This latest version of Dell's XPS 13 has some hard acts to follow, including the 2-in-1 version[1] of the XPS 13 I reviewed last year -- which itself followed on from earlier iterations that had all impressed. It's hard to lead from the front, so what has Dell done to refine what was already a top-notch laptop -- apart from moving to 8th generation Intel Core processors?
Dell's ambition with the XPS 13 has always been to put a powerful laptop inside a small chassis, and to make the resulting hardware light and portable. That has always been achieved, and here the aim is more about refining previous benefits rather than doing anything radically different.
So, the outward appearance of the Dell XPS 13 9370[2] is very recognisable.
The 2018 XPS 13 has almost identical dimensions and weight to its predecessor and a minimal-bezel screen that results in a suboptimal camera placement, beneath the screen. The new model is powered by 8th-generation Intel Core processors. Image: Dell
The first version[3] of the XPS 13 was lauded as the world's smallest 13.3-inch laptop. This was followed by an updated model[4] with an 'InfinityEdge' screen bezel measuring 5mm on the sides, 13mm at the top and 18mm along the bottom. Later came the XPS 13 2-in-1[5], which was lighter and slimmer than its predecessors, measuring 302mm by 199mm by 11.6mm and weighing 1.2kg. The new XPS 13 9370 matches these dimensions almost exactly, the only difference being a starting weight of 1.21kg.
Dell has managed to reduce the screen bezel even further, bringing it to 4mm on the short and top edges. All of this is remarkable, although this design's one drawback remains: