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- Dell has announced the brand new XPS 13 (9315) and XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) premium laptop and folio PCs.
- The new XPS 13 has a 1.8x smaller motherboard than last year’s model, making it the most compact XPS 13 yet.
- Both laptops feature 12th Gen Intel U-series processors, and the 2-in-1 offers optional 5G connectivity.
- The new XPS 13 starts at $999, while the XPS 13 2-in-1 will launch later this summer at a price to be determined.
While all the attention was focused on the radical XPS 13 Plus (along with its high price tag), Dell had a few other laptops up its sleeve for those who wanted a more conservative yet modern design while also being more affordable.
The new XPS 13 and XPS 13 2-in-1, both model numbers 9315, complete this lineup and offer something for everyone who wants a clean, minimalist laptop.
XPS 13 (9315)
First up is the new XPS 13 (9315). At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss it as another refresh, with its famous CNC-machined aluminum and glass chassis, but with a newer processor and some new colors; However, this greatly underestimates Dell’s internal work.
For one, this is the lightest, thinnest XPS 13 with the smallest footprint. Sure, we’re talking millimeters here, but that’s even noticeable in a photo comparison. We’ve got a full spec comparison between the new XPS 13 (9315) and last year’s XPS 13 (9310) for those who want to dive deeper.
Dell installs Intel’s 12th generation U-series processors (Core i5-1230U or i7-1250U), which have a base power of only 9 watts (compared to 15 in last year’s model) and a maximum turbo output of 29 watts. While the XPS 13 (9315) is more powerful (and efficient) than the 2021 XPS 13 (9310), it’s not as powerful as the pricier XPS 13 Plus, which features 28-watt P-Series chips, which is a part the price difference.
In addition, Dell has added human presence detection (ExpressSign-In), Wi-Fi 6E, new colors (Sky, Umber), Bluetooth 5.2, faster LPDDR5-5200 RAM and faster storage (PCIe 4.0) while only having a hair is lighter and smaller than last year’s model.
The display is still the same superb 16:10 13.4-inch with Dolby Vision in either 1920 x 1200 (FHD+) with touch or non-touch/anti-glare or UHD+ (3840 x 2400) with touch and anti-reflection.
To achieve all of this while improving thermals (there is now only one fan instead of two), Dell uses PCB (printed circuit board) technology for mobile phones in the design of the motherboard. These efforts resulted in the board being 1.8 times smaller than the previous generation. With that extra space, Dell has kept the battery almost the same size (51Wh vs. 52Wh) and included larger speaker cabinets for “deeper bass, louder sound, and better overall audio” rated at 4 watts.
While RAM was previously soldered onto the motherboard to save space, Dell now also uses an industry-first NVMe BGA SSD that’s just 13% the size of a traditional M.2 2280 SSD (it’s also now integrated on the board). . This LPDDR5 x64 RAM is now also Package on a Package (PoP), a fancy term for stacking components – again this is never done on laptops as most use JEDEC memory standards.
| XPS 13 (9315) | |
|---|---|
| operating system | Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu 20.04 |
| processor | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1230U, i7-1250U |
| R.A.M. | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB LPDDR5-5200 |
| graphic | Intel Iris Xe |
| storage | 256GB 512GB 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| advertisement | 13.4 inch, 16:10 aspect ratio, Dolby Vision, Eyesafe |
| 1920 x 1200 (FHD+), 500 nits, 100% sRGB, AG | |
| 1920 x 1200 (FHD+), touch, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, AR | |
| 3840 x 2400 (UHD+), Touch, 500 nits, HDR 400, 90% DCI-P3, AR | |
| ports | Two Thunderbolt 4 |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, 4W output, MaxxAudio Pro, Waves Nx 3D, dual microphones |
| Wireless | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E 1675 (AX211), Bluetooth 5.2 |
| camera | 720p, IR, ambient light sensor, presence detection |
| keyboard | 1mm stroke, backlit |
| security | Fingerprint reader, IR camera, HPD |
| battery | 51Wh |
| Dimensions | 11.63 x 7.85 x 0.55 inches |
| 295.4mm x 199.4mm x 13.99mm | |
| weight | Starting at 1.17 kg (2.59 pounds) |
| colour | Heaven Umber |
However, ports are also reduced as there are currently two Type-C Thunderbolt 4 with no Type-A (a dongle is included in the box though). Dell has also eliminated the microSD slot and, more controversially, the 3.5 audio jack (there’s an optional dongle for the headphone jack).
Pricing for the new XPS 13 starts at $999 (vs. $1,249 for the XPS 13 Plus) and is available to order now. 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)
Alongside the redesigned XPS 13, Dell is bringing back its 2-in-1 13-inch laptop. However, it is hardly recognizable from the previous model. Previously, the XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) was a more traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge, which we really appreciated. The new model is more like a Surface Pro – a tablet with a detachable keyboard, also known as a “folio” design. It leans much more towards a tablet than a traditional laptop.
The new XPS XPS features a 13-inch 3K display with HDR400 and the new 9-watt 12th-gen Core i5-1230U or i7-1250U processor (same as the XPS 13). The XPS 13 2-in-1 seems to be almost everything with Dell’s super-thin bezels. With Gorilla Glass 7 and active pen support, the folio design certainly opens the door to more use cases like note-taking and drawing compared to the old model.
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is Dell’s first consumer PC with optional global 5G (and eSIM). If you don’t need mobile data, you can use Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
And because it’s now a tablet, the XPS 13 2-in-1 has dual cameras. The front is 5MP Full HD (which is better than the XPS 13’s 720P) with IR for Windows Hello (a fingerprint reader is also built into the power button as another option). On the rear, the outward-facing camera is more powerful at 11MP and capable of recording up to 4K.
Ports are similar to the XPS 13 and XPS 13 Plus with just two Type-C Thunderbolt 4 without a 3.5mm headphone jack.
| XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) | |
|---|---|
| operating system | Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro |
| processor | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1230U, i7-1250U |
| R.A.M. | 8GB, 16GB LPDDR4x-4266 |
| graphic | Intel Iris Xe |
| storage | 256GB 512GB 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| advertisement | 13 inch, 3:2 aspect ratio, Dolby Vision, Eyesafe |
| 2880 x 1920 (3K), touch, 500 nits, HDR 400, 100% sRGB, AR, pen support | |
| Pen | XPS stylus (sold separately) |
| ports | Two Thunderbolt 4 |
| Audio | Waves MaxxAudio Pro, Waves Nx 3D, dual microphones |
| Wireless | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E 1675 (AX211), Bluetooth 5.2, 5G |
| camera | Front: 1080p, RGB + IR, ambient light sensor |
| Rear: 11MP 4K | |
| keyboard | Snap-on folio (sold separately), 1mm travel |
| security | Fingerprint reader, IR camera |
| battery | 49.5Wh |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.29 inches |
| 292.5mm x 201.2mm x 7.4mm) | |
| weight | Starting at 1.6 pounds (736 g) |
| Folio: 1.23 pounds (560 g) | |
| colour | sky, slate |
Aside from the lack of a headphone jack, some more controversial choices include that the XPS Folio (the name for the zero-lattice keyboard with 1.0mm of key travel and precision touchpad) and the XPS Stylus are sold separately.
Additionally, this keyboard doesn’t look that much like Microsoft’s, but more like the old-school style, where it magnetically sticks to the back of the device, forming a tent-like structure. This is because this PC does not have a built-in kickstand. While this design works well on a desk, it’s not nearly as comfortable as the Surface Pro’s angled design and built-in kickstand.
Overall, the new XPS 13 2-in-1 at least stands out from all other non-enterprise convertible PCs, which speaks for Dell. However, it remains to be seen whether this radical new folio design will resonate with consumers and rank among Dell’s best laptops.
The new XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) is expected to be available later this summer, but pricing has yet to be determined.
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Dell XPS 13 (9315)
The XPS 13 (9315) gets new performance hardware, presence detection, and new color options, making it the best choice if you don’t need the XPS 13 Plus (9320).
