I am currently using a HP Envy Laptop for all my computing needs since 2013 and it has served me pretty well after more than 4 years. Although my current laptop is still functioning pretty well, I have noticed its performance starting to dwindle because of the wear and tear damages it has sustained over the years.
Therefore, I have been looking out for a highly portable and powerful laptop that I can travel with for work purposes and I must say, it hasn’t been an easy journey finding a suitable laptop that caters to my need.
Recently, I received a Dell XPS 13 laptop for a review and it came pretty timely since I was procuring a laptop for myself at the same time. Hence, in this review of the Dell XPS 13 laptop, I will be basing it on 4 qualities that I am looking out for in a laptop; portability, functionality, durability, and price.
Portability
Given my nomadic lifestyle, portability is the key factor for me when I purchase a laptop and if a laptop is too bulky and heavy, it is definitely not something that I will consider buying.
The Dell XPS 13 measures 304mm by 200mm and its dimension is almost comparable to that of an A4 paper; hence, making it very handy to carry in a sleeve or folder. It weighs about 1.3kg, slightly lesser than the weight of a 1.5L bottle of water and hence makes it easy to carry around.
Functionality
The Dell XPS 13 is powered by the new 7th Intel ® Core ™ i7 Processor that offers more power and better battery life. With the ability to boot and resume in seconds, the Dell XPS 13 allows me to gain fast access to the desktop and I could almost instantaneously get down to work. On a single charge, the Dell XPS 13 can last up to 13 hours if I were to stream videos or browse the internet.
Speaking about internet browsing, the Killer 1535 Wireless-AC adapter onboard the Dell XPS 13 provides a strong and reliable Wi-Fi connection as it was designed specifically to make online videos, voice and games play faster and smoother. It automatically detects, classifies and prioritises network traffic ensuring that the most important data takes priority over other less urgent applications. As critical packets are delivered immediately, it eliminates unnecessary latency and lag.
While squeezing a 13-inch display into an 11-inch frame is not an ordinary feat, I am not sure if it is something that I would appreciate about the stunning, state-of-the-art-display (with the UltraSharp QHD+) that offers an ultimate viewing experience.
Having said that, one particular feature of the Dell XPS 13 that I do appreciate is the standard backlit keyboard that illuminates the keyboard keys so that I can continue to be productive under low-light or no-light conditions.
Overall, in term of its functionality; I will say that the Dell XPS 13 is more than able to meet my need to work remotely.
Durability
I honestly have no idea how durable the Dell XPS 13 is going to be because only time can tell but it is artfully constructed from premium materials. Cut with precision from a single block of aluminium for a sturdy, durable chassis; the Dell XPS 13’s Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBT™ touch display option is also up to 10 times more scratch resistant than soda lime glass.
Price
With a starting price from SGD$1899, the Dell XPS 13 is priced on the high side and it may even come across as being overpriced. Therefore, convincing me to buy the Dell XPS 13 will take a whole lot of effort.
To buy or not to buy?
Well, I personally think there might be better deals out there but the Dell XPS 13 is definitely on my consideration list.
