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.
CARBON COPY
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Computer Shopper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2019 edition of Computer Shopper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
XIAOMI Mi Mix 3 5G
VERDICT This is the most affordable of the first 5G smartphones, but even with great hardware, the service isn’t yet worth the expense
RHA T20 Wireless
VERDICT They’re not cheap, but these well-designed earphones deliver superb sound quality
Protect And Preserve
Data might be A Valuable Commodity, But It’s Remarkably Easy To Lose Or For Others To Get Their Hands On. Mike Bedford Provides Guidance On How To Preserve, Recover And Destroy Data, And Looks At The Technologies Involved
NZXT H510i
VERDICT Some qualities shine through, but this is an underwhelming case from a maker we know can do better
Kicking Off A New Era Of Football?
With the new football season well and truly under way, David Crookes talks to Jon Hare about reviving the spirit of Sensible Soccer with a new, more sociable offering that he hopes will avoid an own goal
NAIM Mu-so 2
VERDICT A luxurious and fine-sounding slab of metal, but for most homes it won’t be worth the expense
Motorola One Vision
VERDICT The One Vision comes close to being a brilliant mishmash of tech – shame about the camera
JBL Xtreme 2
VERDICT With top-quality sound and a versatile design, this is a great – if expensive – rugged Bluetooth speaker
HUAWEI MateBook 13
VERDICT What the MateBook 13 lacks in flourish, it makes up for in value and performance
GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Master
VERDICT A loaded and forward-thinking motherboard, but not one that fully justifies its high price