Review: The 2022 Dell XPS 13 is more than just a pretty face
Enlarge (credit: Scharon Harding)
| Specs at a glance: Dell XPS 13 2022 (9315) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Worst | Best | As reviewed | |
| Screen | 13.4-inch 1920*1200 IPS non-touchscreen | 13.4-inch 1920*1200 IPS touchscreen | |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-1230U | Intel Core i7-1250U vPro | Intel Core i5-1230U |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5-5200 | 32GB LPDDR5-5200 | 16GB LPDDR5-5200 |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x2 SSD | 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x2 SSD | 512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x2 SSD |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe | ||
| Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 | ||
| Size | 11.63*7.86*0.55 inches (295.4*199.4*13.99 mm) | ||
| Weight | 2.59 lbs (1.17 kg) | ||
| Battery | 51 Wh | ||
| Warranty | 1 year | ||
| Price (MSRP) | $849 | $1,499 | $1,150 |
| Other | USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to 3.5 mm adapters included |
I was treated to a welcome surprise when I first laid eyes on the latest Dell XPS 13 (9315). The color options-a youthful sky blue or a unique purplish brown-are visual candy in a PC world dominated by shimmery silvers, grown-up grays, and boring blacks. Dell's 2022 XPS 13 doesn't compromise by offering a more traditional colorway for cheaper, as prior XPS 13 laptops did, either.
After I moved past appearances, I found there was more to enjoy under the hood. While this machine isn't as wild of a redesign as the one given to the costlier Dell XPS 13 Plus, the company did some tinkering to make the XPS 13 lighter and thinner than ever, all while accommodating quality-of-life upgrades like better speakers and a bigger battery. Unfortunately, it has a dreadfully limited and dongle-dependent port selection.
There are flashier alternatives for a thin-and-light laptop, but the 2022 XPS 13 is an admirable clamshell with more to offer than a couple of unique hues.