Dell XPS 13 9300 evaluation: The bezel is lastly lifeless

With Dell’s XPS 13 9300, you may mark a momentous date in laptop computer historical past: the dying of the laptop computer bezel. Previous fashions killed the highest and sides, however that final ineffective half has caught round till now.

Dell’s XPS 13 9300, nonetheless, kills that backside bezel lifeless. More importantly, the smaller bezel makes the XPS 13 presumably one in all most compact laptops round.

The story of the XPS 13 is a protracted and storied one at this level. When the primary “InfinityBezel” model hit the scene in 2015, it set the pattern for what might be executed in a tiny laptop computer, forcing rivals to reevaluate their designs. The newest XPS 13 9300 ($1,749 at Dell.com) might not transfer the ball ahead a lot in efficiency, however its 16:10 aspect-ratio InfinityBezel contact display screen and twin biometric inputs nonetheless make a distinction.

This evaluation is a part of of our ongoing roundup of the very best laptops. Go there for data on competing fashions and the way we examined them. 

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Why skinny bezels matter

Lest you assume we’re raving about an inconsequential characteristic, you simply need to look again to 2017, when corporations have been nonetheless promoting laptops with a lot bezel, you could possibly promote billboard area on them. Apple’s 2017-era MacBook Air, for instance, appears about as fashion-correct as disco-era bell-bottom pants and wide-lapel paisley shirts would appear throughout the grunge period.

Best Buy

For the brand new XPS 13 9300, Dell properly eschews the widespread, slim 16:9 side ratio that lowers the general top of the display screen. The firm as an alternative goes with a taller 16:10 side ratio for the 13.4-inch display screen. The prime of the display screen is about the identical top as that of a extra typical 16:9 laptop computer, such because the HP Elite Dragonfly, supplying you with extra display screen actual property with out growing the scale of the laptop computer.

The display screen itself is a wonderful 450-nit IPS touchscreen. When we are saying IPS, we imply precise Sharp IPS too, not the “IPS-like” or “wide-viewing angle” language corporations use to explain copycat variations. This is a wonderful, top-quality show that may make it easier to keep productive. 

Dell XPS 13 9300 Specs and Features

While the show is clearly the star of the XPS 13 9300’s configuration, it presents lots extra top-shelf elements in its slender chassis. Here are the small print.

• CPU: 10th gen Core i7-1065G7
• GPU: Intel built-in Iris Plus
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X/3733
• Storage: 512GB Intel 760P NVMe SSD
• Display: 13.4-inch 1920×1200 Sharp IPS 
• Biometric Support: Realtek biometric digital camera in prime bezel, Goodix finger print reader built-in into energy button.
• Ports: The XPS 13 9300 options one Thunderbolt three port on all sides, a microSD reader on the left facet, and an analog combo audio jack on the proper facet. Compared to the earlier mannequin, you’re dropping one USB-C port and the wedge-lock port. As with the prior mannequin there is no such thing as a USB-A port. If you keep any legacy USB-A gadgets or simply want extra connectivity, it’s time to purchase a USB-C hub.

Gordon Mah Ung

• Networking: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650, Bluetooth 5
• Size and weight: 11.6 x 7.eight x 0.27 inches, 2.9 kilos with out AC adapter
• Upgradability: “Upgrades” on trendy ultraportable laptops are all the time very restricted, however Dell retains it right down to earth with an ordinary M.2 slot for the Intel SSD inside it. This might appear to be no huge deal, however the XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 soldered its SSD. Dell’s cause (like Apple’s) is to save lots of area and make the laptop computer thinner, however many have roasted the corporate for the transfer.

Gordon Mah Ung

Keyboard, Trackpad and Webcam

One of the higher strikes Dell takes with…