Verdict
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) may have an eye - catch portable design and a dandy covert , but significant performance issues make this a frustrative laptop to use , even for simple day - to - day tasks . You ’re better off spending a small extra for better character , or settling for an one-time iteration of the XPS range that is n’t compromise by thermal issues .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Dell XPS 13 serial has long been view as one of the absolute best 13 - inch laptop lay out outside the MacBook Air , but the late entry in the series is a backwards step for the firebrand .
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) still feature the far-famed , ultra - portable design that made its predecessors so beloved , but the ilk of theAsus Zenbook S 13 organic light-emitting diode ( 2023),MSI Prestige 13 Evo ( 2023)and theMacBook aviation M2have all closed the break .
What ’s more , Dell has been so focussed on slimming down the portable that it ’s get major issues in functioning . Throttled speeds and constant overheating lead to a compromise experience , where the laptop can shin with the most basic project .
The one silver lining of the 2022 XPS 13 is that it ’s relatively tacky , with the base monetary value derive in at $ 849/£849 and my critical review model ( with 16 GB RAM , 512 GB SSD and touchscreen ) priced at $ 949/£1099 . Nevertheless , with the reaching of the future - gazingDell XPS 13 Plus , the standard Dell XPS 13 suddenly feels like the blank out tiddler .
Design and Keyboard
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) is a good - looking laptop . Its renowned InfinityEdge screen ascertain the screenbezelis scarcely seeable , with a slender black-market line cast the screenland .
Dell has also opted for a plash of vividness rather than staying dependable with awfully boring silvers and Black . With the XPS 13 , you get the pick of a purplish Umber ( photoed here ) or a adorable bright Sky blue angel .
There ’s not much going on with the hat , with the Dell logotype slap right in the centre , but the metallic design glistens in the sun for a dazzle effect .
This is a remarkably slender laptop computer , with a height of just 13.99 mm . That ’s not quite the thinnest 13 - in laptop available though , with the MacBook M2 measuring in at 11.3 millimetre and the ZenBook 13 S OLED at 11.88 mm .
Dell can at least brag that the XPS 13 ( 2022 ) is marginally lighter , hitting the scale at just 1.17 kg . That ’s Inner Light enough to easily hold in one hand , or rapier under my subdivision as I send about the office . It should tally into the huge legal age of bags too for unlined commutes .
I ’m a big fan of lissome laptops , but I ’m not so keen on Dell using it as an apology to be scrimpy on ports . The XPS 13 only has 2xUSB - Cports ( withThunderbolt 4support ) with no phone laborer , USB - A or HDMI connection in sight . Dell told me it can no longer outfit legacy ports onto its laptop without compromise on the ultra - fragile design , but that excuse does n’t heap up when Asus has been capable to bone up all of the above onto the even thinner ZenBook S 13 organic light-emitting diode .
At least Dell bundles USB - C to USB - A 3.0 and USB - coulomb to 3.5 millimeter adaptors in the box , but it will still in all likelihood be a nuisance for those who still employ USB drives and wire shiner on the regular .
The webcam is a 720p affair , capturing farinaceous picture , which is perfectly fine for rapid climb meetings and the like – just do n’t wait to set in motion a YouTube vocation with it .
The keyboard does n’t have a huge amount of travel , due to the laptop computer ’s sylphlike physique , but it ’s still enjoyable to type on . There ’s an audible click to each pressure , which is n’t loud enough to disturb nearby confrere . The blanched backlight also helps the letters to stand up out , especially if you ’re work after hours .
Unlike the more expensive Plus fashion model and its tactual offer , the XPS 13 feature a physical trackpad . It works just as well as you ’d trust , with responsive swipes and clicks .
Display and Sound
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) features a 13.4 - column inch screen , with a 1920 x 1200 resolution . For an extra £ 270/$300 , you may upgrade to a 4 K display for sharper image quality , but there ’s no option to kick upstairs to anOLEDorMini LEDpanel .
That ’s an odd determination by Dell after itsDell XPS 13 OLED ( 2021)model from the preceding multiplication was receive so well . The only coherent explanation for this is that Dell is reserving the top tier glasses for the more expensive Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop this metre around .
To give Dell mention , the price of the XPS 13 is reflected by the absence of an OLED screen . The base terms of the latest XPS 13 is just $ 849/£849 , while the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED number in at a more costly $ 1399.99/£1599.99 .
By gravel to a traditional LCD panel , the Dell XPS 13 struggles to present inky dark blacks , which results in a loss of detail for dark panorama such as Game of Thrones ’ Battle for Winterfell . But Dell has still managed to fit this laptop computer with an first-class panel despite the limitation of LCD .
I recorded a max brightness of 509 nit with the XPS 13 , which is one of the brightest panels I ’ve seen on a laptop , and is well above the target 300 nits that most manufacturers take aim for . Such a high brightness not only ensures great visibility outdoors , but also drives up the contrast for a more pleasing depiction . The Dell XPS 13 laptop ’s contrast comes in at 1840:1 , which again is one of the highest scores I ’ve seen from a laptop out of doors of OLED and Mini LED screen .
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) fall out the naked heart test . The punchy , colourful style of an Across the Spider - Verse trailer look signally vibrant on the Dell XPS 13 . I ’ve enjoyed watching boob tube shows and motion picture on this laptop computer , although the small blind sizing and 16:10 aspect proportion do lead in a squashed persuasion .
color coverage is safe , with 100 % of the sRGB gamut overcompensate here to insure smashing truth for amusement purposes . The extensive Adobe RGB and DCI - P3 gamuts are n’t quite as well covered , both derive in at 80 % on the Dell XPS 13 . This entail you may notice inaccurate colour when working with pic or video , but the coverage is still in high spirits enough for entry - level creators who do n’t require flawlessness .
Dell also volunteer up the touchscreen , summate an extra $ 100/£100 to the cost . I personally find it useful to swipe on the screen to scroll down or pinch to zoom in , but I ’m proud of to see that it ’s an option rather than an enforce feature .
The speakers are deposit on the bottom of the laptop , so music is blast into the control surface of your desk in an inauspicious fashion , making for a muffled sound . Despite this , I was still pleased with the operation of the speakers , equal to of room - filling sound . Dialogue is presented intelligibly , throw the verbalizer well competent for film and TV show .
Performance
I ’ve been moderately positive about the Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) so far , and that should n’t make out as a surprisal since Dell has surpass at conception and screenland lineament in recent years . But I actually had a torrid prison term with this laptop , and that ’s all down to the carrying out .
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) struggle to finish simple-minded labor without freeze or encountering frustrating lag . Whenever I encountered any web site with automobile - playing videos and adverts ( which is most now ) the Dell XPS 13 would throw a tantrum and become unresponsive . Wait a few second , the laptop would eventually commence running normally again , but another slowdown always feel right around the corner .
The Intel Core i5 - 1230U processor that power the Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) is admittedly a generation old now we ’re in 2023 , but it should still be potent enough to avoid such topic . My Geekbench 5 consequence betoken as much , showing the XPS 13 to be significantly slower than the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED ( 2023 ) and MacBook Air M2 , but still faster than the Dell XPS 13 OLED which was considered to be rapid back in 2021 .
However , the Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) posted an abnormally inadequate final result in the PCMark 10 benchmark , which is a well more demanding test . Out of all of the Windows laptops that Trusted Reviews has brush up over the past few old age , only theSurface Go 3 – which is considered to be a Windows tablet rather than a laptop – post a risky PCMark 10 score .
This leads me to close that Dell ’s alternative of mainframe is n’t the problem , but rather the laptop ’s power to keep the chip nerveless . Any sustained use or demanding work load will cause the laptop computer to heat up to such an extent that the mainframe becomes throttle , ensue in these frustrating slowdown and halt .
This holds up to my actual - world experience , as the bottom of the laptop became scorching hot , and I often get wind the fans whizz up into action even when I was just browsing the web . I became so annoyed by these issues , that I often bump myself switching to other laptops just to complete basic workplace .
Dell offers up to 16 GB of RAM , which is the amount of memory installed inside my inspection building block , so do n’t expect that to offset the performance emergence . The graphics performance of the Iris Xe Graphics is underwhelming too , accomplish a bad 3DMark Time Spy result than any Windows laptop we ’ve reviewed in 2023 , and therefore is not a good selection for gaming and substance creation .
Even theSSDspeeds were well below modal , forcing me to wait longer for boot - up and any installations to the heavy cause .
Battery Life
For a 13 - inch productivity laptop , I generally expect a battery life of at least 10 hours . woefully , the Dell XPS 13 ( 2023 ) failed to hit that target , managing just 6 hours and 45 arcminute during our go - to PCMark 10 battery pretense test with the screenland luminousness slur down to 150 nit .
In compare , the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED ( 2023 ) lasted 11 hours and 53 moment in the same test , while the MSI Prestige 13 Evo survive for a noteworthy 14 hour and 53 minutes .
So why is the Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) so inadequate in this regard ? It looks like Dell has prefer for a small battery to achieve the slender form , with a 51Wh cell , compared to the 63Wh capacity of the said Zenbook . The efficiency of the central processing unit will also have a big impact , with the XPS 13 ( 2022 ) powered by a somewhat superannuated chip .
Topping up the barrage fire with the bundled 45W exponent adapter is a slow process too , take 2 hours to hit 100 % . It accept half of that fourth dimension for the MSI Prestige 13 Evo battery to be fully replenished .
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Should you buy it?
It ’s difficult to find a laptop that looks and feel as right as the Dell XPS 13 without drop more . But I still think you ’re safe off blend for a discounted Dell XPS 13 OLED alternatively .
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) flounder under pressure , even for simple day - to - day workloads . If you desire a stress - free performance , you ’re better off spend a little more for the likes of a MacBook Air or Asus Zenbook .
Final Thoughts
The Dell XPS 13 ( 2022 ) represents a disappointing decline for the laptop serial publication that only lately overtop ourBest Laptopchart . The design is still fantastic , and the presentation is superb despite miss out on an OLED gore , but the XPS is have down by a unfeignedly awful performance .
The Intel chip that powers the laptop computer is suffering from thermal return , with thwarting slowdown and block occuring during introductory day - to - day undertaking . And even when carrying into action is running swimmingly , it ’s still put away far behind modern rival . Dell seems to have acknowledged this laptop ’s limitation by knocking the starting cost down to a amazingly affordable £ 848.99/$849 . But the performance woe are significant enough for me to recommend you look elsewhere .
TheZenbook S 13 organic light-emitting diode , MacBook AirandAcer Swift Go 14are all vastly superior pick . And if you ’re looking for something more affordable check out theSurface Laptop Go 2instead , or visit ourBest Budget Laptoplist .
Trusted Score
How we test
Every laptop we review choke through a serial of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build calibre , performance , filmdom tone and battery life .
These admit courtly synthetic benchmarks , scripted run and a series of veridical - world check mark .
FAQs
Dell has n’t confirmed the existence of a standard Dell XPS 13 laptop computer for 2023 yet , but it may well be waiting until September when Intel is expected to set up its next quite a little of processors . But curiously , Dell has sustain there will be a refresh of the Dell XPS 13 Plus for 2023 .
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very similar to the standard version , but offers a few excess feature such as a larger keyboard , digital touch cake and haptic trackpad . properly now , the Plus selection is also available with more up - to - engagement spec .
Test Data
Full Specs
