In 2022, Dell reorganized its XPS 13-inch laptop lineup by separating the clamshell design into two distinct models: the more affordable XPS 13 9315 and the more robust Dell XPS 13 Plus. Both of these models were introduced. In the meantime, the old XPS 13 2-in-1 convertible in 360 degrees became a tablet that could be removed from the computer.
If you are looking for a machine with a screen size of 13 inches and are considering purchasing an XPS, this presents a bit of a challenge for you. There is a time and a place for each machine, but which one is most appropriate for you? Continue reading to find out.
Specs and Configurations
| Dimensions | 11.5 inches x 7.9 inches x 0.29 inches | 11.63 inches by 7.86 inches by 0.55 inches | 11.63 inches by 7.84 inches by 0.60 inches |
| Weight | 1.23 pounds | 2.59 pounds | 2.71 pounds |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1230U Intel Core i7-1250U |
Intel Core i5-1230U Intel Core i7-1250U |
Intel Core i5-1240P Intel Core i7-1260P Intel Core i7-1280P |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe | Intel Iris Xe | Intel Iris Xe graphics |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4x 16GB LPDDR4x |
8GB LPDDR5 16GB LPDDR5 32GB LPDDR5 |
8GB LPDDR5 16GB LPDDR5 32GB LPDDR5 |
| Display | 13.0-inch 3:2 2880 x 1920 IPS | 13.4-inch 16:10 Full HD+ (1920 x 1080) IPS 13.4-inch 16:10 Full HD+ IPS touch |
13.4-inch 16:10 IPS Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) 13.4-inch 16:10 IPS Full HD+ touch 13.4-inch 16:10 OLED 3.5K (3456 x 2160) touch 13.4-inch 16:10 IPS UHD+ (3840 x 2400) touch |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe SSD 1TB PCIe SSD |
512GB PCIe SSD 1TB PCIe SSD |
512GB PCIe SSD 1TB PCIe SSD 2GB PCIe SSD |
| Touch | Yes | Optional | Optional |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 1 x nano SIM (optional) |
2 USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 | 2 USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 Optional 5GB WWAN |
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Webcam | 1080p with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hell0 2160p rear-facing |
720p with Windows 11 Hello IR webcam | 720p, Windows 11 Hello IR webcam |
| Operating system | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 49.5 watt-hour | 51 watt-hours | 55 watt-hours |
| Price | $1,000 | $749+ | $1,299+ |
| Rating | 3.5 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 stars | 4 out of 5 stars |
The XPS 13 9315 is the model with the lowest starting price, with a Core i5 processor, 8 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), a 512-gigabyte solid-state drive (SSD), and a Full HD+ IPS display that does not support touch. To get the most out of the system, you’ll need to spend $1,299 to get a Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB solid-state drive, and a touch display.
The entry-level price for a Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is $1,000 for the XPS 13 2-in-1. This price does not include the keyboard and pen, which both add an additional $100 to the total cost. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is the second-most affordable of the three. The 2-in-1 costs a maximum of $1,699 for a Core i7 processor, 16 gigabytes of random access memory, a one-terabyte solid-state drive, and an included keyboard and digital pen.
The XPS 13 Plus is the most expensive model of the XPS laptop line. The base model comes with a Core i5 processor, 8 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), a 512-gigabyte solid-state drive (SSD), and a non-touch Full HD+ IPS display. It costs $1,299. You will spend a maximum of $2,399 for a Core i7 processor, 32 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), a two-terabyte solid-state drive (SSD), and either a 4K+ IPS or a 3.5K OLED display panel.
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Design
Both the XPS 13 9315 and the XPS 13 Plus went in different design directions compared to the previous generation of the XPS 13, as well as from each other. When the lid is closed, they have a fairly similar appearance; however, the chassis of the newer model is made entirely of aluminum, as opposed to the older model’s combination of aluminum and carbon or glass fiber. When the lid is lifted, however, the XPS 13 Plus reveals a truly contemporary design with a glass-covered palm rest that conceals an embedded haptic touchpad, an edge-to-edge keyboard with large keycaps and minimal space between keys, and LED function buttons. Additionally, the XPS 13 Plus features a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 3,200 by 1,800 pixels. The XPS 13 9315 is a much more straightforward model, featuring a conventional island keyboard and a touchpad that is mechanical. Both of these laptops have extremely thin bezels, and the XPS 13 9315 comes in colors of sky and umber, while the XPS 13 Plus is offered in colors of granite and platinum.
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is a conventional convertible tablet that has rounded corners and bezels that are moderately large in size. It is a rather unremarkable slate that is available in both sky and slate (the latter being the only color available with the 5G version). When you add the Dell Folio keyboard, the device takes on a profile that is quite comparable to that of the Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft.
Every single XPS laptop is every bit as rigid as they were designed to be, making them the gold standard of modern laptop construction. The hinges on each clamshell laptop are of the highest quality, whereas the tablet does not have a kickstand built-in and instead makes use of the three magnetic angles on the keyboard.
When it comes to keyboards, every single one of them is very good. They all have a lot of space, and the switches are quick and accurate. The keyboard on the XPS 13 Plus is the most comfortable to use out of the three. In addition, while the mechanical touchpads on the XPS 13 9315 and XPS 13 2-in-1’s folio keyboard work just fine, the XPS 13 Plus features a haptic touchpad that provides precise control over its entire surface and virtual button clicks that feel natural. This is in contrast to the touchpads found on the XPS 13 9315 and the folio keyboard found on the XPS 13 2-in-1. The LED function buttons on that laptop are perfectly functional; however, the question of whether or not they are a desirable feature is entirely subjective.
The level of connectivity offered by each laptop is virtually identical, which is to say that it is extremely restricted. None of the laptops have audio jacks, but the 2-in-1 convertible has a nano SIM slot for the optional 5G WWAN support it offers. Each one comes with a dongle that converts USB-C to USB-A and another that converts USB-C to 3.5mm audio. The wireless connectivity is also the same, despite the fact that the XPS 13 2-in-1 has optional support for an always-connected internet connection as was previously mentioned.
Finally, in comparison to the 720p webcams found on the clamshells, the XPS 13 2-in-1’s webcam has a resolution of 1080p, making it the superior option. Every laptop comes equipped with an infrared camera so that users can log in to Windows Hello using their faces.
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Performance
Both the XPS 13 2-in-1 and the XPS 13 9315 make use of 9-watt Intel 12th-generation U-series processors. These processors have 10 cores (two of which are Performance cores and eight of which are Efficient cores) and 12 threads. As a result, the performance of both of these options is inferior to that of the XPS 13 Plus, which has processors from the P-series that consume 28 watts and have 12 cores (four Performance and eight Efficient) and 16 threads. One of the key ways in which the XPS 13 Plus and the XPS 13 9315 were differentiated from one another by Dell was with regard to their respective levels of overall performance.
Geekbench 5 and our Handbrake video encoding test were both completed more quickly on the XPS 13 2-in-1 than on the XPS 13 9315, while the latter completed Cinebench R23 more quickly. It came as a surprise that the tablet performed better in the benchmark test for PCMark 10 Complete compared to both of the clamshells. But the XPS 13 Plus was head and shoulders above the competition in our tests that put a heavy emphasis on the CPU. None of the laptops is a particularly strong contender in the gaming laptop market.
Display
If you want the display to be as good as it possibly can be, then the XPS 13 Plus is your best option. It provides options for OLED displays with a higher resolution as well as IPS displays with superior colors and, in the case of the OLED display, intense contrast with inky blacks. The display on the XPS 13 2-in-1 was sharper than the Full HD+ panel on the XPS 13 9315, and it offers slightly better colors with much better contrast than the Full HD+ panel did. The OLED display on the XPS 13 Plus is the best option for anyone who wants to do (limited) creative work on the laptop, and it is also the best option for dedicated media consumers. Those who want to do creative work on the laptop should consider purchasing the XPS 13 Plus.
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Portability
The dimensions of the laptops are comparable in terms of width and depth; however, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is naturally the most svelte and lightest option when it is detached from its keyboard. All of the XPS machines are extremely portable laptops that you won’t even notice are there in your bag when you’re carrying them.
The Dell XPS 13 9315 had the longest battery life, followed by the XPS 13 Plus, which had the second-best battery life, and the XPS 13 2-in-1, which had the shortest battery life. The two clamshells are more likely to approach a full day’s work without plugging in, and each enjoys small power bricks that are easy enough to carry around. Moreover, they do not need to be charged as frequently as other electronic devices.
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All solid 13-inch machines
If you are interested in purchasing an XPS tablet, then your only option is the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. But that doesn’t mean it can’t compete with the other two as a laptop; it just doesn’t fit as well on your lap as clamshell machines do. Tablet mode with the ability to write is not supported by the clamshells.
Aside from this primary factor, the question that needs to be answered is as follows: Do you want a more powerful, more up-to-date, and more expensive laptop with a better display, or do you want to save some money but go a route that is less performant? When it comes to premium laptops, we believe that the XPS 13 9315 is an excellent “budget” option, whereas the XPS 13 Plus is the superior laptop that comes at a higher price. When deciding between them, your preference for a particular form factor and the degree to which performance and cutting-edge features factor into your decision are the two most important considerations.
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