Customer Ratings & Reviews

Despite the low ram being at 8gb, if you need a laptop for simple basic computer functions (office work, web browsing, video streaming, video game streaming) it works great! The build quality is great, the screen at 120hz, the speakers, 512gb hard drive, all around a great experience. If you have the money and can upgrade to 16gb might as well, but for $599 its a no brainer.

I've been traveling with a really nice 15" Notebook with a OLED display, I love it except for its weight and getting bashed by seats on airplanes.  I wanted something smaller.  I'm a software developer doing most of my work on windows.  I've had several Dell XPS machines before, but one of my requirements is that I need at least 2Tb and a fast SSD.  A year ago that would have cost me about $150, today it's more like $380 (if I'd only stocked up a year ago).  The Dell XPS 13 spec sheet seemed say I could only get a 1Tb drive (from them) and had to order it with the machine as memory and SSD were soldered to the motherboard.  Well not being one to believe everything they read I decided to try this entry level XPS 13, with 8Gb memory and a 512Gb SSD. I'll use an external SSD if I absolutely needed to (SSD prices are bound to come down eventually). What really caught my attention was the 3K matt screen (2560x1600 resolution).  I saw the screen instore, picked up the machine and it's 2.2 pound weight it said "take me home".  I asked a salesperson if the SSD was user replaceable, and was told none of the current XPSs can be user upgraded.  When I was setting up the XPS 13 at home I first noticed how well the island keyboard responded and the relatively large, responsive trackpad.  The entire unit is clad in a nice sturdy silver aluminum case. And such a nice display running at 120Hz. After about 2 hours of fiddling with system settings and installing updates, I almost had everything done.  But there are two more little tricks to improve the performance given the machine only has 8Gb of memory.  First, change the windows swap file to have a fixed 16GB size (twice the size of physical memory; From: Windows Tools, launch Control Panel, select System, Under Device Information select: Advanced System Settings, then under: Performance click Settings, then Select Advanced, under Virtual Memory select change, now select Custom Size, set Initial Size and Maximum size to: 16384 and select Set, you will need to reboot for this to take effect (well hidden and hard to get to from Win 11)).  Second, if enabled (it was on mine) disable the SSD's drive encryption: from Start Menu select Settings, click Privacy & Security and now select Device Encryption, change the toggle to off.  This may take a while to complete (this reduces work that needs to be done by the hardware).  My boot time was now down to 10s.   I disconnected the notebook from the power (this machine only has 2 USB-C ports (to the top right and left of the base)), both with Power Delivery, it supports Displayport 2.1 over USB (so you can easily connect an external display) but both are USB 3.2 (not Gen2 ports).  I then turned it over to expose 4 screws (small star),  I removed all 4, and gently pried open the case exposing the notebook's innards. And voila there was a 2230 SSD covered with a plastic sleeve. I removed the screw and sleeve to expose the 512Mb KIOXIA.  This is actually an excellent 2230 SSD in the larger sizes.  But most important it is user replaceable (disabling encryption is required if you are going to clone it).  The memory is in fact soldered to the motherboard.  The battery is also user replaceable (A EU requirement for many hardware products in 2027).  So in the near future I'll replace the 512Gb drive with a 2TB, and more than double the SSD performance (I've attached KIOXIA (Formerly: Toshiba Memory) spec sheet) to get the machine I really need/want. Having used it a bit more I appreciate the touch screen more on a 13" screen than with a 15" or larger, the screen is just a bit closer to your fingers making it a bit easier to access.  The screen colors on the XPS 13 are very good, but not OLED quality, that being said, the 2.5K display makes the screen very easy to read.  The audio quality is pretty good for a small notebook, essentially no bass but fairly good midrange and highs with decent stereo separation from above and below (there is no headphone jack, and no micro SDcard slot (boo).  The keyboard has 2 levels of backlighting, but after every reboot the last level must be reset.  There is no function key to disable the trackpad (something I've grown accustomed to).  I did a battery rundown test while playing video (very low sound) and I got to 5% after 14 hours (excellent).  I found MS Copilot to be very responsive after it had been run once.  This is a big improvement from my 15" notebook.  The WiFi performance is excellent. I tested with WiFi 5 and WiFi 6, and if close enough to my WiFi 6 access point, the performance was exceptional.  WiFi 5 was faster than WiFi 6 when further from the AP.  With 8 tabs open I expected to see the CPU struggle, but it seemed fine. When loading very large graphics files I found some studders, but not bad.  Even short videos seemed to edit fine. Loading 30 minute videos for editing took a long time (combination CPU and slower SSD), but it did load.  I did not try any serious gaming, I did a test to see if Minecraft would load (for my nephew) and it did run.  Little more investigation. This is not a gaming notebook.  For internet browsing and office automation work it's just fine.  It is actually fine for Visual Studio code and python development too. Soon I'll take it on a plane and see how much better it is to travel with a smaller, lighter notebook.  This little notebook really has a premium feel with a reasonable price tag, it's quite a nice surprise. If you can afford the 16Gb memory upgrade (especially if discounted) it's even a better deal.

This is really great machine with some very good hardware for the price. At current entry-level pricing you get a high res touch screen with with great color accuracy and a high (120hz) refresh rate, thin bezels, a thin and light aluminum design, a new-generation ‘Wildcat Lake’ Intel processor, an ideal keyboard design, 10-17 hours of battery life and Windows Hello (face login) incorporated into a respectable integrated video chat camera. It’s a stand-out offering in a sea of other laptops that often compromise on most of these details which instantly makes this one of the best everyday laptop options at the time of writing. (Oh, and it’s actually LIGHT BLUE, don’t be fooled, it’s not silver like nearly every photo suggests - see below) __ Design __ This machine has some great hardware. The latest Wildcat Lake architecture in the Intel processor is ready to provide great battery life in a thin and light chassis that follows a familiar, proven design. It feels premium, which is great at an entry-level price point. But Dell didn’t stop there, providing the other improvements that most people immediately appreciate and benefit from, starting with the screen. A bright and crisp IPS panel running at 120hz makes scrolling appear much more smooth than on many other machines. Then there’s the fact that it has a 3k (2560 x 1600) resolution that looks amazing at this size. Screens are probably the most important aspect of any machine beyond having enough power to do what you want and you’d be surprised how often manufacturers skimp on them, but not here. It’s beautiful with great color accuracy and thin bezels. Having a simple ‘XPS’ branding on the rear of the screen is a nice change over a Dell logo, making it feel even more premium. (That Dell logo now present on the bottom… this is a direct swap in placements from the prior model) While you won’t find anything more than 2 USB-C ports on this machine, they are capable of video-out and utilizing an inexpensive dongle (not included) can compensate for the lack of a headphone jack if you ever actually need one. Dell thoughtfully placed one port per side, which provides convenient flexibility to charge into the closest port to available outlets when traveling, etc. This laptop rounds things out with a familiar, customer-preferred keyboard design. I rather liked the unique latticeless design and seamless trackpad of their prior 'futuristic' direction - it was so slick… but I understand the need to give people what they kept saying they wanted, and enjoy in practice. The keyboard is backlit with several levels of brightness, easily controlled from the keyboard. It's keys feels slightly more firm than others, but it’s still quite nice. One small thing of note: the arrow keys follow a compact layout for up/down and some may not prefer that… Meanwhile, the trackpad is similarly good, with physical clicks rather than haptic ones. Lastly, the color. Don’t be fooled by how modern smartphones seem unwilling to capture its true color, this machine is a light, cool-blue. Despite the official images and customer images appearing quite silver… this machine is a chameleon that shifts from an obvious light blue (hence the official ‘Sky’ color), to a medium graphite color (similar to a Space Grey,)… and at other times, silver. It all depends on the lighting, with the blue coming out more in low, ambient light settings. I’ve included a photo next to my silver aluminum keyboard to prove just how different it can look. In any case, it looks very nice and professional - just know what you’re getting. __Performance__ In terms of performance, this is a great everyday machine, but it has a few limitations. It can handle a normal day of web-browsing, word processing, and number crunching, but doesn’t handle creative software like Adobe Photoshop very well, at least in the 8gb configuration. Even with more ram, I doubt its graphics capabilities are up to it really. Same goes for gaming. Dell (or maybe Microsoft) extended a 3 month trial of GamePass on this machine, but there’s no way you could really utilize it beyond very simple games. Still, casual gamers may find it completely acceptable as many games that were originally designed for phones will likely run fine here (things like Candy Crush, or your typical RTS or tower defense style games). I imagine it may also do just fine with video game streaming, but I was not able to test that. Heat dissipation seems good but not perfect, with a slightly hot spot in the middle of the bottom, luckily this is the location that most people won’t have in contact with their legs as this is small and sits on my lap via it’s edges, for instance. Still, it runs very quiet and it’s an all-around great machine. __ Overall __ If you’re looking for a great entry level Windows machine, Dell has been very generous in providing the best of what people actually want to pay for within a very versatile machine that perfect for travel or everyday portability. A great screen w/ touch, and quality construction make this appear and perform as a more expensive machine, without blowing the budget. It’s very easy for me to recommend!

I absolutely love this XPS 13. It is hard to believe that a newly released XPS laptop can be found at this price, because nearly every part of this laptop feels premium. The XPS line has always aimed for a high-end look and feel: the CNC aluminum feels solid, the design is extremely thin and light, and it has the kind of fit and finish that makes it feel like a much more expensive computer. The display is the star The screen is the first thing that stands out. A 3K touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate on a compact 13.4-inch laptop is an incredible combination at this price point. I dare you to find another current one at this price. The resolution makes text look exceptionally sharp, while photos, streaming video, and everyday web browsing look rich and detailed. The high refresh rate also makes normal tasks—scrolling pages, moving windows, and using the touchscreen—feel noticeably smoother than on a standard 60Hz laptop. Dell’s display design keeps the bezels looking very small, which helps the screen feel more immersive without making the laptop physically large. It is the sort of display that makes work, reading, and media consumption easy and pleasurable. Premium speed and portability Performance has been excellent for the kind of work this computer is intended for. The Core 5 Series 3 processor feels quick and responsive with daily apps, web browsing, streaming, Office work, and general multitasking. The 512GB of storage is also a practical amount for a portable laptop, leaving room for applications, files, and photos without immediately needing external storage. I do wish that it had Xe cores for some real Arc graphic power, however. This is not meant to be a dedicated gaming machine or a replacement for a high-powered workstation used for demanding professional rendering or large video-production projects. But for school, work, travel, home use, and normal productivity, it feels fast, capable, and polished. Dell also positions this processor generation as including built-in AI capabilities for modern Windows features and everyday tasks. I did push Adobe Premiere on the unit, and it was able to edit two stacked 4K lines but if I put any effects on the timeline I think it would have not been a good experience. The thin, lightweight design is a real advantage. It is easy to pick up, carry around the house, or drop into a bag, but it does not feel fragile. Dell pairs the compact build with quad speakers that project sound upward and downward, giving the laptop fuller sound than many ultra-thin machines manage. This is so small that I don't mind carrying it everywhere. And it's case is so strong that I won't worry about it so much. One configuration consideration The only spec I would ask prospective buyers to consider is the 8GB of memory. It has been fine for ordinary everyday use, but people who routinely keep dozens of browser tabs open, run virtual machines, edit high-resolution video, or use higher end creative and engineering software may want a configuration with more RAM. For everyone else, the performance, storage capacity, portability, and remarkable screen are a very compelling package. It's $200 more for the 16GB version. Will you miss it? That's up to you to decide. For what *I* am using it for, 8GB is enough, but I have a Switch 2 for my games and a Z Book for my production video work. Bottom line This is one of those laptops that makes you want to keep using it. The body feels premium, the display is outstanding, the touchscreen and smooth 120Hz experience are a treat, and the laptop has the speed needed for normal modern work. If you want a compact Windows laptop that looks and feels high-end without moving into an extreme price range, this XPS 13 is an easy RECOMMEND! It has all the refinement I hoped for from the XPS name—and then some. I just can't believe the value in this laptop. I'm a big fan. Wow, what a great great laptop. They did good.

The Dell XPS 13.4” 3k touchscreen laptop powered with an Intel I5 series 320 2026 with 8Gb RAM memory and 512 SSD comes in a beautiful sky blue color. Now a description like what I shared should create plenty of interest if you are familiar with those components or at least want to know what the various specs could do for you. I don’t recommend this laptop if you are a hardcore gamer or just occasionally need a small laptop to just do homework on. I have been using Dell laptops for well over 20 years and have never had issues with one that could not be easily fixed. I appreciate the quality and reasonable pricing that they are able to provide for customers. If you are a big gamer they have the expensive configurations that you would need as well. Now that I got my reason for really like this smaller configuration is because it boots up fast and I only had to spend 20 minutes to unbox it and have it loaded with my favorite applications and apps that I spend my time using the most. Now for some of the even better specs on this model is that it works on WiFi 7 for high speed internet connections and is a delight to carry around since it only weighs 2.2lbs! I could go into all of the AI specs but you can check out the incredible power it encompasses in the different information sections on the write up on this webpage. I have to say I am truly impressed with all this small, lightweight, keyboard that has back lighting that makes it easy to use at night. It also has 500 nits which is more brighter than most prior type configurations so you can do whatever you please with low lighting in the room with the power from this Dell. If you happen to be a Co pilot AI user then you will probably love this laptop since it’s the AI that powers the machine. I personally use different AI apps for different tasks and keep learning more while using this laptop. I could go on with so much more about how amazing this XPS but I think I have made my impressions quite clear on my views with my new favorite little Dell. I encourage you to use the comparison tool on the laptops they have available and I think you will find that I was giving the facts more than just my opinion.

I have been using the Dell XPS 13 for about two weeks now, and overall I am really happy with it. The first thing I noticed was how light and easy it is to carry. The 13.4-inch size makes it easy to move around the house or take with me when I go out. It does not feel like I am carrying a heavy laptop. The screen is probably my favorite feature. The 3K resolution makes everything look very sharp and clear, and the touchscreen is really responsive. I did not think I would use the touchscreen very much, but I actually use it more than I expected, especially when scrolling or browsing. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling feel very smooth too. Videos and photos look really good, and the screen is bright enough for the way I normally use it indoors. For everyday use, the laptop has been running smoothly. I have been using it for browsing, emails, documents, video calls, streaming, and keeping several tabs open at the same time. The Intel Core 5 processor has handled all of this without any issues. The 512GB storage also gives me plenty of space for my files and apps. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, and I like having the backlight when the room is a little dark. The speakers have also been better than I expected for a laptop this size. I have watched videos and streamed shows without needing to connect external speakers. For personal use, the sound is good and does not need to be extremely loud. The laptop feels well made, and I like the simple design. Battery life has been good for my normal use as well. Of course, it depends on what I am doing and how much I am using the screen, but I have been happy with it so far. The 8GB memory has been enough for what I normally do. I mostly use the laptop for everyday things, so I have not had any problems. Someone doing heavy video editing, gaming, or other demanding work may want more memory, but 8GB has been fine for me. After using it for two weeks, the things I like most are the lightweight design, the really nice screen, the touchscreen, and the smooth performance. It is easy to carry around and comfortable to use for several hours. So far, it has been a very convenient laptop for work, school, browsing, streaming, and other everyday tasks. I have not had any major complaints with it so far.

The Dell XPS 13.4" 3K Touchscreen Laptop with Intel Core 5 Series 3 320 2026 processor, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD Storage is a very nice little laptop to take along and use anywhere. It has a refined look that I really like. The color is what Dell calls "Sky"- to me it looks like metal-blue. It is very thin (.5") and lightweight at 2.2lbs - I can take it anywhere. I have always liked Dell's XPS line of laptops and was glad to see they have released this new laptop. The display at 2.5K is really quite good. I streamed movies and I was impressed. This has integrated graphics, which isn't the best, but what it does have seems quite sufficient for streaming. This particular laptop also has only 8gb of RAM, which isn't usually my choice - I usually prefer at least 16gb because I tend to multi-task - stream, do email, and generally get "squirreled" and do a multitude of things without closing tabs or apps. But, the 8gb has performed well for me thus far - I am surprised. This Dell XPS laptop has a 512GB SSD drive which is sufficient for me because I tend to use clouds for storage, not the hard-drive. It has only 2 ports - both USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) so I can use either one for charging, using a display or whatever else I need. There isn't a headphone jack which is fine for me because I use bluetooth. But these are things to consider when buying this - if you need more than what's here, you will have issues, though there are always adapters. Dell Optimizer comes pre-loaded and needed updating, but I just don't see that it can do anything, so that's a big question mark for me. I thought it would optimize the settings for me. It also has WiFi 7 and of course, bluetooth. The sound from the speakers that appear to be on either side, sound surprisingly good. Dell says there are quad speakers - perhaps that is why the sound is good. I love that it is touchscreen and has a backlit keyboard with chiclet keys that feel great when I type. The keys have a great feel for me and I'm not hitting extra keys like I do on some keyboards. It also has a built-in camera and is Windows-hello capable, which I rely on for security. Overall, the Dell XPS 13.4" 3K Touchscreen Laptop with Intel Core 5 Series 3 320 2026 processor, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD Storage, is a quality, sturdy lightweight laptop. Nothing about it feels cheap - it is what it claims to be. I am thrilled with it, especially as an on-the-go laptop. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone in the market for a lightweight, quality everyday laptop.

The Dell XPS 13.4" 3K Touchscreen Laptop really does have the "Magic Touch". It is perhaps the perfect size for travel by airplane or as sometimes in my case, via motorcycle! It fits with ease atop my other luggage in the overhead storage compartment and is easily accessed once we're underway and the seatbelt light has been turned off. I use it to play "21" or Solitaire, all while listening to Sinatra singing "Come Fly with Me"! And when I travel by motorcycle it is small enough to easily fit in a saddlebag on either side of my bike or in my waxed canvas duffel bag directly behind me on the seat! This compact powerhouse is a delight to take on a trip across the state or cross-country! The battery lasts for hours and hours and I have had it playing through all 3 of Christopher Nolan's BatMan films without a hiccup and battery to spare, in a word OUTSTANDING power management! It easily connects to either my Bose Ultra 2 or Sony Collexion headphones for either movies or music and again, the battery keeps playing for hours. The longest I have gotten is just over 10 hours of continuous music playing in my home and sent via Bluetooth to one of my Denon HEOS speakers! That is really outstanding! And sitting on a plane it never got hot in my lap. I recall years gone by when laptops would become "uncomfortably warm" even surfing the web at home, not this laptop! Cool Runnings describes this Dell to a "T"! The 3K screen is bright, sharp and just right for travel by air. The processor is powerful but not power hungry which is just what's needed in the real world we all live, work and play in. Well done Dell, well done indeed! And speaking of well done, this laptop easily averaged download speeds in our home of 600+ mbps! That is FAST! The keyboard is perfect for my average size "L" hands and fingers and this is a big deal for me as I have physical handicaps that sometimes make typing difficult but to date, this keyboard is a very good match for me and a pleasure to use. I loaded pictures of our 3 (so far!!!) grandchildren on the Dell and they all look just great on the 13.4" 3K screen, whether I was viewing them in-flight or in front of relatives! This lightweight is no flyweight in either features or performance in the real world and as such it does all that I would ask of a travel laptop and once you're home or arrive away from home, it still performs superbly! Highly recommended? Yes it is! It truly does have the Magic Touch.

Dell got it right with the XPS 13! Is it perfect? No, it does have its faults but the premium quality, good speakers, and an amazing touch screen. It does fit the bill as long as you know what it's not meant for. The XPS 13 is perfect for students or anyone who needs to do basic computing tasks. Things like checking email, listening to podcasts, learning, and video conferencing are what the XPS 13 was made for. Don't expect to crush video editing, play games, or do massive multitasking with this device. As long as you know what it's meant for, you should be good. There are a few negatives. The 8GB of RAM is the main concern. This will limit what you can do. You roughly only have about 2GB of RAM to work with. I would like to see 12GB of RAM at minimum. You only get two slow USB-C ports. If you are charging the laptop, you only get one. The USB-C ports are not Thunderbolt 4. So know their limitations. Lastly, a 13'' screen may be too cumbersome for some. As a taller person at 6'6 watching content, it just felt different. Mainly because I'm not used to a smaller screen so it may take time to adjust. The Dell XPS 13 build quality is superb. You have to ask how such a well-priced laptop can be built this well. The keyboard feels good for typing. As I type on it now. The experience is very pleasant, with very little miss clicks. The screen is also where they didn't skimp. You get a touch screen that is 2560x1600. I did have to push the contrast up a little to have my colors pop. The laptop is very quiet and extremely lightweight. Great for on the go or travel. This also makes a good backup to a desktop. Even for a student who needs a device for school this would be great. The CPU is decent enough for everyday tasking computer needs. I'm still trying to figure out and get the battery setting just right. Once I do I know I will get more than 8 hours. What you get is a premium laptop, a good keyboard, good touchpad, good screen, excellent audio, and a decent webcam. All in a small design on the go laptop. If you can deal with 8GB of RAM in 2026 and don't need a much heavier computing device. The Dell XPS 13 is the best on the market right now at the price it's sold for.

This is the perfect laptop for everyday use. First off, at this price point, I feel you are getting an almost premium built laptop. It is a compact sleek design and the aluminum chassis makes it feel like a solid computer but yet because of it's size, it is really light. Making this laptop easy to fit in most size backpacks, big or small. I actually put this in the front pocket of my backpack with ease so getting to it is quick and effortless. The screen is where this laptop really stands out though. It is so crisp and clear and easy to see even in brighter areas. The touchscreen is responsive and so far, I haven't had issues of miss pressing on anything I was trying to touch. The stated 120hz makes scrolling through websites or any documents so smooth. The processor handles everyday task easily and even though it only has 8gb of memory, I didn't find it stutter when I was multitasking. Now, I can see if you were to do some heavy work, especially anything in graphics, this might not be the computer for you. Another thing to note is that, on both sides of the computer is 1 usb-c outlet. There are no other ports if you wanted to attach any peripherals. But this is what is needed to keep the laptop as sleek as it is. The battery life is also a huge plus, lasted me all day with some leftover by the end of the day. The keyboard is good, nothing special. Spaced out enough where my fingers didn't feel cramped and it is backlighted which is a must on every computer I own. Touchpad had plenty of room to maneuver and felt nice to the touch. One little thing Dell did with this laptop I like was the opening on the lid and the computer. It gave enough room to put your fingers in to open the laptop without having to pry it like some of my other laptops. This is a great laptop with really good features at a very reasonable price. I highly recommend it.

The Dell XPS 13.4 laptop is for everyday use, it is portable due to its size and weight. It comes with instructions; charger that I like that it is small and can be put away in a small space. The laptop not only is it compact, it is light in weight and best of all it looks great with its cool color. The touchscreen is super useful to surf the web as well as work on spreadsheets. The keyboard is a good size and it has soft keys that are responsive best of all it offers backlit keys and this comes in handy when it is dark in the room. It also includes a Camera for video meetings as well as every day communication. And the monitor offers nice vivid colors The 8GB of memory is perfect for daily tasks such as using Microsoft office and some editing. The 512GB storage is good and since it has two USBC connections I can install an external storage without any issues. The laptop also offers great sound from both sides since the speakers are on the bottom firing on both directions, and the battery life is great. Overall the laptop is great, thin, and compact, light in weight, fast for everyday use and it does connect via Wi-Fi 7 as well as Bluetooth, lastly with 2 USBC connections.

My overall opinion of the new Dell XPS touchscreen laptop is excellent. I love almost everything about this laptop. It is almost identical to a Dell XPS I already own, but improves on it in almost every way. The biggest being the touchscreen display. In my opinion, a 13 inch display should be a touchscreen. Only because it is only a few degrees removed from a tablet. The display looks gorgeous and the touch is very responsive. The flat finish does not leave finger prints either. The size of the laptop is perfect as well. Great for an every day take anywhere laptop. I just took it on vacation and it fit perfectly in my personal item back pack. The charger is only a power block and usb cable. The charger also doubles as a super fast charger for my phone. The performance is also excellent. It has a solid state hard drive and 8 gigs of ram, which is plenty for every day computing. I can even stream movies and shows with zero issues. My only complaint, and this is strictly personal preference, is that it only has 2 type c ports period. Literally no other ports such as hdmi, usb type a, or Ethernet port. I understand they are omitted for space, but I have small laptops that have some of these ports. Overall, i really love using this Dell. I love taking it with me almost everywhere i go as well. This is almost the perfect every day laptop in my opinion.

The Dell XPS 13 is a compact laptop with great build quality and premium features at an affordable price. The speakers and screen are impressive and better than many more expensive computers I have tried. It performs basic task well and gets good battery life, but limited memory (RAM) could be an issue for multi-tasking or demanding applications (heavy graphics or data). 1. Light weight and compact size, make it easy to carry around and use on the go. 2. Excellent materials and build quality. The silver-blue metal case looks and feels great. The hinge is solid. 3. The touch screen works well and looks great. At a resolution of 2560x1600, the screen is sharp and bright. 4. Excellent speakers that have great volume and clarity. 5. Backlit keyboard is easy to read, with good spacing and key feel. 6. The touch pad works well and offers multi-touch (pinch to zoom and 2 fingered scrolling) allowing you to leave the mouse at home. 7. The 2.1-megapixel (1920x1080) camera and microphone work well for video calls. Sound is clear. Images have a bit of noise but have good balance and color. Using facial recognition (Windows Hello) to Log On is very convenient. 8. Wi-Fi 7 support; I was able to hit download speeds of 500-700Mbps on my 1TB Wi-Fi 7 (dual band) mesh network. 9. Good battery life. I am getting just over 10hrs of battery life using the balanced performance setting with screen brightness at 50%. I am sure you could get a bit more using eco-mode and lower screen brightness. I am also using the presence detection feature to turn the screen off when you walk away, saving battery life. 10. Bluetooth works well. It instantly recognized and linked to my Logitech mouse. 11. 512GB storage drive (SSD) with minimal pre-installed software to take up space. Things to Consider 1. There are only 2 USB-C ports (one of which is in use when you are connected to the supplied charger). I purchased a small inexpensive multi-port adapter with an HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C adapter that works well and allows me to use a second monitor. 2. While it is manageable, 8GB of RAM limits your ability to run multiple programs at once and impacts the performance of some applications (especially those that have lots of data or graphics). I did not have any major performance issues, but RAM use is high most of the time and there was the occasional pause while content loaded when running multiple apps. While you should not have any issues with basic task (web surfing, viewing videos/photos, video conference calls, email, and schoolwork), I would not recommend this for business or demanding home use. 3. The integrated graphics (GPU) is fine for basic task and did fine with a second (Full HD 1920x1080) monitor connected, but is not meant for multiple 4k screens, editing, or gaming. It only has small amount of dedicated memory and uses shared video memory for any additional demand (borrowing space from the already limited system memory).

It’s been about six months since a company named after a fruit shocked the world with their newest offering, turning the personal computer market on its head with a “Neo” option that brought a premium laptop offering squarely into the price range of everyday Windows laptops. Upper-end quality and a heavily-curated operating system experience in the $600-700 range is a direct shot at every Microsoft OEM selling in the space, and it’s only now that we’re starting to see their responses to Cupertino’s powershot volley. The newest Dell XPS puts a great-feeling Windows laptop into your hands for the same money and with the full weight of arguably the biggest PC OEM in the world behind it, and it looks and sounds the part of a high-end laptop in an affordable space, seemingly with no compromises as like-for-like specifications add up on a bill of materials. Sound great…but there’s a lot more to a computer than that. The XPS’ Achilles heel becomes far too obvious just a few minutes in. - Unboxing and Setup Despite competing with a “Neo” line of premium laptops, the Dell XPS has as barebones packaging as it gets - a generic cardboard box with the laptop wrapped in a cloth slipcover, the power brick in a separate compartment, and basic startup instructions plus warranty information is all there is here. Plug in the AC adapter and power on, and go through the on-device setup process. Windows 11 is straightforward to setup, as usual. Only a handful of (skippable) Dell-specific additions to the setup process allow you to optionally register for warranty purposes. I was also pleased to find that the Windows installation is a version old enough that the usual tricks to bypass Microsoft account requirements still work. Unfortunately, Dell includes a fair bit of bloatware and a McAffee trial that bog down the system while updates are running. Leaving Windows Update to itself to fully update the installation, I was surprised by how much longer it took on the XPS versus other devices…about an hour and a half to get everything up to date, when most machines I’ve used have been closer to 15 minutes. This was foreboding. - Performance Powered by an Intel Core 5 processor 320 with 2 performance cores and 4 low-power efficient cores, the 6-thread CPU is plenty modern and speedy in most circumstances. In day-to-day tasks, the Core 5 does an admirable job keeping the in-focus application responsive and quick to process. Office365 applications and web browsers work great doing all manner of light tasks, and the efficient cores keep background tasks humming along as best they can. The 512GB SSD similarly keeps disk access snappy and provides a good amount of on-device storage for applications, data, and media alike. Unfortunately, we’ll need to address the elephant in the room early in this review. No matter how good the processor, disk, and indeed the rest of the system is…the biggest bottleneck of all is the choice to equip a Windows 11 machine with only 8GB of RAM. While Microsoft has gone to great lengths to try and market 8GB as plenty for Windows 11, the fact of the matter is that as of the time of this review (September 2026), the operating system is still far too memory-intensive to make an 8GB configuration viable. For a perfect example, I am writing this review on the XPS at an idle, fully updated Windows 11 install with a single “Docs” tab open in Edge, with all bloatware removed and literally no background tasks running except those for Windows and Edge to function normally. Memory utilization is sitting at 6.5GB (of 7.6GB available to Windows…the remaining ~400MB is allocated to the integrated graphics cache), or about 85% of available memory used. The sooner that memory fills up, the sooner the operating system will rely on “swap space,” or virtual memory as Windows calls it, to use internal storage as if it were memory to free up and best utilize what little system RAM is available. This significantly degrades performance as more tasks are called and data is loaded, and here it doesn’t take long to overrun the 8GB of total available memory. Indeed, once you’re past 3 or 4 tabs (or loading up more background tasks), the system slows down significantly and it takes a lot longer to process anything. Just trying to install a game in the background while web browsing made everything so much slower that I had to put the machine aside and let it run for half an hour longer than I planned just so it would be speedier the next time I used it. This constraint became a constant source of frustration when testing the XPS. It’s clear Windows 11 is not a good experience on 8GB of RAM. The 16GB model would experience far fewer, possibly even none of these frustrations. At the very least, once the aforementioned game was installed I was able to test the graphics capabilities of the Core 5 out, and I was pleasantly surprised by a playable 35-45FPS average in Grand Theft Auto V (legacy) with mostly High settings at 1080p, and the experience was devoid of stutters after the initial load-in. Light gaming on this device should be plenty doable. - Screen, Sound, Connectivity On to the better parts of the entry-level XPS. The 120Hz, 2560x1600 IPS touchscreen panel gets incredibly bright and has fantastic viewing angles, though color shift off-center is pretty stark and results in a bluer image than you might expect. Just a few inches offset from dead center is enough to notice the color shift on a bright background (e.g. writing a paper) but this is a minor complaint and a nitpick that won’t be as noticeable under more common use cases for this laptop’s target audience. Response times are very good as well, with minimal ghosting observed on fast-moving imagery. The bigger surprise with the XPS was just how good the speakers are. The downward-firing stereo speakers are much larger and longer than those in most entry-level laptops, and the result is a loud pair of speakers that have far better audio range than most, and do an excellent job providing bass given the size and form factor. Spoken dialogue in particular is much richer and full-bodied than I was expecting, with nothing sounding what I would consider “tinny” or weak otherwise. These punch above their weight. The inbuilt microphone array (two microphones flanking the so-so quality, but otherwise serviceable webcam) similarly does a great job capturing voice and minimizing background noise. Lastly, connectivity for such a small and basic laptop is going to be quite limited. With just one USB-C with Power Delivery port per side, you will all but need a USB hub dongle to physically connect anything besides power to the Dell XPS. Fortunately the integrated Intel Wireless BE213 module is as modern as it gets, supporting WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for the most versatile suite of wireless connections I’ve seen in some time. - Build Quality, Serviceability Here’s where Dell starts winning some points back despite the choice to market an 8GB laptop as a premium device. This XPS is, physically, far and away the nicest PC-type machine I’ve used. Despite an all-plastic chassis, everything about the laptop has a quality finish and robust assembly that makes it feel like what’s traditionally been more expensive machines. They don’t reach the lofty “Neo” goal but the design target was clear and well-executed. There’s little flex to be found no matter how hard you look, and the keyboard & trackpad are both sturdy. A renewed attention to detail paid off here. Similarly, despite the svelte form factor the Dell XPS is fairly serviceable, with only four Torx style screws holding in the bottom plate to access machine internals. I was surprised to find active cooling (indeed, even under full load the fans are all but inaudible even sitting directly in front of it) with what I can only assume are the world’s thinnest fans, and the SSD is on an M.2 2230 connector so it can be replaced or upgraded to as large as a 2TB internal disk.The battery is also removable. Unfortunately that’s as far as upgrades and service will allow, since all other components are soldered to the mainboard. This means you’re stuck with 8GB of RAM for the life of the machine. - Battery Life I will give one more point in favor of the XPS here. Despite everything I’ve done to test the laptop (including full-utilization gaming for half an hour) I have yet to fully drain the battery from its initial charge, and even with 30% battery remaining Windows estimates another 3 hours and 45 minutes before it’s depleted. This gives my mixed-use testing a total estimated runtime of 12 and a half hours, which is by far and away the best I’ve seen from a Windows laptop that used a traditional (re: x86-based) processor instead of an ARM one. This XPS will go all day and then some between charges, making it perfect for taking to classes or on a cross-country flight for whatever your needs may be. - Bottom Line I’m so torn on this configuration of the Dell XPS. There’s simply no getting around the fact that Windows itself is the biggest hindrance to acceptable, much less great performance when paired with only 8GB of RAM. This is a wonderful laptop that, were it equipped with an OS that had a smaller memory footprint and could multitask without relying on swap space, would be an excellent machine for the money. Microsoft has indicated that they are working to further optimize Windows in the future so that an 8GB memory cap is not a hindrance, but as of this moment this is not the case. This is as minimum as it gets for Windows to run…but not to run well. Put a lot of time aside for regular updates if you absolutely must have Windows and can’t swing for the 16GB spec of this machine, but at that point I would consider different machines entirely that have or can be upgraded to 16GB of RAM at the same price point. Unless you’re a pro user planning to install a different operating system, I can’t recommend this spec of the Dell XPS.

With my line of work I am always in search for reliable laptops to conduct my work duties with. I try to find a balance of a laptop that specializes for office work however doesn’t compromise the specs so much. I was really excited to try out this laptop as I heard Dell products are in the "come back" against its competitors. I really wanted this laptop to work and was hoping with the price point it would be a well balance. One thing I have always loved about Dell products is their shipping. They always make sure the laptop is well secured and packaged for the travel. Right out of the box it was pretty much powered at 90% so I was able to jump right in on setup. Setup took a while however that’s just how Windows 11 is so not going to fault Dell machines. Blot software is at a minimum which I love and it does come with Dell software "Dell Optimizer" and "Dell Support Assist". Both are good software whenever you need to use them. The only software I despise is the McAfee and quickly uninstalled that as soon as I saw it. Overall the windows 11 and Dell software does not get in the way of the load times and it boots up really quickly. I love how they have made 8 GB ram standard as its a must for win11 machines. However, all the other specs are extremely low, the hard drive only being a 500GB and the integrated graphics being only 128MB is cutting too many corners in my opinion. The laptop needs to come with a higher hard drive capacity and at least 256MB integrated graphics. I understand with the price of RAM its becoming harder to get into the expected price point so at least upgrade the hard drive would have made this a great deal. Overall if the price point is lowered then i would be a better deal however unable to recommend at price point with a small hard drive and integrated graphics ram.

I personally went to Best Buy thinking i was coming out with an HP, or Lenovo. I came across the Dell XPS while I was being shown around different products and i immediately loved the size and how slim it was. The only problem i thought was the connections, because it's so thin, there aren't built-in HDMI or USB-A connections, only 1 USB-C connection on each side, which means I'd have to purchase an adaptor that would allow me to connect to those connections. I figured, it was going to be fine, because most TV's you can connect wirelessly anyways. Plus i had a small USB-C to USB-A adaptor if I ever need without having to lug the large adaptor. I wasn't going to do anything heavy with this, I was told the 8GB of memory wasn't much and it wasn't upgradeable. again, i wasn't planning on using for gaming or graphic extensive work, i might do some, but not often. The overall price and size of this laptop is great. its light and easy to carry around. I do recommend this to anyone that can look beyond the connections and take it for a touchscreen laptop, that is perfectly sized for everyday tasks.

I have been using my laptop for about one month. I love its sleek and thin design. It’s lightweight enough that I can carry it in most of my purses. The set up was incredibly easy. I hooked it up to the Internet and my printer in the less than 10 minutes. I love that I can open it up with face identification, so I don’t need to type in any passwords. I mostly use it for email and organizing photos, but I also watch my favorite shows on Netflix and streaming music. The pictures are bright and vibrant and the depth of sound is impressive. I can walk around and still hear my movie, music, or speakers on zoom calls. I bought it for a little over $500 and based on my experience feel like I got a great deal.

This laptop is worth every penny. Comes with integrated anti-reflective screen, the weight of it is astonishingly good. I can carry it around and have it on my lap without any issues, it literally is super lightweight. Screen quality is really good considering the price and the fact that it is a touchscreen is a win. People say this laptop is the competition to Apples MacBook Neo, but Dell blows the Neo out of the water with this one. Sure, the chip isn't the highest end chip capable of crazy demanding tasks, but this laptop is mainly aimed at college level students needing just the regular web browsing, MS Office, Youtube, etc. For that use case, this laptop is spectacular :) Keyboard is so solid, also backlit in case you ask. Touchpad is good to the touch, no haptic feedback but who cares. I've had many laptops over the years and none come close to this one, I love the touchscreen, the weight, the anti-reflective screen, the keyboard. Just go buy it.

I was deciding between this and the MacBook Neo. I’m glad I went with this computer. Got it for $599 and it does everything i need in a laptop. Dell finally made something worth it and considering the fact it’s their XPS series makes it awesome. The display is pronominal. The only downfall is no headphone jack but I have Bluetooth headphones so no deal breaker.

I’ve always been an apple person, but I tried this dell laptop for the first time and it’s the fastest thing I’ve ever had when having a laptop! I highly recommend it if you’re a student or a work from home person. It’s not made for gaming (gets hot quickly - my son tested Roblox on it). It’s light weight and it’s really cute!!!!