Dell XPS 13 Series

The Ultrabook concept was announced by Intel at Computex 2011. This new generation of notebooks would use low power Intel processors, have an extremely thin profile and could also include certain tablet functions. We’ve seen a huge number and variants of Ultrabooks by many manufacturers in the first wave of these ‘MacBook Air-killer’ devices. Dell seemed to take it slow and only released their first Ultrabook in the first quarter of 2012. While most manufacturers decided to brand their Ultrabooks under new names and with many variants and sizes, Dell used its already prominent ‘XPS’ range to market theirs with just one size.
The Dell XPS 13 certainly turns heads. Like its bigger brother, the Dell XPS 14Z, it has a curvaceous silver aluminium body with a reduced chassis size for its screen. This makes it real compact even for an Ultrabook. Dell had managed to squeeze a 13 inch display into what they say is an 11 inch body. In reality, it doesn’t really get to that but it is close enough and is definitely smaller than all the other 13 inch Ultrabooks. The XPS13 has a carbon fiber bottom covered with a thin rubberized coating making keeping the laptop firmly in its place when typing. The bonded Corning Gorilla Glass display gives the display a slightly more solid feel.
Dell offers the XPS 13 for 999 € onwards same as the Asus Zenbook UX31 which is its main competitor. However, its 1366 x 768 display resolution is noticeably lower than the when compared to the 1600 x 900 panel on the UX31. Advantages of the XPS 13 over the UX31 include its backlight keyboard, more responsive keys and a smaller size.
Processor: Intel Core i5 2467M, Intel Core i5 3337U, Intel Core i7 2637M, Intel Core i7 3537UGraphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000, Intel HD Graphics 4000
Display: 13.3 inch
Weight: 1.3kg, 1.36kg, 1.4kg
Price: 1000, 1300, 1499, 1500, 1600 euro
Average of 59 scores (from 95 reviews)
mobility: 83%, workmanship: 93%, ergonomy: 82%, emissions: 85%
Dell XPS 13
Specifications
Notebook: Dell XPS 13Processor: Intel Core i5 2467M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: Dell homepage Dell notebook section XPS 13 (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 41 scores (from 70 reviews)
Source: Techradar

The Dell XPS 13 is still one of the best laptops you can buy, offering top performance, brilliant battery life and excellent build quality. However, in 2013, touchscreen technology is no longer an expensive luxury. It's the bread and butter of the Windows 8 experience, and Dell has let us down by not offering the option on its flagship Ultrabook. While we love the Dell XPS 13, we'd recommend holding off for a touchscreen version, or trying the Acer Aspire S7 if you want to get the most from Windows 8.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/21/2013
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Small Business Computing

The Dell XPS 13 is a comfortable Ultrabook to use in all types of situations. It's light and small, so it won't take up much room in your briefcase or backpack. The keyboard is usable with the exception of a few keys, and the palm rejection on the touchpad is excellent. It is missing some features like a wired Ethernet port and HDMI that could make it a non-starter for some folks.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/09/2012
Source: Computer Active

The XPS 13 has a respectably long battery life of just over seven hours but other Ultrabooks can last even longer. The backlit keyboard is very comfortable thanks to its responsive keys that give just the right amount of feedback when pressed, although the cursor and Function keys are smaller than usual. Though the touchpad is large and accurate, it’s easy to accidentally brush against it when typing and inadvertently move the cursor and type text in to a random place in a document.
Video review
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/25/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Computer Active

The XPS 13 has a respectably long battery life of just over seven hours but other Ultrabooks can last even longer. The backlit keyboard is very comfortable thanks to its responsive keys that give just the right amount of feedback when pressed, although the cursor and Function keys are smaller than usual. Though the touchpad is large and accurate, it’s easy to accidentally brush against it when typing and inadvertently move the cursor and type text in to a random place in a document.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/25/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Hardware Canucks

The XPS 13 is something of an oddity in a market that’s quickly becoming a lynchpin in a so-called “post PC” world. Ultrabooks were originally conceived to be inexpensive, adaptable solutions that could be carried just about anywhere but typically, manufacturers have used them as flagship products which are anything but affordable for their intended clientele.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/25/2012
Source: Channel Web

Dell hat sich für sein XPS 13 Ultrabook viel Zeit gelassen. Wer ein Ultrabook sucht mit edlem Gehäuse, das einem Apple Mac Book Air versucht Paroli zu bieten, ist mit dem Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook gut bedient. Eine erweiterte Absicherung mit bis zu drei Jahren Service-Vor-Ort kostet 280 Euro, und eine Unfallschutz-Absicherung für ein Jahr wird zum Preis von 50 Euro angeboten.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/18/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Techtree.com

The Dell XPS 13 is a truly portable computing device where a great deal of attention has been paid to the aesthetics as well as to its features. The performance is snappy due to its fast hardware and you can be sure that it will not slow down even after months of usage, thanks to the fast SSD inside. Our only qualms about the gadget are due to poor viewing angles of the display and erratic behaviour of the touchpad. If you want to buy a something as portable as a MacBook Air but are short on cash, this is a worthy alternative despite its expensive pricing. However, for the vast majority of users, this will be an expensive proposition, so it's better to wait for the ultrabook prices to drop.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/09/2012
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 50% performance: 80% features: 90% ergonomy: 90%
Source: V3.co.uk

Overall, we were impressed with the design and build quality of the XPS 13, but more I/O ports and a removable battery would make this a better bet for professional or business buyers.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/24/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: T Break

The Dell XPS 13 brings nothing new to the ultrabook market, as the basic performance shows. But what it does do, and with a lot of class, is an ultrabook form factor that’s desirable by many. You’re not stuck with different aspects of a design you may or may not appreciate. The XPS 13 is a class act from Dell, and if you ignore the rather liberal inspiration from the MacBook Air, then the aluminum chassis with carbon fiber composite base presents an aesthetically pleasing design. The light weight and 18mm – 6mm thickness is something that makes for an ideal ultrabook. Also, starting at $300 cheaper than a similarly specced MacBook Air, you can’t go wrong with the XPS 13 at all.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/06/2012
Source: Reg Hardware

Dell might have been late to the Ultrabook party, but the XPS 13 certainly makes a head-turning entrance with its superb design. It’s not faultless by any means - connectivity is limited, and it would have been nice to see a higher resolution screen - especially with the price tag it carries, but it's an impressive, speedy first attempt at the genre.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Techradar

Dell is last to market with its Ultrabook, but in many ways the XPS 13 has been worth the wait. With a 13.3in screen crammed into a 12in-equivalent body, it’s innovative and beautifully designed, combining attractive elegance with practical user comfort and good battery life. Build quality is superb and, thanks to its great backlit keyboard and lovely touchpad, usability is up there with the best. Unfortunately, connectivity suffers from the smaller chassis and the screen’s poor viewing angles really let the side down, meaning the similarly compact Samsung Series 9 900X3B is a far better proposition if you can afford the extra. If not, however, the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook is a great premium option.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 70% features: 80% display: 70% mobility: 90% ergonomy: 100%
Source: Wired Magazine

In the final analysis, at $1,000, the XPS 13 is a good value in a market that is rapidly becoming as commoditized as the rest of the laptop space, but where fairly hefty prices still rule.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 04/23/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Hardwareheaven

As we would expect from an Ultrabook the initial impression users will get from the XPS 13 is one of a high quality build. The aluminium lid looks good and feels sturdy and well made with the carbon fibre sides adding a nice contrast while also offering durability. The system feels well balanced in use and of course with the dimensions of 0.71x12.4x8.1" and weight of 1.36KG it feels compact and light.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/16/2012
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 80% workmanship: 100%
Source: Tech2.in.com

The new Dell XPS 13 range starts from Rs.79,900, which is just too expensive for what’s on offer. Granted, it’s a very well put together Ultrabook and it has looks to die for, but once again, it’s really hard to ignore the big fat elephant in the room. If thin and light is your main concern, then Acer’s TimeLine X series offers very good value for money notebooks. It obviously doesn’t have aluminium and carbon fibre, but it gets the job done. Ultrabooks are very good alternative to netbooks, but not at these prices.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/22/2012
Rating: Total score: 65%
Source: Good Gear Guide

When it's all said and done, the Dell XPS 13 is a desirable 13in Ultrabook. Its build quality and feel alone make it worthy of consideration. I would have liked built-in Gigabit Ethernet and an SD card slot (especially while travelling), but I can understand their omissions. An HDMI adapter will be required if you want to plug this notebook into your TV.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Advisor

From a design perspective, the XPS 13 is a fantastic addition to Dell's lineup, establishing a new bar that Dell should aim to clear with its future products. The laptop is attractive, solid, and fast. Battery life is good if you don't go crazy with the screen brightness. Audio is better than you'd expect, and the keyboard and trackpad (after the driver update) don't disappoint. With better display quality, it would be a slam-dunk. Unfortunately, the middling resolution, iffy color reproduction, and poor off-axis viewing leave a considerable stain on what would otherwise be a five-star product. Let's hope that Dell releases a revised version this summer that carries Intel's Ivy Bridge chips and a better display.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/16/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Hardware Zone

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.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/15/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 85%
Source: Notebooks.com

The Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook is an impressive notebook that delivers a lot in a small package, especially at $999. If the trackpad was as good as that on the Macbook Air I would say that Dell had bested Apple in that price range, but sadly that’s not the case. Even though the XPS 13 carries the same size display as the 13 inch MacBook Air, the $300 price difference and the higher resolution of the Air put the two at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/15/2012
Source: PC World

From a design perspective, the XPS 13 is a fantastic addition to Dell's lineup, establishing a new bar that Dell should aim to clear with its future products. The laptop is attractive, solid, and fast. Battery life is good if you don't go crazy with the screen brightness. Audio is better than you'd expect, and the keyboard and trackpad (after the driver update) don't disappoint. With better display quality, it would be a slam-dunk. Unfortunately, the middling resolution, iffy color reproduction, and poor off-axis viewing leave a considerable stain on what would otherwise be a five-star product. Let's hope that Dell releases a revised version this summer that carries Intel's Ivy Bridge chips and a better display.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/14/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: AnandTech

Dell's first entry into the ultrabook market is a patient and smart one. They've arrived at the party a bit later than the competition, but they're fashionably late: instead of a design that just apes the Apple MacBook Air, Dell has taken care to produce something unique to them with the XPS 13.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/13/2012
Source: Mobile Tech Review

The Dell XPS 13 has become one of our top Ultrabook picks. You really can't go wrong with most first gen Ultrabooks since they share similar specs and shoot for higher end appointments, but Dell has a winner with their combination of premium materials, excellent performance and great looks. The XPS 13 is extremely sturdy yet slim, uses innovative materials like carbon fiber and a Gorilla Glass display and is the most compact 13" Ultrabook so far. Dell uses premium parts like Intel Advanced N-6230 wireless and Samsung's fast PM830 SSD, while the competitors often go with lesser parts to keep costs down. This is a fast Ultrabook with a very good backlit keyboard and a pleasing display, even if we wish there were an IPS option. Recommended.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/09/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Engadget

From the moment it comes out of the box the XPS 13 looks and feels like a truly premium product and, with a nice keyboard and respectable performance, it's a nice machine to use, too. But, the display suffers the same complaints we've seen with other Ultrabooks in this price range -- middling resolution, poor off-angle contrast -- and the trackpad only works well when it feels like it.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/06/2012
Source: Computer Shopper

In recent months, we've heard a whole bee colony's worth of buzz around ultrabooks—2012's new breed of super-thin, powerful laptops—from both the concept's initiator (chip maker Intel) and practically the whole wide world of laptop vendors. Anyone shopping for an ultrabook should consider the well-rounded $999 version of the XPS 13, a 13.3-inch-screened model with stellar build quality and competitive performance at a fair price.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/06/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Comp Reviews

Dell's entry into the ultrabook market may be fairly late but it was definitely well thought out. By taking their time, Dell has refined their design to offer an extremely compact design that uses the full ultrabook specification including Intel Smart Connect Technology. Performance is very fast with boot and wake times that are some of the fastest ever thanks to the high speed solid state drive included with it.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/05/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Slashgear

The Dell XPS 13 is a 13-inch ultrabook that is extremely good-looking and sturdy. While it is entering both a crowded and emerging category of computers, it does a lot of set itself apart from the rest of the pack. It has an extremely thin footprint, a glass-covered screen and an SSD hard drive.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/05/2012
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Hot Hardware

A good friend of ours said the Dell XPS 13 is an ultrabook that "could steal customers from Apple." That may be a stretch, depending on your point of view, but we'd definitely say the Dell XPS 13 is seriously tough competition for any manufacturer in the ultralight notebook space, Apple or otherwise.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/01/2012
Source: PC Mag

There will be a flood of new ultrabooks coming with the arrival of Intel's "Ivy Bridge" processor update this year, but Dell has set the bar very high without needing new silicon. If it had just one or two of the missing ports we groused about—say HDMI and a card reader—the Dell XPS 13 would be spectacular; as is, if you don't mind carrying a dongle or two, it's an ultra-small, ultra-sophisticated choice that shoots to the top of ultrabook shopping lists.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/29/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: CNet

The first Very Important Laptop of 2012 has arrived, in the form of the new Dell XPS 13. This is Dell's first ultrabook and even though the company is a little late to that particular game, the XPS 13 nails a lot of what makes for a good ultrabook experience. Dell packs a 13-inch display into a very small footprint in the XPS 13 ultrabook, making it one of the few slim laptops that actually tops the MacBook Air in some areas.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/28/2012
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 70% mobility: 70%
Source: Laptop Mag

From its stylish and compact carbon-fiber design to the backlit keyboard to its fast SSD, there's a lot to like about the $999 Dell XPS 13. Intel's Smart Connect technology is yet another plus, which will help you get right back to work when you lift the lid. However, the lack of an SD card slot and the below-average battery life detract from what is otherwise an excellent system. Overall, Dell has delivered a solid Ultrabook for $300 less than the MacBook Air. It should find plenty of takers.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/28/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC World

After spending an afternoon with the XPS 13, my opinion is just as favorable as it was when I first laid eyes on it at the start of the year. It’s a system that is so un-Dell-like (and I mean that in the best possible way) that I’ve actually carried it around the office to show it to coworkers, most of whom are similarly impressed. I reserve final judgement until I get some hard performance numbers and spend a lot more time with it, but for now, it feels like the only thing stopping me from running out and buying one myself is the knowledge that Intel’s Ivy Bridge chips will be shipping in a few months, and I really want a laptop with one of those.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/25/2012
Source: T3

We feel this is easily one of the strongest Ultrabooks in the current line-up and a spectacular piece of engineering from Dell. We'll bring you more info as soon as we've had the final retail model on our test bench, as well as a confirmed retail price.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/27/2012
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Trusted Reviews

The overall design and feel of the XPS 13 is certainly premium and the inclusion of a larger 13.3in screen in an 11in form factor is something which makes it a very appealing prospect - but we'll reservce final judgement until we get one into the office for testing. The Dell XPS 13 will be available in the US next month with prices starting at $999 (Core i5, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM) and will be available elsewhere in March, with UK info yet to be released.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/12/2012
Source: T3

Obviously we didn't get to test the Dell XPS 13 out in the wild or give all of its features a thorough run-through but in our limited time with the new ultrabook we were certainly impressed. The minimal design and lack of stickers around the keyboard give the product a very slick finish and the wafer-thin profile and featherlight weight are strong selling points.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/11/2012
Source: Pocket Lint

In our brief play with the XPS 13 it proved to be fast to start and open applications, but we can't verify much more on the performance front until we've spent longer with it. It felt solid and free from flex. The keyboard gave us a nice action and the trackpad didn't immediately throw up any problems, so it's a great start for the first Ultrabook from Dell.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/10/2012
Source: PC Magazin - Spezial 53 Ultrabooks

Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 84%
Source: Chip.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/16/2012
Rating: Total score: 74% price: 56% performance: 81% features: 55% display: 100% mobility: 75% ergonomy: 76%
Source: PC Welt
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/26/2012
Rating: Total score: 81% performance: 96% features: 72% display: 83% mobility: 78% ergonomy: 90% emissions: 74%
Source: Notebookinfo
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/16/2012
Rating: Total score: 90% performance: 80% display: 85% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 88%
Source: Connect - 5/12

Single Review, , Short, Date: 04/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% features: 60% ergonomy: 80%
Source: Computerbild - 9/12

Comparison, , Medium, Date: 04/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 85% performance: 90% features: 82% display: 79% ergonomy: 82% emissions: 91%
Source: HardwareLuxx
DE→ENComparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/29/2012
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/20/2012
Rating: performance: 70% features: 90% display: 50% mobility: 50% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 30%
Source: Onlinekosten.de
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 82% performance: 93% features: 60% display: 87% mobility: 75% workmanship: 100% ergonomy: 60%
Source: Notebookcheck
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/13/2012
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 78% display: 68% mobility: 90% workmanship: 97% ergonomy: 85% emissions: 79%
Source: ITespresso
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/09/2012
Source: ZDNet
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 76% performance: 80% features: 70% mobility: 70% ergonomy: 80%
Source: Notebookinfo
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 90% performance: 80% display: 85% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 88%
Source: c't - 9/13

Performance ok, configuration bad
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 03/01/2013
Source: nDevil
DE→ENfew equipment, low weight, mediocre ergonomics
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/22/2012
Source: Techfokus
DE→ENPositive: workmanship, material, lightweight, thin, performance, silent with normal use, bright display, keyboard; negative: few connection options, touchpad keys, battery runtime, fan with full load
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/21/2012
Source: Tom's Hardware
DE→ENHigh price, good workmanship and battery runtime, fast SSD
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/19/2012
Source: PC Actual
ES→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/15/2012
Rating: Total score: 91% price: 85%
Source: Tuexperto
ES→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/11/2012
Source: Techno Zoom
IT→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/05/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 85% workmanship: 80%
Source: Notebook Italia
IT→ENPositive: Excellent design; Protected display with Corning Gorilla Glass; Performance; Light weight. Negative: No memory card reader.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/02/2012
Source: PCM
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/12/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Erenumerique
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/22/2012
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: 01Net
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/02/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: 01Net
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Blogeee
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/16/2012
Source: 3DNews.ru
RU→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/14/2012
Source: Zoom
RU→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/27/2012
Source: Hi-Tech Mail
RU→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/30/2012
Source: Notebook.cz
CZ→ENPositive: Excellent keyboard; compact; quality processing. Negative: Noisy cooling; no card reader.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/30/2012
Source: VNReview
VN→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/27/2012
Source: Laptop.bg
BU→ENPositive: Tough with carbon basis; Durable battery; Extremely fast start; Good sound ; Comfortable keyboard and touchpad; Gorilla Glass screen protection, thin frame. Negative: No media card slot.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/26/2012
Source: Dinside
NO→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/21/2012
Rating: Total score: 83%
Source: Laptopworld.dk
DA→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/15/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: The Hikaku
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/13/2012
Dell XPS 13
Specifications
Notebook: Dell XPS 13Processor: Intel Core i7 2637M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.36kg
Price: 1499 euro
Links: Dell homepage Dell notebook section XPS 13 (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 5 scores (from 7 reviews)
Fashionably late? Dell's first Ultrabook seems late but impressive. The manufacturer drafts in high-end materials and fast components to convince those still reluctant to make a purchase. Should the mainstream competition from Apple, Samsung and Co. be scared of the new competitor on the block?
Source: Ubergizmo

The Dell XPS 13 is impressive: in a form-factor slightly bigger than the Macbook Air 11”, Dell has managed to provide a powerful 13” thin-and-light platform that scales up to a Core i7 processor, 256GB of SSD storage and 4G as an option. At $999, it offers twice the RAM and twice the SSD storage when compared to the current ($999) Macbook Air 11″, and its battery is 50% higher as well (7.5hrs vs 5hrs).
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/10/2012
Source: Notebookreview.com

After spending some time with the Dell XPS 13 we were left with the feeling that this is actually a reasonable alternative to a MacBook Air. Yes, if you buy the XPS 13 you have to live without Apple's operating system and you have to settle for a less-than-stellar screen. But you get a VERY durable Gorilla Glass screen, carbon fiber to keep the notebook cool, and exceptional performance with great battery life.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/30/2012
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 100% features: 80% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 90%
Source: PC Pro

Aside from an improved screen, we could barely ask for any more from Dell’s XPS 13. It’s attractive, built superbly, and the keyboard is an absolute joy. A bigger problem concerns the price. With the top-spec XPS 13 coming in at £300 more than Asus’ Zenbook UX31, the capacious, cutting-edge SSD pushes the price above its similarly-specified rival. Don’t let that put you off, however - settle for one of the more affordable models in the range, and a slightly smaller SSD, and Dell’s XPS 13 is capable of delivering a slice of Ultrabook excellence like no other.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 04/09/2012
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 50% performance: 83% features: 83% ergonomy: 83%
Source: Pocket Lint

If you're buying one, then you might want to spend money on a big SSD, rather than on a fast processor. This laptop isn't really about speed, it's about style, but it would be handy to store more files on it, especially with photos and video taking up so much space. We really found the Core i5 to be powerful enough for everything we wanted to do with it, and as nice as the i7 would be, it's not entirely necessary.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/04/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Techradar

There's only so cheap you can be with a thin and light chassis, Intel Core i5 or i7 under the hood, 4GB of memory and a 128/256GB SSD and Dell hasn't managed to make the XPS 13 as cheap as some competing Ultrabooks.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/20/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: T3

While we've only been able to get our hands on a pre-build version so far, the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook matches jaw-dropping design with characteristically strong performance. Although we would have liked a little more connectivity, there’s very little to fault with this device.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/13/2012
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Techreview Source

Those looking for a long-haul machine or a machine for pounding out a thousand words at a time should look elsewhere. The Dell performs admirably in just about all areas, but doesn’t really excel in any. If style, processing power and portability are among your top considerations in a Windows laptop, the Dell XPS 13 Ultraportable should be in your short list.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/06/2012
Dell XPS 13-321X-0281
Specifications
Notebook: Dell XPS 13-321X-0281Processor: Intel Core i7 2637M
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: 1600 euro
Links: Dell homepage Dell notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 1 scores (from 3 reviews)
Source: Digital Versus

Possibly the last company of its kind to try its hand at the ultrabook market, Dell is finally dishing it out with the XPS 13. The XPS 13 gets good overall performances from its CPU (video games excluded) and the finishing is nice, but the near-Saharan heat levels, pitiful display and anemic connectivity give this ultrabook a three-star rating, at best.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/24/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Futurelooks

Many people still think of Dell as that company that can sell you a cheap, but reasonably reliable laptop. Our household had the trusty 12-inch 700m for a number of years and it was a great little notebook. The problem with older Dells is that, well, they weren’t exactly the prettiest things to look at.The Dell XPS 13 is different. Yes, it borrows a lot of inspiration from the MacBook Air, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/05/2012
Source: Cyberbloc
DE→ENPositive: Familiar chiclet keyboard; Quality materials; Excellent workmanship; Lightweight. Negative: No RJ45 port and SD card slot; Touchpad driver trouble; Price.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/29/2012
Dell XPS 13-L321X-MLK
Specifications
Notebook: Dell XPS 13-L321X-MLKProcessor: Intel Core i5 3337U
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 4000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1920x1080 pixels
Weight: 1.4kg
Price: 1300 euro
Links: Dell homepage Dell notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 10 scores (from 13 reviews)
Source: PC Pro

By adding a stunning Full HD display, Dell has addressed our biggest complaint with the original model. There’s still room for improvement, not least with the touchpad, but, as the only Full HD Ultrabook available for less than £1,000, the Dell XPS 13 emerges as a bigger bargain than ever in 2013. It wholly deserves to take its place at the top of PC Pro’s A-List.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/05/2013
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 83% performance: 83% features: 100% workmanship: 100%
Source: IT Reviews

The Dell XPS 13-MLK ($1,399) is an ultrabook built for travel, with a strong, compact chassis made with exotic materials. The new Dell XPS 13-MLK ultrabook is made for ultimate portability. Its combination of multimedia prowess, a 1080p screen, and a compact chassis make it a great choice for the power user on the go.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/27/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Mag

The Dell XPS 13-MLK is a good fit for the road warrior who wants to carry some multimedia horsepower with her. Its 1080p screen, capacious SSD, and Core i5 power will go a long way if you need to rework a complex PowerPoint presentation or work on some photos for a pitch on the road. They're also good components for the travelling artist, especially if you're already used to carrying your work on an external USB 3.0 drive. The things holding the XPS 13 back from our highest honors are the lack of a touch screen and a lower battery life than the current high-end ultrabook Editor's Choice, the Asus Zenbook Prime Touch UX31A-BHI5T. Thanks to a better bang for the buck and that touch screen, the Asus UX31A-BHI5T holds on to its ultrabook crown.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/25/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: AnandTech

I don't think I'm out of line for being disappointed that the fundamental flaws of the Dell XPS 13's chassis design that I cited a year ago haven't really changed. Maybe I'm the only person that uses Intel's Quick Sync, but I've found it to be a tremendously useful tool in the field as a videographer just for making it easy to hand off YouTube ready clips to anyone who wants them, and the lack of an SD card reader in the XPS 13 is aggravating.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/21/2013
Source: Comp Reviews

Dell's XPS 13 may seem a bit bland by the latest Windows 8 standards with ultrabooks featuring touchscreens but it still offers a solid and compact option for those wanting a premium feeling system. The updated internals offer an additional USB 3.0 port and give it better battery life while leaving performance slightly improved. It is a shame that they didn't take a bit more time to update it more with an SD card slot or a higher resolution display.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/12/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: CNet

The Dell XPS 13 is a slightly fancier version of last year's Dellbook Air: compact, functional, and upgraded with an excellent display. But its price -- and its lack of touch-screen options -- leave it as a product I'd have some reservations recommending for everyone. It feels like last year's product in a 2013 Windows 8 world that's moved on from basic ultrabooks -- or, at this price, one that at least includes touch.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/07/2013
Rating: Total score: 72% performance: 70% mobility: 70%
Source: Hot Hardware

Dell is proud as peacock about the display upgrade it gave the XPS 13, and it should be. Not only does it boast a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) resolution providing end-users with more real-estate than is typical from a 13.3-inch display, but it's also an extremely high quality panel. Colors pop off the screen, it's bright and vibrant, and it's not saddled with strict viewing angles. In fact, you can still see the screen very well from the side.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/28/2013
Source: Notebookreview.com

We found almost nothing to complain about aside from a limited number of ports (just two USB, DisplayPort and no media card reader). The XPS 13 isn't inexpensive starting at $999 but for the money you're getting perhaps the best packaged Ultrabook on the market. We're happy to recommend the Dell XPS 13.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/21/2013
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 80% features: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: Techreview Source

Dell has refreshed their XPS 13 Ultrabook with Windows 8, a 1080p display and a solid-state hard drive to speed up boot times. While it does deliver on performance, it falls short on battery life and lacks a touch screen, which is surprising considering the relatively high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Digital Trends

We know the XPS 13 is a year-old design. If that knowledge was somehow blasted out of our memory, however, we wouldn’t have noticed. In some areas, like build quality and battery life, this aging system remains more advanced than competitors just coming to market. Despite its advantages, the original version was held back by its ho-hum 1366 x 768 display. The 1080p panel resolves that problem entirely.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Notebooks.com

The Dell XPS 13 is a great Ultrabook that delivers a lot of features in a small package. With a starting price below $1,000, the XPS 13 delivers serious value to shoppers looking for a good looking, powerful Ultrabook. Power users should consider the $400 price bump to get a 1080P HD display, double the RAM and double the storage, which still leaves the XPS 13 priced competitively with a similarly configured MacBook Air 13-inch. At the entry-level, the XPS 13 is comparable to the 11-inch MacBook Air on price, but offers a larger screen.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/05/2013
Source: Laptop Mag

We're glad that Dell updated its XPS 13 with a faster processor, 256GB SSD and a full HD display. We also continue to love the compact design with soft-touch finish. However, $1,599 is a lot to spend for a Windows 8 notebook that doesn't offer touch or an SD Card. Although it doesn't offer as much battery life (unless you upgrade to the optional slice), the Acer Aspire S7-391 has an even thinner and lighter design than the XPS 13 and includes a 1080p touch screen.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/05/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Notebookinfo
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/24/2013
Rating: Total score: 94% performance: 95% display: 95% mobility: 100% ergonomy: 95% emissions: 93%
Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition
Specifications
Notebook: Dell XPS 13 Developer EditionProcessor: Intel Core i7 3537U
Graphics Adapter: Intel HD Graphics 4000
Display: 13.3 inch, 16:9, 1920x1080 pixels
Weight: 1.3kg
Price: 1500 euro
Links: Dell homepage Dell notebook section XPS 13 Developer Edition (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 1 scores (from 2 reviews)
Source: PC Advisor

The XPS 13 Developer Edition has competition: Lenovo's ThinkPad, Apple's MacBook Retina or Air, or Google's Chromebook Pixel. These machines aren't customized for Linux work, but they're technically superior in construction and software certification, and it's nothing for developers to strip what's there and install any operating system they want. It will be interesting, however, to revisit this device once it's fully loaded with all the developer tools Dell has planned.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC World

The XPS 13 Developer Edition has competition: Lenovo’s ThinkPad, Apple’s MacBook Retina or Air, or Google's Chromebook Pixel. These machines aren't customized for Linux work, but they're technically superior in construction and software certification, and it's nothing for developers to strip what's there and install any operating system they want. It will be interesting, however, to revisit this device once it's fully loaded with all the developer tools Dell has planned.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/02/2013
Comment
Dell: Dell Inc. is a multinational technology corporation that develops, manufactures, sells, and supports personal computers and other computer-related products. Based in Texas, Dell employs more than 82,700 people worldwide (2009). In 2006, Dell purchased the computer hardware manufacturer Alienware. In most countries, the laptops are directly sold to consumers by Dell and each notebook custom-assembled according to a selection of options. Market share regarding sales of personal computers in 2007 (market research IDC): HP 18.9 %, Dell 16.4 %, Acer 9.9 %, Lenovo 7.5 %, Apple 5.7 %
Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.
Intel HD Graphics 3000: Integrated graphics card in the Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core ix-2xxx). The HD 3000 is the faster (internally GT2 called) version with 12 Execution Units (EUs).
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
Intel HD Graphics 4000: Processor graphics card in the high end Ivy Bridge models. Offers a different clock speed in the different CPU models (ULV to desktop quad core) and therefore a different performance.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core i5:
2467M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.6-2.3 GHz due to Turbo boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 1150 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.
3337U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q1 2013. Offers a core clock of 1.8 - 2.7 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1100 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.
Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.
2637M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.7-2.8 GHz due to Turbo Boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 1200 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.
3537U: Fast Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q1 2013. Offers a core clock of 2.0 - 3.1 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1200 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.
13.3: This is a common display format for subnotebooks. Netbooks, UMPC and some subnotebooks have tinier displays. Nevertheless, the majority of standard laptops has a higher format. The advantage of a small display is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes, especially with high resolutions.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
1.3 kg:
This subnotebook is one of the most lightweight of all notebooks and can be carried very easily. There exist only few sub-notebooks, which weight less. 10 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.
1.4 kg:
79.76%: This rating is not convincing. The laptop is evaluated below average, this is not really a recommendation for purchase.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

















