I Tested the Dell XPS-13 AI PC Laptop and Love It’s Features and Size

These days, it makes sense to purchase a new Windows laptop that’s ready to handle the latest Copilot+ PC AI features now being integrated into the Windows operating system and many popular applications. While you can spend thousands on a shiny new laptop with all of the latest bells and whistles, starting at around $1,200, you can get your hands on the well-rounded and affordable Dell XPS-13. It’s a lightweight and thin laptop with a minimalist design. It provides excellent performance, a long battery life, and the latest Copilot+ PC AI features – including a dedicated Copilot+ key on the keyboard.

Shortly after it was introduced, the folks at Dell provided me with a review unit of the Dell XPS-13 to put through its paces. I spent more than a month using this laptop and discovered it’s ideal for general purpose computing. I’ve enjoyed using it for everything from word processing, to web surfing, streaming video, playing games, and editing high-resolution photos. Handling everyday computing tasks is a hassle free experience. And when it comes to sound quality, the quad-speaker system is top-notch, although I typically use my Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds with the laptop.

Keep reading to learn more about my experience doing hands-on testing and using this popular laptop.

Dell XPS-13 AI PC Laptop

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The Dell XPS-13 Is Better Than Your Run-of-the-Mill Laptop: Here’s Why

Dell has made this laptop available in a handful of pre-configured options, plus allows you to custom-configure the computer directly from its website. No matter which hardware configuration you choose, I found the Dell XPS-13 to be a nicely powered and well-rounded laptop. As you’d expect, you can choose the CPU type based on the performance you need, along with the display type, internal SSD storage capacity, and amount of integrated RAM. However, even if you go with a basic configuration, this laptop will have no trouble keeping up with your everyday computing needs.

What I like best about this laptop is its overall design. It weighs in at a mere 2.6 pounds and is just 0.58 inches thick when shut. The backlit keyboard, along with the touchpad are comfortable to work with, while the 13.4 inch FHD+ display provides enough on-screen real estate to maintain a high level of productivity when using common applications or handling everyday tasks. 

For security, I like that the laptop has an integrated fingerprint reader, the option to use the webcam for a face ID, or you can create a password/PIN to unlock the computer. These are just some of the customization options offered.

As someone who often uses a laptop outside of my home office, I continue to appreciate the extended battery life offered by the Dell XPS-13. Dell promotes the battery life as being up to 27 hours, and I found this to be pretty accurate, except for when performing tasks that required a lot of CPU and GPU processing power, like playing action-oriented games. The laptop’s Wi-Fi 7 support also comes in handy when using tasks that require high speed wireless internet connectivity. 

The Dell XPS-13 is not a specialized gaming laptop, but for a casual gamer, it offers impressive performance when experiencing popular games. I played a handful of cloud-based and locally installed games and was generally impressed by the speed, responsiveness, overall graphics, and the sound quality generated by the computer. Playing Fortnite Battle Royal, for example, was a smooth and enjoyable experience on the Dell XPS-13 with its Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Series 2 processor and Intel Arc Graphics GPU.

TheDell XPS-13 comes with a nice selection of preinstalled apps, so right out of the box, it’s ready to handle most common computing tasks. This includes many Microsoft apps and services, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Edge, and more. To use some of the preinstalled apps requires a paid subscription. A one year subscription to McAfee Premium security suite comes preinstalled and activates during the computer’s initial setup process.

Initial Setup of the Dell XPS-13 Is a Breeze

After taking the laptop out of the box and plugging it in using the included power adapter, I turned on the laptop. It underwent an initial installation process. After a few minutes, I was prompted to connect the XPS-13 to my Wi-Fi network. It then automatically installed the latest Dell software and a firmware update. This was followed by multiple Windows updates, so like most new Windows PCs, it took about two hours to download and install everything that’s necessary. 

I then invested another hour or so customizing the laptop, adjusting user preferences, and syncing app-specific data with my other computers and mobile devices. I loved that the entire setup process was mostly automated and very intuitive, so even someone who’s not tech savvy could get the laptop up and running with ease. 

The Dell XPS-13 Laptop’s Integrated AI

There’s been a lot of hype lately about how artificial intelligence tools and functionality are now being integrated into computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices we use in our everyday lives. Since the Dell XPS-13 is a Windows laptop, it comes with the latest Microsoft Copilot+ PC AI functionality integrated into the device. There are many ways you can take advantage of these AI tools to streamline everyday tasks, for example. As with many of the newest laptops, the XPS-13 has a Copilot+ PC key integrated into the keyboard, so anytime you press it, you have access to an AI powered digital assistant.

Copilot+ PC continues to evolve quickly, so what it’s capable of doing today is only a preview of what’ll be possible in the months and years to come. I’ve discovered that just about anyone can benefit from using at least some of the AI tools and features currently offered, but you can opt to deactivate these functions if you’re not yet comfortable relying on AI. 

That said, Copilot+ PC can handle a wide range of tasks, plus it integrates with virtually all Microsoft apps and services. So, behind-the-scenes, your laptop can share data between apps, anticipate some of your needs, make certain decisions on your behalf, and help you become a better communicator.

The top five Copilot+ PC AI-driven features that I’m a huge fan of include:

1. The ability to quickly and dramatically edit a digital photo.
2. Getting help writing text-based content from scratch using one or more prompts, such as “Help me write a ‘thank you’ note for a birthday gift I just received from my uncle Bob.” 
3. Select one or more documents and obtain a summary of the content in seconds. (This works with web pages, recordings, and emails, too.) 
4. Using Recall, it’s simple to find any content you’ve previously viewed on your laptop.
5. Create live, text-based captions for audio or video content, including video calls. This includes being able to translate content into English from more than 40 other languages.

Who Will Get the Most From the Dell XPS-13 Laptop?

Whether you’re a business person, student, or someone who needs a versatile laptop that’s not overpriced or equipped with extra technology that you likely don’t need, I discovered the Dell XPS-13 is a really good option. When it comes to running any cloud-based applications, this laptop offers excellent speed and performance, limited only by the quality of your internet connection. 

As for running localized applications for tasks that require a lot of computing power, like high-resolution photo editing, video editing, or gaming, the XPS-13 offers better than average performance for a laptop offered at its price point. However, for higher-end tasks, I’d suggest choosing the most powerful processor and the highest amount of RAM and internal storage you can afford.

Is the Dell XPS-13 Laptop Worth It?

There’s a lot to really love about the Dell XPS-13, starting with its compact design. Yet, while it’s thin and lightweight, the keyboard is large enough for accurate, comfortable, and fast touch typing. Plus, the touchpad is extra-large and sensitive, so navaging the mouse cursor around the screen is both efficient and comfortable. Thanks to the backlit keyboard and display, the laptop can be used in low-light situations.

The hardware configuration of the XPS-13 that I’ve been using offers excellent value and performance for the investment. Yes, the 13.4-inch screen is a tad on the smaller side, but what you’re losing in on-screen real estate (compared to a laptop with a 15-inch or larger display), you make up for in portability. For the average user, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB capacity SSD for internal storage should be more than adequate. 

The version of the laptop I’ve been using runs on a Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Series 2 processor, but you can choose a configuration with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 processor.

My biggest complaint about this laptop is the lack of built in ports. It comes equipped with just two USB Type-C ports (one on either side of the laptop). Aside from that, everything from the laptop’s display to its integrated speaker system and wireless communications capabilities offer the latest technologies. 

For me, the biggest strength of the laptop is its thin, compact, and lightweight design. I’m also a huge fan of the Copilot+ PC AI integration and how seamlessly the laptop runs all of the most popular Microsoft apps and services. Upon signing into my Microsoft account during the initial setup process, the laptop synced all of my Microsoft 365 data and files. Of course, it works nicely with non-Microsoft apps and services, too.

Dell XPS-13 AI PC Laptop

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Final Thoughts

Ultimately, if you want a highly portable Windows laptop with an impressive battery life, the Dell XPS-13 is certainly a viable option for most users. This laptop also looks nice, offers reliable functionality, and provides the latest AI integrations designed to make you more productive – regardless of how you plan to use the computer in your everyday personal or professional life. And it’s also affordably priced, too. 

The XPS-13 is a great option for someone seeking a Windows laptop with a compact and lightweight design