Should you get the new XPS 13 over the older model on Black Friday?

If you’re interested in either of these laptops, then Black Friday is a great time to shop. We know that Dell will have a sales event running as in previous years, so there are sure to be some bargains to be had. Given the popularity of the XPS lineup, we’d expect some decent deals to pop up both here and at third-party retailers.

Dell XPS 13 7390 vs. XPS 13 9380 specs

Get the latest and greatest

In this case, considering the new model against the older one is a simple affair. The refresh is entirely internal, with the same design on the outside accompanying the same great displays and incredibly compact form factor. 1080p touch and non-touch displays are on offer, as is a 4K touch panel, and you still get super-fast PCIe SSD storage on all spec levels of the new model.

Where the biggest difference lies is in the use of the new 10th Gen Intel Comet Lake processors. These aren’t quite as powerful as the Ice Lake processors in the XPS 13 2-in-1, most notably lacking the new Iris Pro graphics. However, they’re still a double-digit performance improvement over the previous generation. Considering the last model XPS 13 used 8th Gen processors, that’s a decent jump to get from the 7390.

Besides a better performing processor, 10th Gen also brings with it support for the new Wi-Fi 6 standard, which the XPS 13 7390 makes use of.

Other small improvements on the new model

Besides the 10th Gen Core i3, i5, and i7 processors you now get to choose from, there are some smaller, more subtle improvements on the 7390 that make it worth getting. While it still only supports LPDDR3 RAM thanks to the Comet Lake limitations, it’s now faster RAM at 2133 MHz compared to the 1866 MHz you got from the old model. The performance increase is small, but it’s still a performance increase.

Older model still expensive

If you’re not convinced by the newer, better hardware inside, the pricing should seal the deal. The 7390 starts at $980, while the previous model 9380 is priced between $1,000 and around $1,400 before you look at adding any optional extras.

Without a substantial discount, buying an older model of a laptop like this really isn’t a compelling, nor highly recommended choice.

How to shop for the best Black Friday deals on an XPS 13

With Dell’s own event and the likelihood of third-parties also offering discounts, getting a deal on a new XPS 13 should be pretty simple. Getting the best deal is what will take a little more effort. The first place to start is Dell since you’ll get a baseline offer direct from the manufacturer. From there, compare the prices to what you’ll find at places like Amazon and Best Buy.

It’s also important to make sure you don’t overspend. That range-topping spec is tempting, but if it’s total overkill to what you need in a laptop, that doesn’t make it the right deal for you. Make sure you’ve considered your options using the information above to decide which laptop is right for you first, then go deal hunting. If you’re less fussy about spec, keep an eye out for extra discounts on the older model, which we usually wouldn’t recommend, but could well see some scorching discounts.

Our deals team will be curating the best of the best laptop deals throughout the Black Friday weekend to help you make the smartest choice.

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