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Dell XPS 13 9300 FHD version is brighter than the 4K UHD version and other interesting differences

Dell XPS 13 9300 FHD version is brighter than the 4K UHD version and other interesting differences (Image source: Dell)
Dell XPS 13 9300 FHD version is brighter than the 4K UHD version and other interesting differences (Image source: Dell)
There are some advantages and disadvantages to each option with some being obvious and others not so obvious. We go over each one here to help potential buyers make their decision.

So far, we've tested three separate XPS 13 9300 SKUs: two with the FHD display and one with the 4K UHD display. Aside from the obvious resolution discrepancy between them, we've also found a handful of other differences worth mentioning especially if you're on the fence between one option or the other.

The first and most noticeable difference will be the glossy Gorilla Glass panel on the 4K option. Whereas the FHD version has both matte and glossy to choose from, the 4K option must be glossy due to its touchscreen support. This can be a deal breaker for certain users who swear by matte displays to reduce glare as much as possible.

The second difference relates to display brightness. When at the maximum brightness setting with the ambient light sensor disabled, we're able to record a brightness of 414 nits on the 4K display and ~610 nits on each of the two FHD displays. If you intend to use the XPS 13 outdoors frequently, then an FHD SKU will be the better option.

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Dell XPS 13 9300 4K UHD
Sharp LQ134R1, IPS, 13.4", 3840x2400
Dell XPS 13 9300 Core i7-1065G7
Sharp LQ134N1, IPS, 13.4", 1920x1200
Dell XPS 13 9300 i5 FHD
SHP14CB, IPS, 13.4", 1920x1200
Display
4%
10%
Display P3 Coverage
64.5
66.3
3%
71.5
11%
sRGB Coverage
91.4
97.3
6%
99.4
9%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.6
68.5
3%
73.5
10%
Response Times
-25%
-37%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41.6 ?(23.2, 18.4)
50 ?(22, 28)
-20%
60 ?(28.4, 31.6)
-44%
Response Time Black / White *
25.6 ?(15.6, 10)
33.2 ?(16, 17.2)
-30%
33.2 ?(16.4, 16.8)
-30%
PWM Frequency
2500 ?(25)
2500 ?(20)
Screen
1%
7%
Brightness middle
414
607.6
47%
619
50%
Brightness
401
595
48%
591
47%
Brightness Distribution
94
96
2%
91
-3%
Black Level *
0.28
0.4
-43%
0.35
-25%
Contrast
1479
1519
3%
1769
20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.06
3.23
-6%
3
2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.5
8.67
-33%
8.2
-26%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.5
1.01
71%
1
71%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3
5.5
-83%
5.2
-73%
Gamma
2.42 91%
2.12 104%
2.14 103%
CCT
6840 95%
6413 101%
6340 103%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
61.1
63
3%
66.9
9%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
91.4
97.5
7%
99.3
9%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-7% / -1%
-7% / 2%

* ... smaller is better

Thirdly, black-white and gray-gray response times are surprisingly faster on the 4K panel than the FHD panel. Usually, the opposite is true as 4K panels typically have slower response times than their FHD counterparts. This means that you'll see less ghosting on the 4K XPS 13 9300 than on the FHD XPS 13 9300.

And lastly, pulse-width modulation (PWM) is present on the FHD version whereas it is completely absent on the 4K version. You may want to consider the 4K option if your eyes are sensitive to onscreen flickering.

Other attributes like color space and contrast ratio are almost the same between the FHD and 4K panels. While battery life is shorter on the 4K panel by about 90 minutes, overall runtimes are still very long across the board at over 11 hours of real-world WLAN use.

More detailed information on the XPS 13 9300 beyond their displays can be found on our individual reviews here.

XPS 13 9300 4K UHD black-white response times
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD black-white response times
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD gray-gray response times
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD gray-gray response times
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD exhibits no PWM no matter the brightness setting
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD exhibits no PWM no matter the brightness setting
XPS 13 9300 FHD black-white response times
XPS 13 9300 FHD black-white response times
XPS 13 9300 FHD gray-gray response times
XPS 13 9300 FHD gray-gray response times
XPS 13 9300 FHD exhibits PWM at 0 to 25 percent brightness levels
XPS 13 9300 FHD exhibits PWM at 0 to 25 percent brightness levels
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD color profile
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD color profile
XPS 13 9300 FHD color profile
XPS 13 9300 FHD color profile
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD glossy
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD glossy
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD glossy
XPS 13 9300 4K UHD glossy
XPS 13 9300 FHD matte
XPS 13 9300 FHD matte
XPS 13 9300 FHD matte
XPS 13 9300 FHD matte

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 05 > Dell XPS 13 9300 FHD version is brighter than the 4K UHD version and other interesting differences
Allen Ngo, 2020-05-15 (Update: 2020-05-15)