Dell XPS 13 Plus
Dell made a new version of arguably the most important Windows PC of the past decade and the early reception has been…mixed. Still, there is no denying that the XPS 13 Plus is a daring evolution of the XPS 13.
This modern take on the ultra-thin laptop trades analog inputs for digital ones, swapping the standard function key row with capacitive buttons and replacing a traditional palm rest with a glass sheet on top of which is a haptic touchpad. The “zero lattice” keyboard was also redesigned to span from one edge of the deck to the other, removing the gaps between the sharply angled keys.
These changes result in a sleeker, more refined appearance, but some (myself included) worry they could compromise the experience. We’ll reserve our judgment until we go hands on with the device, but some changes, like dropping the headphone jack, will be hard to look past.
On the flip side, the XPS 13 Plus also brings some nice enhancements, like improved quad speakers, 12th-gen Intel P-series (at 28W, up from 12W), and an OLED display option. We can’t tell yet whether the XPS 13 Plus will supplant its successful sibling as the best PC around, or if it will damage the brand—and that, at the very least, has us eager to try it out.
