If you're heading back to school—or off to university—then you might be looking to buy a new laptop to help with your studies. If so, in trying to choose that notebook, you probably have a whole bunch of questions running through your mind. The buying decision can be a tricky one when there are so many potential factors to consider with a laptop purchase.
However, rather than overloading yourself with information and considerations, you could take a different approach. Namely, prioritize just a few key elements that mean your new device a great companion for tackling your coursework and school or university life in general.
This article will show how the Dell XPS 13 hits three main laptop priorities with unerring accuracy, and why the device is an ideal purchase ahead of the start of term.
TL;DR
- There are three key elements that make the XPS 13 the ultimate laptop for students, and the first is that it's a highly portable notebook which is easy to take wherever you go, measuring just 12.7mm thin and weighing only 2.2lbs (1kg)
- Dell's XPS 13 also has the battery life to match its portable nature, with this laptop capable of up to 17 hours of Netflix streaming as per Dell's own tests. The device effectively offers all-day battery life
- Another key factor is the fast performance that the XPS 13 boasts, thanks to the Intel Core Series 3 processor and a strong supporting cast of components, as well as the advantages of hardware like a touchscreen (which isn't normally found in this price bracket)
1. Dell's XPS 13 is slim, light, and easy to take with you anywhere
The XPS 13 is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop that Dell has ever produced, and as a very compact laptop, taking it wherever you need, either on or off campus, won't prove to be a chore.
It's a mistake to focus purely on tech specs when looking for a new laptop, while overlooking the practical qualities that actually matter a huge deal in daily life. And one of those is that a notebook should be highly portable, because you'll be carrying it with you all over the place—and if it's too chunky or heavy, that'll soon prove tiresome (in a very literal sense).
Don't underrate the importance of getting a portable device, then, and ideally, that means what's categorized as a thin-and-light laptop. The XPS 13 fits in this category and is very svelte at 12.7mm, with a footprint of just 297 x 201mm, meaning it'll easily go inside any bag or backpack and be much thinner than most of the textbooks you’ll be carrying around. It won't weigh you down, either, at just 2.2lbs (1kg).
The XPS 13 is very svelte at 12.7mm, with a footprint of just 297 x 201mm, meaning it'll easily go inside any bag or backpack and be much thinner than most of the textbooks you’ll be carrying around
The compact nature of the XPS 13 means it'll easily fit on a small desk in a lecture hall, or if you find yourself having to cram on the end of a table when it's busy at the library, this Dell laptop won't prove to be an obstacle to getting some work done.
The XPS 13's screen is large relative to its body, too—thanks to the extremely slim bezels around the 13.4-inch display, which make it seem even larger—and that's great for a more immersive experience when kicking back and watching your favorite streaming services after work is taken care of. (And the screen's 2.5K resolution makes any movies or TV shows look super-sharp, too).
The minimalist design and sleek lines also mean this Dell laptop looks good, and if you were wondering whether this notebook might be fragile somehow, don't worry on that score. The machined aluminum construction means the XPS 13 isn't just light, but also built to last and be durable enough to take the odd knock in daily life.
2. Battery life is vital—and the XPS 13 packs a load of staying power
Portability is a key factor, as just discussed, but it's no good if you have your conveniently sized laptop with you on your travels about campus or town, and it runs out of juice—so battery longevity is just as vital, and the XPS 13 has plenty of it.
Compact laptops can make compromises with the battery size to shrink down the device, and while that's something to be aware of, Dell hasn't done anything of the sort with the XPS 13.
Despite its trim lines, the XPS 13 offers up to 17 hours of constant Netflix streaming based on Dell's own testing. That's not to suggest you spend the entire waking day bingeing Stranger Things or the like, but it's a solid indication that you will get an entire day's worth of life out of the XPS 13's battery, whether you're working or settling back to be entertained by the latest and greatest streaming hit. Whatever the case, you won't have to worry about having to make a pitstop for a recharge halfway through an intense day of lectures and seminars.
Despite its trim lines, the XPS 13 offers up to 17 hours of constant Netflix streaming based on Dell's own testing.
3. The XPS 13 is a responsive and performant laptop
The third important factor that any laptop should provide is enough speed and performance to get your work done without any fuss.
Again, this is an area where some compact laptops cut corners—either to save space in the chassis, or to bring down the price (perhaps both)—but as with the battery life, Dell has refused to make such compromises.
The crucial part of the component recipe in this regard is the engine of the XPS 13, which is the Intel Core Series 3 processor. This is a chip designed specifically to be highly power-efficient, which helps with the aforementioned battery life—and yet it's still suitably speedy. The Intel Core Series 3 CPU in the XPS 13 can handle everyday multitasking needs, so you can run a bunch of apps simultaneously, such as a browser with a whole load of tabs, maybe an image editor and a word processor, all without overly taxing the processor or seeing performance start to dip.
The same is true for running Windows 11, with the OS booting and then behaving responsively given the Intel CPU and the fast SSD (a PCIe Gen 4 model) that's under the hood of the XPS 13. The processor has a built-in NPU, too, offering 18 TOPS to help accelerate on-device AI tasks. And with nippy Intel integrated graphics, you can dabble in casual gaming with no problems. You can also choose to spec your XPS13 with the 50 TOPS Series 3 Intel Core Ultra CPU.
On top of this, Dell has designed a clever dual-fan cooling system that helps the laptop run quietly—which will again prove a winning trait for study sessions in the library—and stay cool (so you can use the XPS 13 on your lap, in a pinch, without your thighs getting toasty).
What about other areas of performance?
Swift performance isn't just about the processor—although it's obviously a key element—and thankfully the XPS 13 has a strong supporting cast to back up that CPU. Something you may not have considered is that Dell has equipped this portable with a touchscreen to help smooth along everyday use of the laptop. This means that certain tasks happen more quickly, such as scrolling through a long document or web page with the flick of a finger, or quickly pinching to zoom into a photo.
- Touchscreen
- Windows Hello facial recognition
- Backlit keyboard
Those kinds of smartphone conveniences are brought to Windows 11's interface in a laptop with a touchscreen, although this is normally the territory of more expensive notebooks—big-name rivals in the same price bracket as the XPS 13 don't offer a touch-capable display. Neither will they usually sport a backlit keyboard, which is a useful feature for keeping up your typing speed if, for example, you're working on a dissertation late at night in a dimly lit room, as it allows you to more easily see what key you're pressing.
Even the basics like getting to your Windows 11 desktop faster because you have a facial recognition login (which happens in a split-second) are covered with the XPS 13, thanks to a webcam with Windows Hello support.
With Dell's XPS 13 scoring highly across all aspects of performance, as well as packing plenty of battery life, an inherently portable nature, and an affordable price on top of all that, it's a great pick for students preparing for the start of a new academic year.
If you think a Dell XPS 13 laptop is right for you, find out more on the Dell website:
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