RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from ZDNet — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sources
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Dell's new dropped with a singular purpose in mind: compete with (and take down) the MacBook Neo. Does it do that? It depends. But it absolutely does raise the bar for "budget" Windows laptops -- something PC makers realized they could no longer avoid post-Neo. Perhaps, then, the question is not so much about the Dell XPS 13's relationship to Apple's most affordable MacBook and more about how it relates to other inexpensive Windows devices. Seen in that light, the XPS 13 is the best budget Windows laptop on the market right now. Also: Dell's new XPS 13 is a MacBook Neo rival that costs $599 and retains premium featuresThat's not hyperbole. The XPS 13 would be a fantastic device even if it weren't considered "budget" -- it's exceedingly thin and light, has an airtight build with no cheap-feeling components, and the keyboard, trackpad, and display are not just acceptable, they're quite good. Build and designReview score: 4/5 The reason the XPS 13 is such a home run is simple: it's a great laptop on its own, regardless of any justification of its price point, position in the ecosystem, or its "mission" to dethrone the Neo. That said, if you had given me this laptop a year or two ago and asked me to guess the price, there's no way in hell I would have said $699. Its origin story might begin, then, with Dell's veritable mea culpa ahead of CES this year, when company execs got on stage and admitted their questionable Pro/Plus/Premium branding decisions didn't actually pay off financially, pledging to bring back the XPS and committing to making more accessible (read: cheaper) products. Also: Framework Laptop 13 Pro review: Plenty premium, but pummeled by RAM crisisThe XPS 13 is a direct result of that approach: an affordable laptop that adheres to Dell's ethos to "make no sacrifices" in build or construction. And it comes pretty close. The 13.4-inch IPS display looks great at 120Hz refresh and 500 nits of brightness. It runs a 2.5K (2560 x 1600) resolution and has a matte finish that resists glare. The display is also sufficiently vibrant, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, and even supports touch.For comparison, the screen on the XPS is nearly half an inch bigger than the Neo's, which is saying something, since the XPS 13 is both lighter than the Neo (2.2 pounds compared to 2.7 pounds) and has a slightly smaller overall footprint. The other external elements keep up with the display. The trackpad doesn't feel cheap and is comparatively large and responsive. I really like the keyboard as well, as it has just enough resistance in the 0.8 mm key travel to feel responsive and tactile, even after long hours typing. In an effort to one-up the Neo, the keyboard is fully backlit and, aligning with its student user demo, is completely silent. In terms of ports, things are minimal. You've got two USB-C (10Gbps) ports -- one on each side -- that both support power delivery and DisplayPort functionality. I wouldn't exactly say this approach is surprising, given that even the high-end XPS 14 only has one more USB-C port. It's also worth noting that both support a new form of Kensington lock slots integrated into the ports themselves.Hardware and performanceReview score: 3/5 Here's where things start to get interesting. Up until now, I've had nothing but praise for the XPS 13, but the processor and hardware are where the trade-offs become evident. The computer features an Intel Core 5 or 7 processor (Series 3) from Intel's Wildcat Lake line of chips, designed specifically for low-cost, battery-efficient devices with limited performance. The XPS 13 is limited in raw performance (particularly with the low-end memory configuration): either 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of RAM. Unfortunately, 8GB of RAM on a PC just isn't the same as 8GB of RAM on a Mac. We took a closer look at this provision earlier this year, and concluded that 16GB of RAM is the ideal amount for most people. So, does 8GB of RAM in Windows 11 work? Yes, but just barely.Also: MacBook Neo review: My biggest concern with Apple's near-perfect budget laptopIt's not that things are (always) bogged down and slow; it's that Windows tends to get... funny when it's at its limits. UI components glitch or act strangely, apps close randomly, don't open at all, or there's just a few seconds of delay between input and execution. All of these issues are, essentially, just normal Windows behavior at 8GB, and no critique of Dell's machine. On the other hand, the computer is fine for what it's designed: working in the browser, hopping between different tabs and Microsoft 365 docs -- even hitting some (let me stress: casual) games in your downtime. This is a laptop (like the Neo) designed for basic tasks, and as long as the user understands that focus, it's all good. I used the XPS 13 as my main driver for over a week doing these sorts of things and had no problems other than occasional patience issues while multitasking in Windows. So, what's the limit? I opened a bunch of tabs on Google Chrome, and once I got above 30, things started to become noticeably restrictive. This point is when you start to see significant delays in actions: navigating the UI, clicking the Start menu, or alt + tabbing between apps. My advice? Keep it lean. You probably don't need 38 tabs open anyway. Instead, use reading lists and favorites; they're incredibly useful in Chrome. The XPS 13 with 8GB of RAM is just not as snappy as the Neo with the same amount of memory, because it's ultimately hamstrung by Windows. The Neo is higher-performing on the low end, but the XPS goes up to 16GB -- bringing with it a potentially significant jump up in power (and running you ). The Neo caps out at 8GB. Bang for buckReview score: 4/5 The XPS 13 nails the value score. Dell made a PC that hits all the right notes to create a true XPS experience, but with trade-offs that make sense. My biggest issue, however -- and this is my critique of t...
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.