Dell XPS 13 and 16: Hands-On and Video

Earlier today, Mark and I got our lucky paws on Dell’s newly redesigned XPS notebooks, the 13 and 16. I have to say, as discerning as we tend to be about notebook design, we’re impressed. It’s clear Dell paid attention to detail in revamping  its premium line, and the effort has more than paid off. First Impressions The XPS line can win you over before you open its lid. That’s because the lid has a panel of genuine leather, as well as a thin metal strip. The rest of the lid is glossy black. Shades of Black At first glance, the XPS is monochromatic. In fact, though, Dell really played with textures, making these notebooks anything but basic black. There’s the glossy lid, as well as the the matte keyboard and the palm rest, whose paint has subtle metallic flecks, making it look textured when it actually feels smooth to the touch. Capping it off are metal plates on the lower corners of the bezel. Tactile Experience Speaking of the trackpad, while it might look bumpy to some from afar, it provides the perfect amount of friction. Unfortunately, the touch buttons are on the small side, and have a bit too much give. On the plus side, the typing experience is superb. The XPS’ is one of those keyboards whose keys are flat and level, but close together (that is to say, not an island, or chiclet, design). Not only was typing comfortable, but the keys were whisper quiet. Finally, both XPS notebooks have a panel of touch-sensitive multimedia controls, which glow white. Unlike the controls on some other laptops we’ve tested, these were very responsive. Backlights Everywhere So, remember I said Dell paid attention to detail? Well, that white backlighting we admired in the multimedia control panel appears all over the notebook. The keyboard is backlit. So are the touch buttons, a first, as far as we can tell. Even the Wi-Fi indicator on the front of the notebook and the hinges on the side are. Best of all, the effect is classy (and not reminiscent of, say, one of Dell’s Alienware-branded gaming rigs). Display Although both the XPS 13 and XPS 16 have glass-to-glass, LED-backlit displays, the XPS 16 is unique in that it’s available with an RGB display. At $250, it comes at a hefty premium, but for that money you get a 100 percent color gamut and better viewing angles. While we don’t think that splurge is worth it for the average user, photo and video enthusiasts will appreciate it. Heck, even if you can’t afford it, you can appreciate how stunning the colors look on screen. A Note About Specs While we’re on the subject of displays, we’ll tell you that the XPS 13 has switchable graphics, so you can move between integrated and discrete solutions depending on whether you want better battery life or gaming performance. Right now, users have to manually switch between the two modes, but Dell expects to release a patch within six weeks that will automatically toggle between the two when users pug and unplug their machine. Other than that, both machines are available with Centrino 2 processors, and solid-state hard drive options. Only the best for a premium notebook line, right? (As soon as we get review units of these we’ll give them the full benchmark treatment, and then we won’t be so flippant about specs. We promise.) Until then, enjoy our hands-on video and gallery.