Dell on Thursday announced a new version of its XPS 13, which the company claims is “improved in every conceivable way.” The device can be configured with either an i5 or i7 8th generation Intel processor, with a starting price of $999. Interested customers can purchase the device beginning today.
According to Dell, this year’s XPS update is significant for a few reasons. One, it features a next-generation InfinityEdge 4K display, which the company says highlights its Cinema suite of technology. Two, it’s the most portable 13-inch laptop on the planet, coming in at 0.46 inches thick and 0.2 pounds lighter than the previous model.
The device also comes in a flashy white-and-gold color option, which has me worried about how it will look over time. Dell claims the device will be easy to clean, so owners of the white color shouldn’t have to fight against keeping the device looking new. As a nice touch, Dell says the white model features an “authentic alpine white woven glass fiber palm rest.”
Some of the other changes include the addition of three USB-C ports, and the webcam being placed in the bottom center of the display, rather than in the lower lefthand corner. Unfortunately, not all changes being made are good. There are no USB 3.0 ports, which means owners of the new XPS 13 will need to start living that dongle life.
Dell is still maintaining that the new XPS 13 gets the best battery life of any laptop of similar size, so take that into account. Other specs include options for a 1080p or 4K display, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. The laptop also features GORE Thermal Insulation, lowering the temperature of the device and leading to improved performance.
In addition to a Windows 10 version, Dell will sell a Ubuntu-based developer edition with Linux, which retails for $949.
