Product Listing

Dell XPS 13 - Fast, Compact and Portable

By James Lu - 15 Mar 2012
Launch SRP: S$1499

Attack of the Clones

Attack of the Clones

XPS 13 or MacBook Air?

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; if that's the case, Apple should be proud because the XPS 13 looks a lot like a MacBook Air. Having said that, we do like the unique touches Dell has incorporated into their design.  We loved the smaller form factor and the soft-touch wrist pad and, while it wasn't all that impressive, the carbon fiber base plate did at least prove to be equal, if not slightly better, than aluminum as a build material. Unfortunately, it wasn't any lighter given its compact nature and this made the notebook seem heavier than other equivalent 13-inch Ultrabooks due to the reduced weight distribution.

We also wished the display had a higher resolution, but the Gorilla Glass made it look gorgeous. Coupled with its good audio quality, the XPS 13 is probably the best Ultrabook for movie watching to-date (although we would like to add that it's nothing like a true gaming/multimedia notebook, it is still better than the norm for its class). Add to that a long, four-hour plus battery life and you've got the perfect personal movie machine for taking on the road comfortably.

Other highlights include the LED-backlit keyboard, which we found comfortable for extended typing and is a much needed improvement over the the far-too-shallow offerings of many other Ultrabooks. We also liked how Dell was able to fit a large trackpad in, despite the reduced form factor - and we particularly liked the little extras like the palm recognition technology that stops the cursor from skipping around if you inadvertently touch it while typing.

The biggest drawback of the XPS 13 - and probably a deal-breaker for some of you - is its lack of connectivity ports. As a notebook built for mobility, we can accept the lack of HDMI, VGA and RJ-45 ports, useful as they may be, but then, the lack of a card reader greatly reduces its credibility as a mobile machine. For all of the XPS 13's good points, other Ultrabooks provide a bit more immediate functionality without added accessories or fuss.

If only the Dell XPS 13 had more ports.

The XPS 13 is a solid entry into the Ultrabook market and a high performer on almost all tests. Even so, Ultrabooks have been around for a while now, and we expected more from Dell after waiting so long. While it does look nice, the XPS's MacBook Air design is uninspired and apes Apple just a little too much. It's a pity because we know Dell can make some sexy looking notebooks on their own (Adamo anyone?). While it's better in some areas, like its compact size and better audio, they don't really make up for the standard resolution display and lack of ports. In the end, with only a S$189 price difference between them (not including the cost of the OS), there's not a lot of strong reasons to consider the S$1499 Dell XPS 13 over a Boot Camped MacBook Air with its base price of S$1688 if you're after a Windows OS Ultrabook in this style.

It's not just about Apple notebooks as there are also equivalently good contenders from ASUS, HP and Lenovo at somewhat equivalent price points and offer more than the Dell XPS 13 in some way or the other. Once you whittle down the various specs and features across the competition, the Dell XPS 13 stands out in two key areas - a more compact 13-inch Ultrabook that offers excellent typing experience. Even so, we'll iterate again to think ahead to be sure you don't mind the limited connectivity ports.

All things considered, with the next wave of Ultrabooks coming soon with the Intel Ivy Bridge platform update expected later this year, you might want to wait for newer models to arrive. While we don't expect the new notebooks to look any different, you get the advantage of a newer processing platform - if you don't mind the wait. For those who can't wait, go right ahead to get a new Ultrabook now as it could be a little while before adequate stocks are available of the updated notebooks.

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8.0
  • Design 8.5
  • Features 7.5
  • Performance 8
  • Value 8
  • Mobility 8.5
The Good
Bright screen
Compact form factor
Good LED-backlit keyboard
The Bad
Lack of connectivity ports
Uninspired MacBook Air design
Standard 1366x768 resolution
Could be lighter
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