Dell XPS 13 (late 2017) review – CNET

Dell’s XPS 13 doesn’t flip into different positions, detach from its keyboard to become a tablet or have a fancy context-sensitive touchbar, but it’s still pretty excellent in its own right. 

The 13.3-inch laptop — the world’s smallest — might be a simple clamshell, but it’s a well-designed one that’s comfortable to use despite its diminutive dimensions. It hasn’t changed much since its redesign in 2015 that introduced its InfinityEdge display, which virtually eliminates the frame around its display. Late in 2016, Dell tuned it up with seventh-generation Core i-series CPUs and a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port and now it’s back with Intel’s 8th-generation chips.

As with most new technology, though, getting Intel’s latest adds to the cost. Dell is still selling the “old” XPS 13 starting at $800 for a pretty mediocre configuration built around a seventh-gen Core i3 processor. The new XPS 13 with an eighth-generation Core i7 chip starts at $1,200 in the US,  £1,300 in the UK and AU$2,300 in Australia. That’s expensive, but not overpriced for this system’s power, battery life and mobility.

Dell XPS 13 (late 2017)

Price as reviewed	$1,200 (£1,300, AU$2,300)
Display size/resolution	13.3-inch 1,920×1,080 display
PC CPU	1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U
PC memory	8GB DDR4 SDRAM 1,866MHz
Graphics	128MB Intel UHD Graphics 620
Storage	256GB PCIe SSD
Networking	802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.1
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit)

Don’t mess up a good thing

Although the new XPS 13’s performance gets a boost, the design doesn’t change. Roughly the size of an average 11.6-inch laptop, but with a 13.3-inch screen, it’s made from aluminum with carbon fiber palm rests with a comfortable soft-touch treatment. A big part of what makes this small size possible is the InfinityEdge display that eliminates all but a sliver of a border around the screen. You can choose between a 13.3-inch UltraSharp Quad HD+ (3,200×1,800 pixels) touchscreen and a 1,920×1,080-pixel-resolution display with a matte anti-glare screen. 

The XPS 13 can be used for work and play, of course, but it’s definitely more for the former than the latter. Its combination of a small, lightweight body matched with an excellent backlit keyboard and touchpad makes it great for commuters and college students. The keys have a pleasingly firm feel with good travel and are well spaced and sized. The precision touchpad is smooth and responsive with no cursor jumpiness.