What is the Dell XPS 13 2015?
The 2015 Dell XPS 13 is Dell’s latest slim and light Ultrabook laptop. It takes a different tack to the Apple MacBook Air, Asus UX305 and even previous XPS 13 models, in that it has looked to fit as large a screen in as small a chassis as possible. In that sense it is rather more like the brand new MacBook.
The result is an Ultrabook laptop that has a conventional 13in screen, but a body that’s as deep and wide as a normal 12in model. This new model Dell XPS 13 costs around £850, a highly competitive price. This price tag, combined with excellent all-round performance, makes for one of the most desirable small laptops you can currently buy.
image: http://img.worldinout.com/img/201512/16/111740574.jpg
Dell XPS 13 2015 – Design
We particularly like the way Dell has hidden the MPN number and other required info on a sticker that sits underneath a lift-up metal plate on the underside. Arguably the rest of the underside isn’t quite tidy enough to completely pull off the minimalist look – those ventilation grilles let the side down – but it’s a welcome effort nonetheless.
image: http://img.worldinout.com/img/201512/16/111740364.jpg
Inside it’s all soft-touch plastic, which may not sound as premium but rest assured it looks and feels great. The carbon fibre weave finish does raise an eyebrow but it somehow works on this machine, especially as we know it is actually made with carbon fibre underneath.
The most striking thing about the design, though, is the lack of bezel round that screen. It’s just 5mm wide, which compares to around 15mm for a more typical machine of this type. It’s surprising just how much impact this difference has and it instantly makes every other thick-bezelled laptop look archaic in comparison.
image: http://img.worldinout.com/img/201512/16/111740834.jpg
As a result of that lack of bezel the corners of the XPS 13 have been sharpened up and we actually think this improves the look further. The previous XPS 13 looked a bit toy-like in its roundedness but this machine looks serious(ly stylish).
Dell XPS 13 2015 – Features
This is a fully-fledged premium ultrabook so doesn’t skimp on all the key features you’d expect. There’s a backlit keyboard, single-surface touchpad, Full HD screen, plenty of connectivity and a proper processor on the inside too – none of this hamstrung Intel Core M performance that hampers the new MacBook.
Talking specifics, the screen is an IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, which is a pretty spot on balance of high dpi and readability – an important consideration given Windows is still poor at handling ultra-high resolution displays.
Due to the ultra-slim bezel there’s no space for a webcam in its usual position above the screen. Instead it sits in the bottom left corner. It’s definitely not as convenient a position but it’s a pretty small compromise and still works fine for Skype and the like.
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That connectivity consists of a mini DisplayPort and a USB 3.0 on the left edge, along with a neat little push-button battery life indicator and Kensington lock slot – Dell couldn’t let its business roots go entirely. Meanwhile on the right edge is an SD card slot and a second USB 3.0 port, making for a very well balanced selection of connections, even if in an ideal world we'd have one more USB port. The sides are also home to the speaker grilles for the stereo speakers.
The exact processor you’ll get depends on which configuration you opt for with either an Intel Core i5-5200U or Core i7-5500U available. Likewise memory configurations are either 4GB or 8GB while SSD storage options range from 128GB to 512GB. There’s also the option of a touch screen that has a 3200 x 1800 pixel resolution and adds £300 to the cost (it does come with the faster processor and more storage too). We’re reviewing the non-touch version, though.
image: http://img.worldinout.com/img/201512/16/111740224.jpg
User upgrades are somewhat limited on this machine. You can swap out the M.2 form factor SSD but the RAM is soldered on and, besides, removing the base is decidedly tricky. It’s easy enough to remove the screws and there are no warranty void stickers anywhere but actually prizing the base off is tough due to the strong clips used. It’s not impossible but difficult enough that we gave up for fear of damaging the machine.
Dell XPS 13 2015 – Screen and Sound
Dell’s fancy “Infinity Display” would be for nought if it didn’t also deliver good image quality but rest assured Dell has not skimped where it matters: this display is stunning.
It’s obvious this is a quality panel as soon as you fire the machine up. It looks evenly lit, with no signs of backlight bleed, there are no annoying reflections and colours simply leap forth from it. It’s also obvious just how well it reproduces deep blacks along with bright whites.
image: http://img.worldinout.com/img/201512/16/111740144.jpg
