Tolerable. That’s the word I would use to describe living with the XPS 13 and its meager 8GB of RAM. By the time I started Windows, it already had 80 percent of its memory committed to invisible processes, such as “Antimalware Service Executable” and “Secure Biometrics.” Once I started launching web browsers and filling them with tabs, memory usage increased to 95 percent and never disappointed. Sure, I could still browse the web, respond to Slack messages, and write this review in Evernote, but it was hard not to notice the little hiccups when scrolling through windows or doing almost anything. Sometimes these hiccups turned into complete brain farts, like when it took Evernote 30 seconds to stop showing me a blank screen and show my recent notes. Too often, using the XPS 13 felt like the computing equivalent of walking through mud. It’s technically possible, but it’s an absolute disaster. I was also surprised to see how much slower the Intel Core 5 320 chip was compared to the 2024 XPS models, which offered an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or a Snapdragon X Elite. Both systems outperformed the new XPS 13 in Geekbench 6’s multi-threaded CPU test and GPU benchmark. The Snapdragon You’d be better off trying to find one of those used systems, rather than buying the new XPS 13. Perhaps that comparison is a little unfair, though, as this XPS 13 is basically a completely different animal than its predecessors. It’s probably best to think of it as the “XPS Neo”, something that looks like its more expensive siblings, but is riddled with compromises to achieve its low price. Interestingly, the XPS 13 is less compromised than the MacBook Neo in some aspects (although Apple’s machine also beats it in Geekbench 6). For starters, it has 512 GB of storage, while Apple only offers 256 GB. You also don’t have the option to equip the Neo with 16GB of RAM. If you want more memory, you have to jump to the $1,299 MacBook Air. It’s also notable that Dell included a faster 120Hz, 1440p display in the It’s perfectly fine for browsing the web or watching some videos, but there’s nothing remarkable about it. There’s no hint of the excellent contrast you get from OLED displays or the incredibly high brightness of MiniLED. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget While the XPS 13 returns to old-school chiclet keys, something the XPS line hasn’t had in years, they’re comfortable enough for a lot of typing. There isn’t much key travel, but I was still able to type quickly without many errors. However, I wish I had kinder words to say about the XPS 13’s trackpad. Using it was like being transported back to a decade in the past, when mechanical keyboards plagued PCs everywhere. It’s pretty accurate when swiping, but its top third doesn’t actually register clicks. That will require a lot of adjustment if you’ve been spoiled by Apple’s haptic touchpads or the Surface line, which let you click anywhere. The XPS 13’s four-speaker array is technically another advantage over the MacBook Neo, but it doesn’t sound much better in my testing. It’s clear, but small, without the sense of depth found in the XPS 14’s speakers. Both systems also share the same number of USB-C ports, but Dell makes things a little more convenient by placing one port on either side of the system. This could save your life if you have a short charging cable. (Apple deserves kudos for sticking with the 3.5mm headphone jack, though. Dell abandoned it years ago.) When it comes to battery life, the XPS 13 lasted 15 hours and 56 minutes on PCMark 10’s Modern Office battery benchmark. That’s five and a half hours longer than the XPS 14 and beat the previous Intel The Snapdragon Copilot+ XPS 13 lasted almost 18 hours, but it’s also a much more efficient chip.
