Dell XPS 13 (2019)

There’s a new CPU and a new top-mounted webcam for this updated XPS 13, the latest in a line of great Windows 10 laptops

VERDICT

There’s a new CPU and a new top-mounted webcam for this updated XPS 13, the latest in a line of great Windows 10 laptops

DESPITE FEW CHANGES over the years, Dell’s XPS 13 series has long been setting the standard for ultraportable laptops. With the American tech titan choosing to make slight adjustments with each new model, rather than completely reinventing it every time, the XPS 13 hasn’t changed quite as dramatically as some of its rivals in a similar timeframe.

It’s no surprise, then, that this year’s XPS 13 is no different. The 2019 model remains the same great laptop you’re already familiar with by now, albeit with a handful of subtle tweaks to the well-trodden formula.

XPS TO EXCESS

As ever, there are a multitude of different specs to choose from. The model we reviewed is one of the more basic ones available, but still comes equipped with a Full HD display, an Intel Core i7-8565U processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, all for £1,399. Upgrading to 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD puts this up to £1,549, and opting for things like a 4K screen and 1TB of storage can push things all the way up to £1,929. Even so, you can still get a 4K model for as little as £1,399, although you’d need to settle for the less powerful Intel Core i5-8265U processor.

One thing that’s conspicuously missing from any Dell XPS 13 variant is the option of discrete graphics. This isn’t as outlandish a possibility for ultraportables as it once was: the sleek Razor Blade Stealth (Shopper 374) contains an Nvidia GeForce MX150, and Huawei’s MateBook 14 (page 28) squeezes in the newer MX250. It’s possible that battery life would have taken a knock, but it would have been nice to at least have the option.

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