14 DAY TRIAL // Dell has just announced new upgrades for the XPS 13 lineup, and the 2020 generation comes with massive improvements for both the laptop and the 2-in-1 models.
The new devices are essentially upgrades to the Dell XPS 13 9300, so they launch as XPS 13 9310 and XPS 2-in-1 9310.
First and foremost, there are very little changes in terms of display, as the laptop comes with the same 13.3-inch display, while the 2-in-1 sibling features a 13.4-inch screen.
Both feature up to 4K HDR resolution with DCI-P3 and Dolby vision.
The processor is the welcome upgrade, as the new models can be configured with up to Intel’s 11th Gen Core i7 processors. The laptop can be equipped with an i7-1185G7 chip running at 4.8 GHz, while the 2-in-1 is available with an i7-1165G7 processor that can reach 4.7 GHz.
Both devices are now available with a maximum of 32GB RAM, and the bigger change this time is that they run at 4,267 MHz on the new models.
In terms of graphics, the standard Intel UHD Graphics version continues to be available, but at the same time, the top-of-the-range configurations can be equipped with Intel’s Iris Xe board.
Some upgrades are happening in terms of storage too, as the laptop can now come with up to 2TB of SSD storage, while the 2-in-1 version supports a maximum of 1TB.
Dell has also added two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery.
The new XPS 13 lineup will go on sale on September 30, with pricing to start at $999 for the laptop and at $1,249 for the 2-in-1 model.
Dell is betting big on the XPS 13, especially as it’s one of the company’s premium models that compete against the likes of Microsoft’s Surface Laptop. There’s no word on a refresh for the 15-inch model for now, but there’s a good chance a hardware upgrade is planned here too.
The company previously highlighted the premium build quality of the XPS 13, explaining that everything, from the display to the under-the-hood performance was specifically supposed to excel. The display, for example, is a configuration “like no other,” Dell said, pointing out that “stunning is an understatement.”
“Take full advantage of HDR content’s superior dynamic range with Dolby Vision™, which can deliver colors never before seen on SDR PC displays. Dolby Vision™ content can deliver highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are up to 10 times darker. Plus, the stunning VESA certified DisplayHDR 400 display on the optional 4K+ panel enables over 16 million colors that have more depth and dimension than ever before,” Dell said when it launched the new models earlier this year.
“From dual fans separated to spread heat over a larger area and a single heat pipe designed with a single evaporator and dual condenser, to hidden exhaust venting through the hinge, thermal design ensures you have the best performing system in the thinnest form factor possible. Additionally, your system is equipped with GORE Thermal Insulation, which provides thermal conductivity levels lower than air in a thin, flexible format to help keep components cool.”
The refreshed 2-in-1 model is also getting a lineup of new colors to replace the platinum silver and the arctic white finishes that were already available. The new colors are called “platinum silver with black carbon fiber composite palm rest” and “frost with arctic white woven glass fiber palm rests” and in addition to offering a premium feel, they should also help set the new lineup aside from the previous models.