Despite the enhancements, the laptop retains the same old issues – mainly the flat, borderless keyboard, and the unseen touchpad prone to confusion. The LED function row remains a poor design choice; less intuitive than simple buttons and causing accessibility issues for visually impaired users. If you can tolerate the design quirks, a significant battery improvement, and a brilliant screen might make the XPS 13 an excellent choice for a versatile, slim productivity machine, albeit not quite on par with the latest MacBook Airs.
Looking for something more budget-friendly with a traditional keyboard? Dell provided details on the incoming Inspiron 14 and Latitude 5455, which offer the option for a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core CPU. The latest iteration of Qualcomm's ARM-based chip sports fewer cores compared to its predecessor, squeezed into the budget-oriented Copilot+ PCs. Consequently, expect a lower price tag for the Inspiron 14, starting at $900 – $100 cheaper than the 10-core X Plus variant.
Both devices will hit stores starting Sept. 24. The Snapdragon X Plus chip promises to outperform Intel's low-end Core Ultra 5 125U chips, with superior power efficiency. We're still waiting for the Core Ultra 5 226V's benchmark results against the new chip, particularly since Intel appears more interested in showcasing mid-to-high-end CPUs.
- The new Dell XPS 13, launching soon, will be equipped with Intel's upcoming Lunar Lake processors, which have yet to be benchmarked.
- The revamped Dell XPS 13 will feature an advanced OLED display, boasting a higher brightness level of 500 nits compared to typical OLED displays.
- Dell's Inspiron 14 and Latitude 5455, slated for release on September 24, will offer the option for a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core CPU, promising better performance and efficiency compared to Intel's low-end Core Ultra 5 125U chips.
- The tech world awaits the benchmark results of the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, as it's set to compete with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip in performance and efficiency.
