Last year’s Dell XPS 13 was (and still is) every Windows user’s dream device ultraportable. It’s an extraordinarily good laptop, but there’s now an alternative for anyone who craves a little more flexibility: the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1.
Officially unveiled at CES 2017, Dell's latest XPS is super-thin, and significantly lighter than its clamshell counterpart. It weighs 1.24Kg and is just 13.7mm thin at its fatter back end. There’s no need for a cooling fan either, thanks to the wonderfully power-efficient Kaby Lake Core i7-7Y75 CPU.
And unlike the clamshell XPS 13, this mode’s screen can be rotated all the way round, so you can use it like a tablet. It’s a popular form factor right now, and it makes a lot of sense for Dell to follow this route.
The result is a laptop that’s MacBook-esque, albeit with better performance and a slightly larger screen that’s touch capable. Oh and that screen by the way, is gorgeous: it’s bright, impactful and the InfinityEdge bezel makes a welcome return, surrounding the screen with the slimmest black border on any laptop.
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is available with two resolution options: 3,200 x 1,800 QHD+ or 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD. You can expect to fork out at least £100 more for the QHD+ display plus you’ll have to contend with a significantly shorter battery life.
With Full HD expected to last around 15 hours and that fancy QHD+ panel surviving for a mere eight away from the wall socket, that’s a lot to sacrifice.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 review: Performance and connectivity
Sadly, I didn’t get my hands on it for long, and as such couldn’t run our usual set of benchmarks but the time I did get with it felt snappy and responsive. If Razer’s Blade Stealth is anything to go by, Kaby Lake is a more formidable multi-tasker than previous architectures, and the XPS 13 2-in-1’s i7 with 8GB of RAM looks to be no different. Expect 5125GB of SSD storage in the top-end model, too.
Remember the meagre selection of ports the newest MacBook had to offer? Luckily, Dell hasn’t followed suit. There’s a pair of USB Type-C ports on each side (only one is Thunderbolt 3 powered, though), plus a USB-C to USB-A adapter included in the box.
You get a 3.5mm headset jack and even – wonder of wonders – a microSD card slot. There’s not quite enough room for an Ethernet port, though, so you’ll have to stick to the on-board Wi-Fi.
Its design, aside from the obvious chunky hinge, is remarkably similar to the Dell XPS 13. The chassis is still made up of that aluminium and carbon fibre combo, but there’s something extra below the screen: a dual-lens Windows Hello camera, which will, once Windows 10 Creators Update rolls out, allow users to log in using only their face. There’s also a fingerprint reader.
Other than that, the design echoes that of the XPS 13, including the layout and feel of the keyboard. For me, that’s a good thing. Although the Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro (2016)’s ultra-low travel keys work well, I prefer a little extra travel and feel and I suspect the keyboard will prove more popular with users in general.
Most convertibles are a little too chunky for my liking - hardly serving the purpose of a tablet at all - but since Dell’s offering is already super-thin and light, I can see this being a firm favourite.
Dell XPS 13 review: Early verdict
Despite the standard clamshell XPS 13 already seeing a Kaby Lake upgrade only recently, it’s not so much a strange time to launch this flippable counterpart. After all, 2015’s XPS 12 2-in-1 was terrible – plagued with mediocre performance and a near-worthless battery life – so it’s great to see Dell having another go and great to see it getting it right.
Dell’s XPS 13 2-in-1 is a wonderfully svelte 13in hybrid that serves perfectly well either on your lap, in your hands or sat on your desk. If you’re the type, like me, who uses both a work laptop and a tablet on the commute, it looks like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 could be a killer choice. Stay tuned for a full review in the very near future.