Dell XPS 13 (9370, 9380) - Overview of all the rumors, dates, configurations, and tests

9/10/2018: Added information on the XPS 13 9370 and rumors of the XPS 13 9380.
12/6/2018: Added initial benchmarks of the XPS 13 9380.

Introduced in 2012 in the context of Intel's Ultrabook initiative, Dell has continued to develop the XPS 13. With the current XPS 13 9370 model introduced in January 2018 at the CES event in Las Vegas, the notebook became slightly slimmer compared to the XPS 13 9360 predecessor. In addition, there was a white "Rose Gold" model.

The launch of new XPS models during the yearly CES in January has already become a tradition. However, we should assume that like its 9350 and 9343 predecessors, the current model will remain on the market for several years and only get internal updates (CPU, GPU, display, etc.) that will not change the exterior of the Dell laptop. So we probably should not expect a larger update before 2020, and dependent on the launch cycles from Intel, there will rather be a CPU refresh (9380) at the next CES 2019. In the course of this update, we also expect new display variants (matte, possibly HDR).

While the Intel Whiskey Lake processors introduced in fall of 2018 basically correspond to the existing Kaby Lake processors in terms of their key values, they are able to achieve higher maximum Turbo speeds due to the improved manufacturing process, at least as long as sufficient cooling is ensured.  Theoretically, the i7-8565U has a clock speed of up to 4.6 GHz, with the i7-8550U reaching a maximum of 4.0 GHz in comparison.

However, there is a problem with extreme heat development of the chip, causing devices with insufficient cooling solutions to only be able to use their performance advantage for a very short time period. The XPS 13 9370 with the i7-8550 processor already had the same problem when it was only able to use the Turbo for a bit longer during the first run of the Cinebench R15 multi-loop but then dropped to a level that was around 10% lower in the following runs. In the case that Dell did not improve the cooling resources in the XPS 13, which does not seem very likely considering the extremely compact build of the laptop, the XPS 13 9380 would suffer a similar fate under load for longer time periods. In this scenario, we would not expect any significant performance increases.

There are already numerous reviews of the Dell XPS 13 9370 online. We have also taken several looks at various models of the XPS laptop series in some extensive reviews, where for example the XPS 13 9370 was able to convince us with the 4K display, the input devices, and the battery life. As for negative points, the observed coil whine and the lack of a matte display version had to be noted. The latter was offered with the 9360 predecessor in connection with the FHD panel.

The most important key features of the XPS 13 9370 and its predecessors include a high screen-to-surface ratio of 80.7%, which was achieved by a particularly thin display bezel measuring only about 4 millimeters (~0.16 in). However, this caused the webcam to slip to the lower display edge, resulting in some awkward viewing angles in video-recordings. In contrast to the 9360 predecessor model, the current XPS 13 9370 series does not offer an option for a matte display. According to our information, there is supposed to be an option for a non-reflective display again in the context of the next update (XPS 13 9380).

Dell advertises the XPS 13 as a subnotebook with particularly high performance reserves provided by the integrated Intel Core-i quad-core processors of the U series. In terms of materials, Dell uses an aluminum unibody case in combination with elements of carbon-fiber compounds in the XPS 13.

If you take a look at the Dell online shop, you can find a total of 14 different configurations (as of September 2018). In addition, there are also various versions of the Dell XPS 13 9365 2-in-1, although this is a completely separate device. The listed models of the XPS 13 9370 differ in terms of their CPU selection, sizes of the working memory and PCIe-SSD, and the display used. Their prices range from about 1300 Euros up to 2600 Euros (~$1482 - $2963; starting at $850 in the US). In case your desired option is not listed in the Dell online store, you can also configure it individually by calling Dell's sales team. 

• CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U or Intel Core i7-8550U, possibly also an Intel Core i3-8130U in the future (only announced for the US for now)
• RAM: 8 GB LPDDR3 with 1866 MHz or 16 GB LPDDR3 with 2133 MHz
• SSD: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB PCIe-SSD
• Display: InfinityEdge display, 13.3 in, FHD (1920x1080) or InfinityEdge touch display, 13.3 in, 4K, Ultra HD (3840x2160)
• OS: Windows 10 Home (64-bit), Ubuntu Linux 18.04, or Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) when ordering from the business store
• Warranty: Up to four years of Premium Support Plus with onsite service