The Dell XPS series includes both clamshell or traditional laptops and 2-in-1 convertible laptops. The clamshell model targets users with more demanding workloads, while the convertible model targets more casual, on-the-go users.
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The XPS 13 2-in-1 works as both a tablet and a laptop. It doesn’t excel in either of those categories, but it comes close to what you can expect from a convertible device.
The device faces stiff competition from the Surface Pro 8.
After checking the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2022) model with Intel 12th Gen Core i5 processor and 16 GB RAM, here are the results:
contents of the box
The device comes with a USB C to USB A adapter, a USB C to 3.5mm audio jack, and a 45W power adapter.
The XPS folio and stylus are not included with the base device, but can be purchased when ordering the device.
design
The laptop weighs about 736 g. The aluminum body is lightweight and easy to carry, and you can use it like a tablet. Even with a folio that weighs about 560 g, the overall portability of the device is perfect for users who are always on the move.
The rear camera is located on the rear panel at the top center of the device. The front-facing camera is centered on the top bezel that surrounds the screen.
The top bezel also houses two digital array microphones positioned on either side of the front camera.
The fingerprint reader is located on the top panel with the power button on the left and the volume buttons on the right. The volume buttons are tactile and provide plenty of feedback.
The top also houses the NFC wireless charging connection for the XPS stylus.
Overall, the device has a clean design that gives it a premium look. Its light weight and overall weight distribution make it feel like a handheld device. The display’s bezels offer a decent amount of holding space, but users can adjust the grip to prevent accidental touches and block content on the edges.
screen
The device is equipped with a 13 inch 3:2 3K touch display with a brightness of up to 500 nits.
The display uses Gorilla Glass Victus, which has anti-reflective and anti-smudge properties that help reduce smudges and fingerprints when using touch-sensitive screens.
It also features Dolby Vision Eyesafe technology, which helps maintain color accuracy and brightness when viewing content.
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 features a 13-inch 3:2 3K touch display with up to 500 nits brightness. | | Photo credit: Nabeel Ahmed
We found the display to be bright, color accurate, and look great when viewed from different angles.
I’ve used the device extensively for watching OTT content, scrolling through social media apps, playing online games, and creating graphics, and it handled these beautifully.
The display’s touch sensitivity was useful for using social media apps.
We also found the display to be sufficient for general use such as browsing the internet and consuming content in an outdoor environment.
performance
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is powered by the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1230U processor and features Intel Iris Xe graphics.
The device has 16GB LPDDR4x dual channel installed RAM and 512GB PCIe 4 x4 SSD.
This device is suitable for average users during daily work. Even with multiple tabs running in various browsers and apps running in the background, the device was more than capable of handling them.
However, we’ve noticed that if you press hard on your device during tasks like playing graphics-intensive games or running multiple apps for long periods of time, performance will suffer. This was expected as there is no traditional fan setting for
It works great for casual online gaming, but cannot handle large game titles like Call of Duty.
In addition, the main unit may become hot when used for a long time.
The device’s speakers come with studio-quality tuning using Waves MaxxAudio Pro and Waves Nx 3D audio, and are pretty loud for indoor use.
Dual speakers deliver clear audio with high clarity for media consumption and video calls. But the bass could have been better.
connectivity
The device is equipped with Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, making it convenient for daily use. The device comes with USB A and a jack for headphones, but since there are no ports, I rarely used it.
The device comes with two Thunderbolt USB 4 Type C ports with Displayport and Power Delivery.
These ports also act as power ports, so users face difficulties when using external storage or connecting other peripherals such as headphones while charging.
battery and camera
The device has a 49.5WHr battery that lasts about 5 hours with the folio and 6 hours without the folio.
The charger is easy to carry and can fully charge your laptop in about two hours.
Both cameras on the XPS 13 2-in-1 are good for everyday use. | | Photo credit: Nabeel Ahmed
The laptop comes with a 1080P HD 5MP discrete RGB+IR front facing camera and a rear camera with an 11 MP 4K lens with an ambient light sensor for backlight control.
Both cameras are good for everyday use like joining video calls or scanning documents, but they can’t replace your smartphone’s camera.
The rear camera struggles to click high-quality images even in bright light, and its performance drops sharply when used in low light.
folio and stylus
The XPS 13 2-in-1 turns into a full-fledged laptop with a folio, sold separately.
The bi-fold design covers the main body and is convenient to carry.
Full size backlit zero lattice keyboard with 1.0mm travel and precision touchpad is one of the best folio keyboards we’ve used compared to other folio based keyboards is.
Typing on the folio takes some getting used to because there is no space between keys and no movement like a traditional laptop keyboard. But once you get used to it, it’s fun to use.
The folio snaps into place with magnetic pogo pins and magnets on the back, allowing you to set the device to different screen angles.
The stylus also comes with a magnet that can be attached to the main unit for easy charging. It also has programmable buttons.
A hover feature that shows the point the stylus interacts with on the screen also makes it a highly recommended accessory for the device.
verdict
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1(2022) is the perfect device for users on the go. The folio and stylus make it a complete laptop that can be easily carried and used for casual workloads.
The device is also a great choice for content creators and students on social media platforms.
However, it is not intended for heavy workloads and performance starts to degrade when pushed hard.
The XPS 9315 2-in-1 with folio and stylus is priced at Rs 1,34,990.
