The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) will have “2.5 times” more power than last year
It hasn’t been long since we reviewed the Dell XPS 13 (2019) and already it has fallen under the (admittedly slender) shadow of the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 2019 refresh. Announced alongside the Dell XPS 15 (2019) at the Dell Computex International Press Conference in Taiwan, Dell’s new laptop/tablet hybrid has the makings of a best-in-class device.
The standard Dell XPS 13 is no slouch, but the XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) launches with all-new Intel Core 10th Gen “Ice Lake’”chipsets and will have “2.5 times” the power of previous XPS 13 models. In addition to that CPU refresh, the Dell XPS 13 (2019) has undergone a design facelift that includes a top-mounted 2.25mm webcam and improved cooling. I’ve had hands-on time with the new XPS 13 2-in-1 and you can read my first impressions – as well as the specs and pricing information – below.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) review: Key specifications, price and release date
- 13.4in 3,840 x 2,400 (4K) display
- Up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 (1.3GHz)
- Up to 32GB of RAM
- Up to 1TB PCI-E SSD
- Killer AX1650 Wi-Fi 6
- 51Whr battery
- 297 x 207 x 13mm
- 1.32kg
- Price: From £1,499
- Release date: Available now
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) review: Design, key features and first impressions
The big news here is that the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) is one of the first laptops in 2019 to run on brand new 10th Gen Intel Core CPUs. These are the very latest chipsets on the market and I was among the first to get my hands on the XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) display unit, which had a 1.5GHz Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU and a whopping 32GB of RAM. In addition to the powerful quad-core i7-1065G7, there will also be less speedy 10th Gen i5-1035G1 and i3-1005G1 configurations on offer. For storage, the new Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 will have up to 1TB PCI-E SSD, and all models use Killer AX1650 to support Wi-Fi 6.
Now onto the design of the XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019), which is a marked improvement on the previous iterations. For a start, the record-breakingly small 2.25mm webcam first installed on the standard Dell XPS 13 (2019) has made its way over to the 2-in-1, finally ending the tyranny of the below-screen chin-cam. And, as the camera is so small, the bezels remain as slim as ever. On top of that, the XPS 13 2-in-1’s 13.4in display is 7% larger than last year’s – at 16:10 instead of 16:9. It’s not a huge change, but a decisive step away from the outdated 16:9 contrast ratio. Even the standard Dell XPS (2019) has a 16:9 display, so the new hybrid variant’s screen is that little bit taller.
Two display resolutions are on offer, an FHD (1,920 x 1,200) panel and a 4K (3,840 x 2,400) panel. Unlike on the new Dell XPS 15 (2019), these are not OLED panels, but Dell has partnered with Eyesafe to reduce harmful blue light emissions across the XPS 13 2-in-1 display’s light spectrum, which it says will not negatively impact colour accuracy or vibrancy.
While the previous XPS 13 2-in-1 models were fanless, in 2019 it has an “actively cooled 15W design” to keep things from getting too hot under the hood. In conjunction with the more powerful 10th Gen i7-1065G7, this cooling system will apparently enable the XPS 13 2-in-1 to achieve “2.5 times” the performance of the previous model. Somehow, Dell has also managed to shrink the thickness of the new XPS 13 2-in-1 by 8% since the last generation. How all those components fit into that 297 x 207 x 13mm chassis is nothing short of magic.
As if those changes weren’t enough, the touchpad size has been increased and the maglev keyboard has been updated to enhance the tactile feedback of key presses. The only thing the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is short of is ports: it has two USB Type-C 3.1 slots (Thunderbolt 3 and display), a microSD card reader and 3.5mm audio jack.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) review: Early verdict
If the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 delivers on all of Dell’s promises, it could be the best 2-in-1 ultraportable laptop ever made. With a 10th Gen CPU, up to 32GB of RAM and a new efficient cooling design, it’s going to put the 2018 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 to shame. In fact, it may well show up every other 13in laptop on the market today, and indeed for the rest of this year. I can’t wait to get my hands on one and find out whether that “2.5x power” statement is true. If it is, or even if it’s close, it’ll be one heck of an achievement.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk