We pit the Dell XPS 13 Plus against its Dell XPS 13 predecessor
The upcoming Dell XPS 13 Plus overhauls Dell’s traditional XPS 13 with a snazzy new design, cutting edge specs, a bigger battery, and better webcams and audio. It might end up being more expensive, and the decision to replace function keys with capacitive touch buttons will likely annoy some, but overall, we expect that the Dell XPS 13 Plus will surpass its predecessor.
Pros
- Better overall specs
- Bigger battery
- Additional camera and speakers
- New design
Cons
- Potentially more expensive
- Some may dislike capacitive touch buttons
If you think you’d prefer Dell’s traditional Dell XPS 13 design, the standard Dell XPS 13 is still an excellent laptop with great specs, tons of battery life, reliable function keys, and a potentially lower cost. With that said, the classic XPS 13 features a slightly smaller battery, a lower-quality webcam, fewer speakers, and worse specs overall.
Pros
- Specs are still great
- Strong battery life
- Function keys
- Potentially more affordable
Cons
- Smaller battery
- Worse cameras and speakers
- Specs are worse overall
Ultimately, we believe that the Dell XPS 13 Plus will be better device for most people once it launches in spring 2022, as its top-of-the-line specs, larger battery and camera, and speaker improvements will likely make it a better device even if it ends up being more expensive. With that said, the classic Dell XPS 13 is still a phenomenal device as well, and we recommend it if you find yourself preferring the traditional Dell XPS 13 design that has function keys instead of finnicky capacitive touch buttons. It might end up being more affordable, too.
XPS 13 Plus vs. XPS 13: Design and specs
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central The Dell XPS 13 Plus.
When it comes to specs, the Dell XPS 13 Plus surpasses its Dell XPS 13 predecessor in pretty much every way. Its Intel 12th Gen Mobile P-series CPUs are more efficient and performant than the Intel 11th Gen chips found in the classic Dell XPS 13, and it also comes with cutting-edge LPDDR5 memory. It has the same options for displays, storage, and ports (dual Thunderbolt 4 slots), but it comes with two extra upward-firing speakers and individual RGB and IR 720p webcams. On older laptops like the classic Dell XPS 13, these two webcam types have been combined into one, which lowers image quality considerably. The Dell XPS 13 Plus also features a slightly larger 55WHr battery that will likely last even longer than the standard 52WHr battery found in the traditional XPS 13.
Dell XPS 13 Plus | Dell XPS 13 (9310) | |
---|---|---|
CPU | Intel Core i5-1240P Intel Core i7-1260P Intel Core i7-1270P Intel Core i7-1280P |
Intel Core i3-1115G4 Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1185G7 |
GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
Memory | 8GB LPDDR5 16GB LPDDR5 32GB LPDDR5 |
8GB LPDDR4 16GB LPDDR4 32GB LPDDR4 |
Storage | 256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD |
256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD |
Display | 13.4 inches 16:10 aspect ratio 1920×1200/3456×2160/3840×2400 Touch/non-touch LCD/OLED |
13.4 inches 16:10 aspect ratio 1920×1200/3456×2160/3840×2400 Touch/non-touch LCD/OLED |
Ports | 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 | 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 |
Audio | 4x stereo speakers | 2x stereo speakers |
Front camera | 720p RGB camera 720p IR camera (Windows Hello) |
720p RGB/IR camera (Windows Hello) |
Biometrics | Fingerprint reader | Fingerprint reader |
Connectivity | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) Bluetooth 5.2 |
Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2) Bluetooth 5.1 |
Battery | 55WHr | 52WHr (up to 14 hours) |
Weight | 2.73 pounds (1.24kg) | 2.63 pounds (1.2kg) |
Price | Unknown | Starts at $1,098 |
Design-wise, the Dell XPS 13 Plus has a wider keyboard with larger keycaps, and its trackpad is also powered by haptics. The function keys have been replaced by capacitive touch buttons, which may not be as reliable. However, Dell says this change was necessary so that it could use the extra space for thermals. Ultimately, the newer design will appeal to people who prefer haptics, wider keyboards, and larger keycaps. Traditionalists will naturally gravitate to the classic Dell XPS 13’s design, which has a more standard keyboard and trackpad. Both laptops have razor-thin bezels and a very low weight.
Information regarding the price of the Dell XPS 13 Plus is currently unavailable, making it impossible to know for sure how the newer device will compare to the traditional Dell XPS 13. We expect that the XPS 13 Plus will be more expensive, but we won’t know how much more until Dell provides more information.
XPS 13 Plus vs. XPS 13: Which should you buy?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central The classic Dell XPS 13.
While the traditional Dell XPS 13 is a superb laptop in all respects, we ultimately feel that the Dell XPS 13 Plus will be an even better device because of its more powerful specs, larger battery, and the inclusion of individual RGB and IR webcams as well as two more upward-facing speakers. New design aside, the laptop was one of our best of CES 2022 picks for a reason — it simply has the best of the best in its chassis, and when you’re buying premium laptops like these, getting the best performance matters.
With that said, we still wholeheartedly recommend the “old” Dell XPS 13 if you prefer its classic design and don’t mind sacrificing some performance to get it. Its specs are still excellent, and it may also end up being cheaper. You shouldn’t pull the trigger on an older XPS 13 model until prices for the XPS 13 Plus are revealed, though.
For other excellent options, check our roundup of the best Windows laptops available right now.
Best overall
Dell XPS 13 Plus
A new king rises
The upcoming Dell XPS 13 Plus overhauls Dell’s traditional XPS 13 with a snazzy new design, cutting-edge specs, a bigger battery, and better webcams and audio. It might end up being more expensive, and the decision to replace function keys with capacitive touch buttons will likely annoy some, but overall, we expect that the Dell XPS 13 Plus will surpass its predecessor
Best classic
Dell XPS 13 (9310)
Old but gold
If you think you’d prefer Dell’s traditional Dell XPS 13 design, the standard Dell XPS 13 is still an excellent laptop with great specs, tons of battery life, reliable function keys, and a potentially lower cost. With that said, the classic XPS 13 features a slightly smaller battery, a lower-quality webcam, fewer speakers, and worse specs overall.
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