A New Look

01 / 12 / 18

3 min read

Table of Contents

Just before CES 2018, Dell unveiled its new XPS 13 laptop. The device, favorited by many thanks to its compact design, bright display, comfortable keyboard and decent battery life, has been completely overhauled, boasting narrower bezels, a new cooling system and a white option with a stain-resistant coating.

The device had been revealed at CES 2012 and counts now seven versions, the very last one featuring a new white-and-gold finish, a slimmer frame, eighth generation Intel CPUs and other upgrades. Design wise, the latest version marks the first tangible design changes since its original launch. Dell slimmed down the XPS 13 chassis to be 30 percent thinner at just 0.3 inches (3.4mm) at its narrowest point, but also lighter at nearly 2.7 pounds (1.2kg).

Obviously, the color change is the most notable modification, even though the original black and silver configuration is still available. The white and rose model features a woven glass palm rest that has a slight texture to it, unlike the black model’s smooth palm rest. According to the company, it is finished with a titanium oxide coating for shine, and the anti-stain coating that should protect the palm rest from turning yellow. There are three USB-C ports (two of which are Thunderbolt 3), a microSD card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack.

One strange thing about the XPS 13 is the webcam placement—at the bottom of the screen instead of above it—but this is not something new. The camera can be used to log into the computer using face recognition if the fingerprint scanner feels ancient. The device will be available with an FHD non-touch or 4K touch display, while inside it comes equipped with 8^th generation quad-core Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, Intel Graphics 620, support for up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB SSD. Moreover, it sports a 52WHr battery that Dell claims will last more than 19 hours on a single charge. A nice change is the addition of Dell’s “InfiniteEdge” bezel, now 23 percent narrower than the previous generation.

The XPS 13 boasts a new thermal solution inside, which features two heat pipes, two fans and a new shield between the heat spreader and the keyboard that should prevent overheating. In addition, it uses GORE Thermal Insulation, which directs heat out of the laptop to further avoid overheating and increase the overall performance.

The XPS 13 with Windows 10 will be available starting at $999, but there is also an Ubuntu-based developer version with Linux preloaded that starts at $949. One more thing, should you want the Rose Gold with Alpine White device, prepare to pay more—the laptop starts at $1,249.

AUTHOR

Anca Gagiuc brings more than a decade of experience within the real estate industry. She is a senior associate editor with Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News who also writes monthly multifamily reports at Yardi Matrix. Contact Anca at [email protected]