Sponsor Content Created With Dell
Is the XPS 13 a good choice for students and what can it handle day to day?
The Dell XPS 13 (DX13260) is an ultraportable laptop that combines premium build quality with formidable performance and features.
TL;DR
- The Dell XPS 13 delivers smooth, responsive performance and power efficiency thanks to Intel’s latest Core Series 3 chip.
- With a 0.5-inch thickness and weighing a mere 2.2lbs (1kg), the XPS 13 is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop from Dell to date.
- The XPS 13 is a versatile device with a range of memory and storage configurations to suit different budgets and needs.
- With long battery life, a responsive 2.5K LCD touchscreen, and a backlit keyboard, the XPS 13 helps you stay productive and comfortable wherever you are.
In the old days, parents would prepare their children for the new school year by going to the nearest store to purchase necessities such as new pencils, erasers, and stacks of notebooks. Fundamentally, the student toolkit hasn’t changed much over the years, but we have seen the addition of one vital tool: technology. Buying a laptop is a serious investment for many, but it has undoubtedly revolutionized the classroom education system. Dell is one of the few brands with a diverse laptop lineup, so picking the right one for school may not be so straightforward. However, the XPS 13, given its design and capabilities, is probably the best-suited for education, particularly for undergraduates or postgraduates seeking a high-quality laptop that doesn’t command an eye-watering price tag.
The XPS 13 is a lightweight, thin laptop that delivers essential features, efficient performance, and long-lasting battery life to help students succeed. What really makes the XPS 13 stand above the rest in its category is the ability to deliver Dell’s premium XPS experience in such a thin form factor and at such an accessible price point.
The laptop doesn’t try to dazzle consumers with unnecessary extras. Instead, the XPS 13 strikes a perfect balance between performance, portability, and affordability without compromising on features or quality that consumers value about the XPS brand.
How powerful is the XPS 13?
The XPS 13 delivers the fast, efficient, and smooth performance you need. Multiple tabs open for research? No problem? Watching a video in the background at the same time? It’ll handle it with aplomb. It’s a great option for students of all levels of education.
The XPS 13 comes with 8GB of memory and a 256GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. There are also options to boost memory and storage to 32GB or 1TB, respectively, for an extra cost.
How portable is the XPS 13?
Portability is one of the XPS 13’s strongest suits because Dell engineered it that way. With a svelte profile of just 0.5 inches (12.7mm), the XPS 13 is about as thick as a slice of sandwich bread. It weighs 2.2lbs (1kg), so it’s lighter than many textbooks. As a result, the XPS 13 is the definition of mobility.
Although the XPS 13 may look like a delicate piece of machinery, it's actually pretty durable. Beyond its lightness, the XPS 13 features a robust CNC-machined aluminum chassis, the kind of quality that consumers have come to expect from Dell’s prestigious XPS lineup. There are no gaps or joints, as the XPS 13 features a tight design.
How long can the XPS 13 go without a charger?
The XPS 13, with a 52 Whr Li-Ion battery with 800ED cells, has no problem lasting an entire school day, whether attending lectures, working in the library, or spending hours and hours in a study group. Dell’s official estimates put the XPS 13’s battery life at up to 17 hours of Netflix streaming.
The XPS 13’s exceptional battery life is due to several factors. For starters, the laptop uses the latest Intel mobile processors, which are both performant and energy-efficient. Then there’s the power-smart display that switches the 2.5K LCD screen’s refresh rate between 30 Hz and 120 Hz to save energy.
What features does the XPS 13 offer students that other big brands don’t?
The XPS 13 comes with a 2.5K (2560x1600) touchscreen that covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut for accurate color representation. The panel’s variable refresh rate (VRR), which ranges from 30Hz to 120Hz, helps extend battery life. The touchscreen functionality is a great feature that improves productivity without relying on a mouse.
One thing that’s often overlooked is the laptop’s cooling solution. Unlike other competitors in this segment, the XPS 13 sports a dual-fan cooling system despite its thin profile. It helps keep the laptop cool so it won’t overheat when placed on the consumer’s lap.
Other little things can be a game-changer, too. The XPS 13’s backlit keyboard, far from being just eye candy, enables students to work in the dark or in low-light conditions. The two-megapixel infrared camera, which is Windows Hello-ready, lets consumers log in with facial recognition, and it is also decent for video conferencing. Buyers can expect top-quality audio from the XPS 13, as Dell has equipped it with a quad-speaker setup that supports 360-degree spatial sound.
If you think a Dell XPS 13 is right for you, find out more on the Dell website: US readers click here, CA readers here, and UK readers here.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.