- Dell announced the all-new premium XPS 13 (9315) and XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) laptop and notebook.
- The new XPS 13 has a motherboard that’s 1.8 times smaller than last year’s model, making it the smallest XPS 13 to date.
- Both mobile devices feature Intel 12th Gen U-series processors, and the 2-in-1 offers optional 5G connectivity.
- The new XPS 13 is available starting at $999, while the XPS 13 2-in-1 is coming later this summer, at a price that has yet to be determined.
While all the attention has been focused on the radicals XPS 13 Plus (Besides their high price tag), Dell has a few laptops up its sleeve for those who want a more conservative, modern design while also being affordable.
The new XPS 13 and XPS 13 2-in-1 models, both model number 9315, complete this collection that offers something for everyone who wants a clean and simple laptop.
XPS 13 (9315)
The first is the new XPS 13 (9315). At first glance, it would be easy to consider it just another update with its popular CNC-machined aluminum and glass chassis but with a newer processor slapped and some new colors; However, this severely underestimates the importance of the internal work that Dell has done.
For one, this is the lightest and thinnest XPS 13 with the smallest size. Sure, we’re talking in millimeters, but it’s noticeable even in photo comparisons. We have a full specs comparison The new XPS 13 (9315) and last year’s XPS 13 (9310) For those who want to dive deeper.
Dell packed in 12th Generation Intel U Series Processors (Core i5-1230U or i7-1250U), which has only 9W of core power (versus 15″ last year’s model) and a maximum turbo power of 29 watts. While the XPS 13 (9315) is more powerful (and more efficient) than the 2021 XPS 13 (9310), it won’t be as powerful as the more expensive XPS 13 Plus, which runs on 28W P-class chips, which is part of the difference price.
In addition, Dell has added Detecting human presence (ExpressSign-In), Wi-Fi 6Eand new colors (Sky, Umber), Bluetooth 5.2, faster LPDDR5-5200 RAM, and faster storage (PCIe 4.0) while it comes a hair lighter and smaller than last year’s model.
The screen is still the same 16:10 13.4 inch excellent with Dolby Vision Either in 1920×1200 (FHD+) touch or non-touch/anti-glare or UHD+ (3840×2400) with touch and anti-glare.
To achieve all this while also improving temperatures (there is only one fan now, instead of two), Dell makes use of cell phone PCB (printed circuit board) technology when designing the motherboard. This effort resulted in the board being 1.8 times smaller than the previous generation. With that extra space, Dell kept the battery about the same size (51Wh versus 52) and put in larger speaker boxes for “deeper bass, louder bass, and better overall sound” with a 4W output.
While RAM was previously soldered to the motherboard to save space, Dell now also uses an industry-first NVMe BGA SSD, which is just 13% the size of a conventional M.2 2280 SSD (which is now also built into the Board) . LPDDR5 x64 RAM is now package-on-a-pack (PoP), which is a fancy term for component stacking – again, something that hasn’t been done in laptops as most use the JEDEC memory standards.
| XPS 13 (9315) | |
|---|---|
| The operating system | Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu 20.04 |
| Healer | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1230U, i7-1250U |
| RAM | 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB LPDDR5-5200 |
| Graphics | Intel Iris XE |
| storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Show | 13.4 inches, 16:10 aspect ratio, Dolby Vision, Eyesafe |
| 1920 x 1200 (FHD+), 500 nits, 100% sRGB, AG | |
| 1920×1200 (FHD+), touch, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, AR | |
| 3840×2400 (UHD+), touch, 500 nits, HDR 400, 90% DCI-P3, AR | |
| ports | Two Thunderbolt 4 |
| My voice | Stereo speakers, 4W output, MaxxAudio Pro, Waves Nx 3D, dual microphone |
| wireless | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E 1675 (AX211), Bluetooth 5.2 |
| camera | 720p, IR, ambient light sensor, human presence detection |
| keyboard | 1mm travel, backlit |
| protection | Fingerprint Reader, Infrared Camera, HPD |
| battery | 51Wh |
| Dimensions | 11.63 x 7.85 x 0.55 inches |
| 295.4 mm x 199.4 mm x 13.99 mm | |
| Weight | From 2.59 pounds (1.17 kg) |
| the color | Heaven, Amber |
However, the ports have also been cut as there are now only two Type C Thunderbolt 4 . port With no Type A (a dongle is included in the box, though). Dell has also eliminated the microSD slot and, most controversially, the 3.5 audio jack (there’s an optional dongle for the headphone jack).
Pricing for the new XPS 13 starts at $999 (versus $1,249 for the XPS 13 Plus) and is now available to order. Besides the Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro options, users can also configure the XPS 13 with Ubuntu 20.04.
XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315)
Along with the redesigned XPS 13, Dell is bringing back the 13-inch 2-in-1 laptop. However, it is almost unrecognizable from the previous model. Before XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) It was a more traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge, which we highly praise. The new form is more like a file Surface Pro Tablet with detachable keyboard, aka “folio” design. It leans more heavily towards a tablet than a traditional laptop.
The new XPS XPS features a 13-inch 3K display with HDR400, and a new 9-watt 12th Gen Core i5-1230U or i7-1250U processor (like the XPS 13). The XPS 13 2-in-1 looks almost all-screen with Dell’s ultra-slim bezel. With Gorilla Glass 7 and active stylus support, the folio design certainly opens the door to more use cases like note-taking and drawing than the older model.
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is Dell’s first consumer PC with optional global 5G (and eSIM). For those who don’t need mobile data, the device reverts back to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
And now that it’s a tablet, the XPS 13 2-in-1 has two cameras. Front-facing 5MP HD (better than the XPS 13’s 720P) with IR for Windows Hello (A fingerprint reader is also included in the power button as another option.) On the back, the world-facing camera is the most powerful 11MP and can record up to 4K.
The ports are similar to the XPS 13 and XPS 13 Plus with only two Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports without a 3.5mm headphone jack.
| XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) | |
|---|---|
| The operating system | Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro |
| Healer | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1230U, i7-1250U |
| RAM | 8 GB, 16 GB LPDDR4x-4266 |
| Graphics | Intel Iris XE |
| storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Show | 13 inches, 3:2 aspect ratio, Dolby Vision, Eyesafe |
| 2880×1920 (3K), touch, 500 nits, HDR 400, 100% sRGB, AR, stylus support | |
| pen | XPS Stylus (sold separately) |
| ports | Two Thunderbolt 4 |
| My voice | Waves MaxxAudio Pro, Waves Nx 3D, Dual Mic |
| wireless | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E 1675 (AX211), Bluetooth 5.2, 5G |
| camera | Front: 1080p, RGB + IR, ambient light sensor |
| Rear: 11 mega pixel 4K | |
| keyboard | Attachable coil (sold separately), 1mm travel distance |
| protection | Fingerprint reader and infrared camera |
| battery | 49.5 W |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.29 inches |
| 292.5 mm x 201.2 mm x 7.4 mm) | |
| Weight | from 1.6 lbs (736 g) |
| Folio: 1.23 lb (560 g) | |
| the color | sky, slate |
Moving on to some of the more controversial decisions besides the lack of a headphone jack, the XPS Folio (the name for the mesh-free keyboard with 1.0mm shift key and precision touchpad) and XPS Stylus are sold separately.
Furthermore, this keyboard is not very similar to the Microsoft keyboard but is old school style where it magnetically sticks to the back of the device, forming a tent-like structure. This is because there is no kickstand built into this computer. While this design works well on a desk, it’s not as comfortable as the Surface Pro’s built-in angled design and kickstand.
Overall, the new XPS 13 2-in-1 stands out from at least every non-enterprise convertible PC that works for Dell. However, it remains to be seen whether this radical new paper design will be a hit with consumers and will be among the The best Dell laptops.
The new XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) is scheduled to be available later this summer, though pricing hasn’t been set yet.
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Dell XPS 13 (9315)
The XPS 13 (9315) gets new performance hardware, human presence detection, and new color options, making it a top pick if you don’t need the XPS 13 Plus (9320).
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