HP Spectre x360 13.5 vs. Dell XPS 13: which flagship should you buy?

If you’re looking to buy a premium, lightweight 13-inch Windows laptop with top-notch build quality and a recognizable brand name, you’ve likely been recommended at least one of these two models. is. Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 13.5. These two laptops are representative of 13-inch Windows laptops. Expensive, but light and pleasing to the eye.

But what exactly are the differences between them and which one should you choose? I’ve spent quite a bit of time using both of these devices. And I am here to help you. Quick spoiler: The Specter is probably the one I’ll buy because it has a lot of advantages over the XPS (reflecting the higher price). However, there is one big drawback to be aware of.

OK, let’s skip this part. Currently, the Specter x360 13.5 (the configuration I tested) with a Core i7, 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage is available for $1,434.99. His XPS 13 with similar specs has his MSRP of $1,449, but is currently discounted to $1,299 on his website at Dell. (His 1TB model of the XPS 13 is only available with 32GB RAM.)

That’s a $135.99 difference, but it fluctuates with different discounts. However, that extra money is not completely wasted.

This may be the difference between the XPS and Specter that most affects your daily life. They have very different visual vibes and you can’t mistake one for the other.

I like the look of the Specter. It’s gorgeous and sophisticated. The black model I have has gold accents around the touchpad, on the hinges, and in a few other select locations, giving the device a classy, ​​executive look, albeit understated. . Whereas the Specter is made to stand out, the XPS is made to blend in. The XPS has a bit more of a plastic feel (although it’s not flimsy by any means) and is closer to the general aesthetic. It’s not ugly, but I wouldn’t turn around and stare if I passed by.

That said, Dell’s chassis has other good things. It’s more portable. The Specter weighs just over 3 pounds, which is a bit heavy for a modern 13-inch model. The XPS is nearly half a pound lighter, and you’ll feel the difference when carrying both laptops in your backpack or tote.

Despite loving everything else about the Specter, the main reason I’ve been avoiding buying one myself was ultimately the Specter’s weight. It’s not heavy by any means, but I like the ultraportability as it’s a bit more comfortable to pick up and carry with one arm. As someone who commutes to and from the office a lot, I feel much more comfortable carrying the XPS around.

We also found that the finish of the XPS was more prone to scratches, whereas the Specter was more susceptible to fingerprint smudges.

The XPS’s webcam is not very good. Not terrible, but not great. The background was often quite white when used for calls.

Spector’s is better, though not amazing. The resulting image is much less grainy and works better on light backgrounds. It also has a physical shutter (controlled by keyboard), so it’s a little safer when you’re at home.

Specter also comes with a suite of “beautification” features that HP calls GlamCam. It has similar functionality to Apple’s Center Stage and will follow if you are moving during a call. There’s a lighting compensation filter, but it didn’t make much of a difference in my testing. It has a hilarious “BRB mode”. When you turn it on, when you’re tired of your Zoom call and want to go outside for a nap, you’ll see the letters “BRB” on your screen. And there are also appearance filters to “retouch” the face. Whether it’s appropriate for laptop makers to control this sort of beauty standard is a separate debate, but if you want these effects, they’re available at Specter.

The Specter also has twice the speakers of the XPS for great sound with crisp audio and heavy bass. The XPS’s audio isn’t terrible, but it’s noticeably degraded, especially in terms of volume. I could not hear my calls in public when using that device.

HP wins here. The XPS has a 1920 x 1200 IPS panel. all can get. If you want a higher resolution OLED option, you should consider the more expensive XPS 13 Plus. The device actually has a much higher resolution OLED display, but it also has an invisible tactile touchpad, an LED feature row, and other oddities.

I have a Specter with a 3000 x 2000 OLED screen, Sacred. There is very little glare even at the brightest possible settings. Colors are vibrant and details are crisp. I had such a good time that I wish I hadn’t sent this unit back to HP.

HP laptops also have a 3:2 aspect ratio, while XPS is 16:10. I prefer both over the classic old 16:9, but 3:2 has slightly more vertical space and is one of my two choices.

Here Spector runs into a problem. On average he got just over 4 hours of continuous use on this OLED device. Despite having a larger battery than the XPS, the high resolution screen is a heavy battery drain.

Short battery life isn’t necessarily unexpected given the screen resolution, but it’s a big deal for such an expensive device. This is my only major complaint about Specter. If I could play, say, 10 hours, I would seriously consider giving it a 10 out of 10. It’s a standout product in many categories, but its short lifespan makes it a difficult sell for those who want to use it on the go.

XPS performed much better here, taking an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes for the same workload. With his XPS models from the past few years gone, this isn’t a great result, but it’s one of the best I’ve seen for a Windows laptop these days. With recent Intel offerings, all-day battery life for my personal workloads has become a luxury rather than a necessity.

I don’t want to overstate the benchmark scores of these two devices. Neither are really designed to be used under heavy load for long periods of time. Still, for those who want to know, the score is above.

The Specter has a slightly more powerful processor than the XPS. The scores I got were similar, but not exactly the same, with Specter coming out on top in almost every case. If you plan to play games or export videos like we did here, you can expect Specter to be slightly faster. However, if they are recurring tasks, neither of these devices need be on the candidate list.

I didn’t see any difference in terms of general usage in Chrome, Safari, etc. For office workloads and home entertainment, both of these computers are fine, if I can’t stress enough. One thing I noticed is that the Specter is quieter than his XPS. During my testing process, the Dell fan turned on very easily, including after opening a few Chrome tabs. The Specter was cool and quiet throughout my use, but the noise was only noticeable when I ran some aggressive benchmarks. If you don’t like fan noise, we recommend the Specter.

Ultimately, Specter is a step ahead of XPS in many key areas. That’s my definite recommendation.

Except for that stinky battery life. Four hours is disappointing for a device well over $1,000. And the difference between 4 hours and his 6 could be the difference between having to take a charger to the coffee shop, getting on a plane, or finishing school. This factor alone is a huge advantage for XPS.

Despite its shortcomings, I still think Specter offers better value for money. Its build quality and aspect ratio are pretty unique in today’s conditions. I believe they offer packages that are hard to find from other manufacturers at this time. HP is innovating with this package in a way that Dell didn’t do with this generation of older XPS. So we’re a little excited about his Specter x360 this year.

Having said that, I will no I can’t help but blame those who chose XPS instead. Because until HP finds a way to properly combine his high-resolution OLED screen with a 67Wh battery, its low price and long battery life are very attractive. Dell’s machines aren’t all that exciting or flashy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up being a more practical purchase for many.