Here is our Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) review. The Dell XPS 13 is the best laptop on the market, but its success has made the XPS 13 2-in-1 somewhat overshadowed. That doesn’t help because hybrid laptops/tablets have poor battery life and bulky chassis. However, the 2020 model will help the XPS 13 2-in-1 step out of its brother’s shadow and become the center of attention.
The new XPS 13 2-in-1 isn’t one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy. That is not surprising. Dell cleverly used the XPS 13 as the blueprint for the XPS 13 2-in-1, an almost identical laptop that transforms into a tablet.
Contents
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) Review
Price and configuration options
The XPS 13 2-in-1 starts at $ 1,078 for a base model with an 11th generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
We recommend upgrading to a Core i5-1135G7 model, which lets you get Iris Xe graphics for $ 1,225. we would personally spend $ 1,421 to double the RAM to 16GB and storage to 512GB SSD if your budget allows. Our $ 1,617 review unit has the same specs, but uses an upgraded Core i7-1165G7 processor.
Photo and video editors needing the best picture can spend $ 1,912 for a 4K model with a Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Alternatively, you can customize the aforementioned models for have a 4K display, but that will cost you an additional $ 294.
Splurging on the top-of-the-line model will set you back $ 2,205, but upgrades include a 4K display, a Core i7-1165G7 processor (with Iris Xe graphics), 32GB of RAM, and a PCIe NVMe 1 SSD. To.
Design
The XPS 13 2-in-1 was completely transformed last year. This year, it received some makeup and a few accessories.
Almost like the previous model, the XPS 13 2-in-1 has a sleek aluminum design with modern elements. You don’t get four rims on the clamshell model, but the convertible version still has thin bezels, resulting in a screen-to-body ratio of 84.9%.
Build quality is excellent. Dell has taken careful measures to make the XPS 13 2-in-1 feel as premium as it looks. To that end, the XPS is CNC cut from two blocks of aluminum then bonded with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for added durability. Diamond-cut edges with a brushed finish add a touch of luxury to the convertible, and the chrome Dell logo on the lid reflects the XPS branding underneath.
The only change made for the 2020 version is the new Frost aluminum lid, which accents the armrests in Arctic White better than the previous Silver Platinum tone.
Security
On the carbon fiber deck is a fingerprint sensor embedded in the upper right corner of the keyboard below a pair of silver hinges.
Along with the new IR camera, the fingerprint scanner makes signing in to the XPS 13 2-in-1 faster and easier than ever.
Ports
No bezels equals fewer ports. This calculation is almost always proven correct, and it certainly holds true for the XPS 13 2-in-1.
On the right side of the laptop is a Thunderbolt 4 port and a headphone jack. Flip to the left and you’ll find a second Thunderbolt 4 input along with a MicroSD card slot. It doesn’t replace the old port integration, but Dell included a USB-C-to-USB-A dongle in the box.
This is not too bad. In a nutshell, Thunderbolt 4 is similar to Thunderbolt 3 except that it supports two 4K displays and at least one port must be used to charge thin and light laptops. The maximum data transfer rate remains at 40GBps but can now be achieved using a 2 meter long cable.
Display
You can upgrade to a 4K screen with the 13.4-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel panel on our XPS 13 2-in-1 unit.
The FHD+ screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio looks great. The screen is so sharp that you can see each cigarette butt sticking out of the mouth of a skeleton in the trailer for The Kings Man. Even the grain of the darkened wood bunker panels was visible in a freeze frame. The colors were also rich; each of the commander’s ribbons popped off his dark uniform and the golden Aiguillette trimmed his attire.
Our lab results surprised me. According to our colorimeter, the XPS 13 2-in-1’s display covers only 70% of the DCI-P3color gamut, making it less vivid than the panels on the Spectre x360 13 (77%), Yoga C940 (74%), XPS 13 (81%) and the premium laptop average (83%).
That doesn’t tell the whole story. The XPS 13 2-in-1 rebounded by outshining the competition with a peak brightness of 488 nits. The XPS 13 was the closest, hitting 471 nits, while the Spectre x360 (369 nits) and Yoga C940 (339 nits) weren’t nearly as bright. The premium laptop average is 386 nits.
