The best Dell XPS 13: How to choose among three great thin-and-lights - ramseywopper87

Update: We've recently updated our story to help you sort out 11th gen from10th gen and the newest XPS 13 2-in-1 vs. the newest XPS 13. You lavatory show the update here.

You've down your sights on a Dell XPS 13. The only trouble: Which one practice you grease one's palms? The XPS 13 7390 clamshell or its 2-in-1 variation, Oregon the "parvenue" XPS 13 9300? Entirely three are great laptops—ignore the model numbers, which are confusingly not-sequent—but there are key differences.

We'll walk you through the models and weight their strengths and weaknesses. What's your anteriority? Versatility? Performance? Connectivity? Overall value? We'll call a winner for each, and you can skip to the section that interests you nigh by clicking a link along the left.

Billet that this story is based primarily on the high-end XPS 13 models Dell sent us to test. We do take in some advice for those looking at let down-cost XPS 13 versions—check out the "best measure" subdivision below.

dell xps 13 2 in 1 left xps 13 right — Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 (left) is slightly heavier than the XPS 13 7390 (right.)

All the Dell XPS models explained

There are three Dell XPS 13 models to choose from at the moment:

XPS 13 2-in-1 7390: A saucy start

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 was a complete redesign. As a convertible, it can work as a laptop too As a tablet, or in A-frame "camp" mode for presentations.

When the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 debuted in the fall of 2019, it was the first laptop based on Intel's most advanced 10th-gen, 10nm Ice Lake CPUs, and it was the poster youngster for the Intel's grand Project Athena aspirations to a fault.

Besides the 360-degree design, it has indite support, a 16:10 aspect ratio screen, advanced copper vapor chamber cooling, and a new MagLev 2 keyboard. It also made a few hard choices to achieve its thin visibility, such as soldered-in permanent SSD. The laptop has been one of the fastest Frosting Lake laptops. Read our full XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 critique.

XPS 13 7390: Poignant to a six-Congress of Racial Equality CPU

The Dell XPS 13 7390 is essentially an internal upgrade of the previous XPS 13 9380 (call back, the model numbers make zero sense), but it was still a major alteration as it moved to Intel's 6-core Core i7-10710U Central processor over the previous model's 8th-gen quad-core Inwardness i7. The full review of the XPS 13 7390 is here. The XPS 13 7390 offers the quickest multi-core CPU performance, but its graphics is nothing special.

Dell XPS 13 9300: Shiny and new

The Dell XPS 13 9300 (yes, it really went from 9380 to 7380 to 9300) is the in style iteration of the famed XPS 13, bringing the bezel-less look of the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 to a traditional clamshell laptop computer. Like the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 it uses the 10th-gen Core i7-1065G7—a step out forward in generation merely for some, a step backward to quad-core when its predecessor offered capable a half a dozen-core part. Read our full review.

Three ways they're essentially the one: Weight, ports, networking

Because these models are closely related, on that point are some criteria you preceptor't need to worry about very much, because they're au fon the same.

If weight matters to you, the XPS 13 9300 is the technical winner at 2.65 pounds—2.8 with the nonmandatory touchscreen. The older XPS 13 7390 comes in second gear at 2.7 pounds, and the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 is third at 2.9 pounds (thanks to the beefed-up hinges and methamphetamine touch screen requisite of a convertible laptop). Plain, we'rhenium talking about a few ounces.

dell xps 9300 left side ports — Ports on the XPS 13 models have in mind buying into an all USB-C port human beings.

When it comes to connectivity, the XPS 13 models focus on the future. The XPS 13 7390 gives you the most, with its two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a USB-C porthole, and a microSD port. The other XPS 13 laptops simply lack the USB-C port. Obviously, we all wish at that place were an ageing fashioned square USB-A port, simply none of them have that. All three laptops use Intel Wisconsin-Fi 6 hardware, besides famed as 802.11ax.

Which XPS 13 is the most mobile

For almost people, a traditional clamshell laptop does 90 pct of what they want, and all three of these laptops can do the job. Non everyone will like the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 because of its MagLev 2 keyboard, with its thin, low-travel design.

dell xps 13 2 in 1 tablet mode 2 — Pad and A-chassis modes on the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 pass the most varied of the three laptops. The pen, unfortunately, is optional.

Still, that XPS 13 2-in-1 is the only one of the deuce-ac that offers a tablet mode with pen support (though it doesn't include the pen). Its touch display means you don't take in to annoy the trackpad Oregon keyboard either. All three XPS 13's are excellent laptops, but the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 is the most versatile of the three.

Winner: XPS 13 2-in-1 7390

Which XPS 13 has the best screen

xps 13 black display view — The XPS 13 9300's near bezel-less expose is a joy to behold.

Among the tercet XPS 13 models here, there's a primal remainder that we want to call attention here: the aspect ratio of the screen. The older XPS 13 7390 features a 1920×1080-resolution panel, which uses the real common aspect ratio of 16:9. The XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 and the XPS 13 9300 lineament a 1920×1200-resolution screen and a somewhat taller 16:10 aspect ratio.

Dell takes advantage of that look ratio and nearly eliminates the bezel along some the 16:10 laptops. The result is a stunning appear and more usable space. We opt the taller aspect ratio, as information technology gives us a little more space for our function. Both the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 and XPS 13 9300 also feature Sharp IPS panels that can hit a very bright 500 nits, and EyeSafe technology, which reduces blue light emissions without that horrible brown tint look other panels offer.

The XPS 13 7390's silver screen is fine, simply the 16:10, 1920×1200, 500-nit panels in the XPS 13 7390 and the XPS 13 9300 take domicile the get ahead.

Winner: XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 and the XPS 13 9300

dell xps 13 hinge 3 — Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 (top) on top of a Dell XPS 13 7390 (bottom)

Which XPS 13 wins on performance

Earlier we nonplus too far down the rabbit hole of laptop computer performance, you need to ask yourself what you're doing. If you are mostly linear Microsoft Office, Google Chrome or Soar upwards, the differences between the three laptops hither are mostly nonsense. All triplet exceed your needs, and you can honestly skip the rest of this section.

xps 13 7390 3 — The XPS 13 7390 can give you high to a 6-core Core i7-10710U CPU inside.

Note that this argument applies mostly to the overstep Core i7 versions, as turn down-end versions much as the Inwardness i7-10510U entirely get foursome cores and the weaker graphics. Intel's Core i5-1035G1 also has weaker graphics than the Core i7-1065G7 versions.

If, however, you know you need more single-core performance, Sir Thomas More multi-burden performance, or better graphics for gaming, keep reading.

C.P.U. performance breaks down into multi-core carrying out and unmarried-inwardness execution. Photoshop is mostly single-core, e.g., while video editing is mostly multi-core. GPU performance drives graphics in activities such as gambling, and GPU-speeded up tasks so much as converting your video project.

dell off xps 13 cinebench multi core — The 6-burden Core i7-10710U has better multi-core performance than the 4-Congress of Racial Equality Core i7-1065G7.

Both the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 and the XPS 13 9300 habituate Intel's most advance 10th-gen CPU, the Core i7-1065G7. Its main "weakness" is that it "only" has four cores, patc the XPS 13 7390 has a 6-core 10th-gen Core i7-10710U option. That Core i7-10710U also has slightly higher bingle-core operation. Not to be outdone, the advanced Gist i7-1065G7 actually has far better graphics performance.

Unless you know you want a six-core Processor for intense workloads (and don't mind the weaker artwork), the 10th-gen Core i7-1065G7 offers the best balance.

dell off xps 13 sky diver — The 10th-gen Core i7-1065G7 offers a huge performance gain over the 10th-gen Core i7-10710U in graphics.

So, WHO's the winner? Again, it depends on what you do with your laptop. For graphics, drop dead with the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 or XPS 13 9300. For multi-core tasks, the XPS 13 7390 is the quicker laptop computer—if you can admit far worse graphics execution.

Victor: IT depends.

Which XPS 13 is best for battery life

Our assault and battery life story try out loops a 4K video recording file in airplane way, with earbuds connected and the brightness set to 250 to 260 nits. With modernistic CPUs, that's pretty much sail control, atomic number 3 the C.P.U. idles down while the integrated graphics does most of the work. The 12 hours about of electric battery life is actually pragmatic doing that.

Your mileage will greatly vary based along what you do. If you switched to doing Microsoft Office work for the entire time, we'd probably cut off two to three hours from that jutting. Browse mightiness slice off three to four hours, contingent the websites you bet strong the Wi-Fi signalise is. If you streamlet a GPU- or CPU-intensive chore, expect maybe two hours of barrage fire life at the most.

What will rich person many of an impact on overall battery life than the CPU or laptop you pick is the resolution of the screen. All but of the laptops in the 12-60 minutes range have standard-resolution screens such as 1080p. Higher-solvent 4K and 4K+ screens have about four times the pixels, creating more work for the laptop's backlighting—at the expense of battery sprightliness.

If you see at our graph below, it's no surprise: Laptops with the 4K panels get significantly less run time. Take the Dingle XPS 13 7380, e.g., and get ahead with an FHD sieve, and we're certain battery life will parachute adequate the 12-hour rate.

Achiever: Whatever XPS 13 with a standard-resolution screen

dell off xps 13 battery life — A laptop's cover firmness of purpose usually has more of an impact on battery life than the CPU model or laptop computer model.

Which XPS 13 is the high-grade value

We looked at Dingle.com and configured all three laptops for what we think are selfsame clean specs: top-destruction Core i7 chips, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and standard-resolution screens without touch.

We do admit IT's a bit unfair to the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390, as there is no option without speck. Its price as organized with Core i7-1065G7 and FHD+ touchscreen is $1,700 on Dell.comRemove non-product unite.

The Dell XPS 13 9300 with Heart i7-1065G7 and FHD+ display is $1,600 on Dell.comRemove non-product tie.

The best value is this: the XPS 13 7390 with Pith i7-10710U and FHD not-touch screen for $1,250 on Dell.comRemove non-product link.

Winner: XPS 13 7390

Which budget XPS 13 is the best

While most of our operation analysis looks at the higher-end configurations, we do have advice for those shopping on a budget. We compared the three cheapest configurations of the XPS 13 and launch the superior deal to be the XPS 13 7390. For $900 connected Dell.comTake away non-merchandise unite, you get a quad-core group Core i5-10210U, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD.

The second best in budget configuration is the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 for $1,000 on Dingle.comRemove not-product link. Just understand the compromises, protrusive with a step back in performance to a dual-core Core i3-1005G1 and anemic G1 graphics. The 4GB of RAM is tight today, too.

The most expensive "budget" model is the XPS 13 9300. For $1,200 on Dingle.comRemove non-product link you get a quadriceps femoris-core Core i5-1035G1 with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The G1 graphics is nothing special, but if all you're doing is browse the web, using Microsoft Office and victimisation Zoom television, most of these bequeath work just fine. Note that Zoom video conferencing requires a quadrangle-core CPU with Hyper-Threading to Doctor of Osteopathy its nifty virtual background magic trick.

dell xps 13 9300 front — Dell's XPS 13 9300 gives you Intel's most advanced CPU in a traditional clamshell.

Which XPS 13 should you buy?

A laptop is a real individual purchase, which means we give the sack only go heretofore in declaring a "best" XPS 13. Subsequently going through each the major criteria, however, we can see certain trends that can help steer your decision.

The Dell XPS 13 7390 offers the best overall apprais, perhaps obviously given that IT's a slightly older model. You're not giving up much except in performance and screen prize.

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 comes come out vehement in multiple categories. Information technology's the most versatile because it's convertible, and it also has a gorgeous display and strong performance.

The Dell XPS 13 9300, the latest model, is the most expensive. However it also offers a prominent display and strong operation.

Altogether cases, we would suggest you think with kid gloves before choosing the 4K display choice. The extra pixels will tax your performance and bombardment sprightliness heavily. If you actually travel with this laptop, sticking with the 1080p display will save you much Angst.