The Dell XPS 13 is Our Favorite Laptop, and Now the Company Has Built a Two-in-One Version: Can It Live Up to the Original?

Certainly, you'll have a hard time telling the XPS 13 2 & 1 from the laptop at a glance. The only dead giveaway is the hinge, which is now a 360-degree rotating design. The exterior and interior are otherwise identical, which is a good thing. It means that the XPS 13 remains one of the most attractive laptops available, and its competitors have been slow to copy it. The two-in-one slim profile and soft touch interior remain unique and even inviting, but don't let the looks fool you. Despite its similarities with the original, the XPS 13 2 & 1 makes some major changes.

One of the most significant changes is the processor. It's a Core i7-7500H, which uses less power than the Core i7-7500 found in most competitors. Normally, we would expect that to be a drag on performance, but Dell uses a feature called "Gigantic Power Mode" - temporary boost wattage. The result of this processor is that it performs almost as well as the more power-hungry version in short bursts. Anything that stresses the processor will eventually show its limit, but in day-to-day use, the laptops feel very quick, thanks not only to Gigantic Power Mode but also the fast solid-state drive.

Dell has reduced the size of the battery from 60 watts to 46 watts, a move the company says was needed to keep the system slim without compromising on keyboard travel or touch pad size. Luckily, this power-sipping trip helps to maintain endurance. We measured almost 5 hours of battery life at our demanding Peacekeeper tests and the Easy HD video loop extended that to 10 hours 37 minutes. These numbers aren't par with the original XPS 13, but they're better than competitors like the HP Spectre x-360 and the Lenovo Yoga 19, despite the fact that both of those have bigger batteries. Overall, there's not much to complain about, although the touchpad could be better, and the display can look dim.

There is one area where the XPS 13 2 & 1 really excels: the keyboard. The only major issue with this laptop is its price. It still starts at $1000 for a Core i5 processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM, and 128 gigabytes of storage. Now, HP will let you double the memory and hard drive capacity for the same price or even a little less. The XPS 13 201 base model is also $200 more than the regular XPS 13 laptops. This makes it difficult to consider this laptop as a must-have device due to its high price point. However, despite this, it's still an excellent all-around device and probably the one to get if budget isn't your primary concern.

In conclusion, the Dell XPS 13 2 & 1 is a unique and inviting laptop that offers many of the same features as its original counterpart, but with some significant changes. Its processor uses less power than usual, thanks to Gigantic Power Mode, and this helps to maintain endurance. The fast solid-state drive also plays a big role in making the laptop feel very quick. While there are a few minor complaints, such as the touchpad being better and the display looking dim at times, these don't detract from an otherwise excellent device. Overall, it's worth considering if budget isn't your primary concern.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Dell XPS 13 is our favorite laptop and now the company has built a two-in-one version can it live up to the original certainly you'll have a hard time telling the XPS 13 2 & 1 from the laptop at a glance the only dead giveaway is the hand which is now a 360 degree rotating design the exterior interior are otherwise in your identical it's a good thing then that the XPS 13 is still one of the most attractive laptops and its competitors have been slow to copy it the two-in-one slim profile and soft touch interior remain unique and even inviting but don't let the looks fool you despite its similarities with the original the XPS 13 2 & 1 makes some major changes what is the processor it's a core i7 7 y 75 which uses less power than the core i7 7500 you found in most competitors normally we'd expect that to be a drag on performance but Dell uses a feature it called gigantic power mode temporary boost wattage the result of the processor that performed almost as well as the more power-hungry version core i7 I'll be it in short bursts anything that stresses the processor will eventually show the chips limit but in day-to-day use the laptops felt very quick thanks not only to dynamic power mode but also the fast solid-state drive now dell has reduced the size of the battery from 60 watts to 46 watts a move the company says was needed to keep the system slim without compromising on keyboard travel or touch pad size luckily the power sipping trip helps to maintain endurance we measured almost 5 hours of battery life at our demanding Peacekeeper tests and the easy HD video loop extended that to 10 hours 37 minutes these numbers aren't par with the original XPS 13 and better than competitors like the HP Spectre x-360 and the Lenovo yoga 19 the spite the fact both of those have bigger battery so far so good and otherwise there's not much to complain about the touchpad could be better and the display can look dim but these are minor quibble in other areas like the keyboard the XPS 13 to one really excel the only maze issue is the price still starts the system at $1000 for a core i5 processor 4 gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes lot state hard drive now HP will let you double the memory and hard drive capacity for the same price or even a little less the XPS 13 201 base model is also $200 more than the regular XPS 13 laptops the price does hold this to one back from must-have status but it's still an excellent all-around device and probably the one to get if budget isn't your primary concernthe Dell XPS 13 is our favorite laptop and now the company has built a two-in-one version can it live up to the original certainly you'll have a hard time telling the XPS 13 2 & 1 from the laptop at a glance the only dead giveaway is the hand which is now a 360 degree rotating design the exterior interior are otherwise in your identical it's a good thing then that the XPS 13 is still one of the most attractive laptops and its competitors have been slow to copy it the two-in-one slim profile and soft touch interior remain unique and even inviting but don't let the looks fool you despite its similarities with the original the XPS 13 2 & 1 makes some major changes what is the processor it's a core i7 7 y 75 which uses less power than the core i7 7500 you found in most competitors normally we'd expect that to be a drag on performance but Dell uses a feature it called gigantic power mode temporary boost wattage the result of the processor that performed almost as well as the more power-hungry version core i7 I'll be it in short bursts anything that stresses the processor will eventually show the chips limit but in day-to-day use the laptops felt very quick thanks not only to dynamic power mode but also the fast solid-state drive now dell has reduced the size of the battery from 60 watts to 46 watts a move the company says was needed to keep the system slim without compromising on keyboard travel or touch pad size luckily the power sipping trip helps to maintain endurance we measured almost 5 hours of battery life at our demanding Peacekeeper tests and the easy HD video loop extended that to 10 hours 37 minutes these numbers aren't par with the original XPS 13 and better than competitors like the HP Spectre x-360 and the Lenovo yoga 19 the spite the fact both of those have bigger battery so far so good and otherwise there's not much to complain about the touchpad could be better and the display can look dim but these are minor quibble in other areas like the keyboard the XPS 13 to one really excel the only maze issue is the price still starts the system at $1000 for a core i5 processor 4 gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes lot state hard drive now HP will let you double the memory and hard drive capacity for the same price or even a little less the XPS 13 201 base model is also $200 more than the regular XPS 13 laptops the price does hold this to one back from must-have status but it's still an excellent all-around device and probably the one to get if budget isn't your primary concern\n"