With its much-improved webcam and longer battery life, the Dell XPS 13 is still among the very best the world over, even if it may not have our sought-after ‘Best in Class’ label anymore.

The Dell XPS 13 2019, among the best laptops lines out there, is upping its game. Perhaps in response to the high-end Ultrabook scene changing considerably over the last few years and rivals rolling out tough competition, the latest XPS 13 is not only keeping up with the best of them. It’s also finding that delicate balance between adding necessary innovations and preserving everything we already love about the Dell XPS lineup.

And so, what we’ve got is the Dell XPS 13 2019, a stunning portable that’s a true return to form. It refines on what’s already in the previous models, only tweaking a few things for the better and finally putting that webcam back in its rightful place. At the same time, it adds a few new features and much needed improvements (like the massively boosted battery life) to round it all out.

The result is a notebook that’s among the best laptops of 2020. If you’re ready for an upgrade or to switch over from a Chromebook or macOS environment, the Dell XPS 13 2019 is an excellent choice.

The Dell XPS 13 2019 comes in plenty of different configurations.

Spec Sheet Here is the Dell XPS 13 (2019) configuration sent to TechRadar for review: CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8565U (quad-core, 8MB cache, up to 4.6GHz)

Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620

RAM: 16GB DDR3 (2,133MHz)

Screen: 13.3-inch, Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) UltraSharp InfinityEdge touch display

Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD

Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 1 x USB-C 3.1, micro SD card reader, headset jack

Connectivity: Killer 1435 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1

Camera: Widescreen HD (720p) webcam with 4 array digital microphones

Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.23kg)

Size: 11.9 x 7.8 x 0.3-0.46 inches (3.02 x 1.99 x 0.78-1.16cm; W x D x H)

Price and availability

When it was first released, Dell was asking $978 for it in the US market, and that was for the XPS 13’s starting configuration. This price got you an 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, and just 4GB of 2,133MHz DDR3 memory as well as a 128GB PCIe SSD along with a 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) InfinityEdge display.

However, this model is no longer available on the Dell website. Right now, the US lineup starts at $1,149, which gets you an 8th-generation i5 coupled with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

There are three more customizable models on hand, topping out with an 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe SSD – fitted with a stunning 4K (3,840 x 2,160) touch screen inside a Rose Gold or Frost White chassis. Just be ready to pay an exuberant $2,479 for this configuration.

All configurations are available in Dell’s three colors: silver-on-black, rose gold-on-white and a brand-new frost-on-white layout. The model you see reviewed here would set you back a cool $2,279.

In the UK, the Dell XPS 13 may be had for as low as £1,379. That’s for a configuration with an Intel Core i5 chip, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD rounded out with a 4K touchscreen display. Australian buyers will find a similar configuration, only with a Full HD display, for AU$2,299.

The Dell XPS 13 2019 comes in plenty of different configurations. However, there are fewer options on hand for buyers in the UK and Australia. It’s worth remembering that larger storage options are tied into some hefty price bump. But, that doesn’t change the fact that the Dell XPS 13 is still in the same league as its similarly priced rivals – that is, except for the tremendous value of the flagship Huawei MateBook X Pro , especially at the high-end.

If the 8th-generation processors are too dated for you, it’s also worth noting that the line-up has been refreshed to now tout 10th-generation chips for all three markets, with not much increase in their price tags.

Image 1 of 14 Dell didn’t just take an “if it ain’t broke” approach this year. Image 2 of 14 Dell actually addressed the webcam placement issue this year. Image 3 of 14 The Dell XPS 13 also has the same anodized aluminum screen lid and base. Image 4 of 14 The build quality and design language are mostly unchanged. Image 5 of 14 The Dell XPS 13 also has the same anodized aluminum screen lid and base. Image 6 of 14 The lineup of ports remains unchanged. Image 7 of 14 The keyboard is just as punchy and responsive as ever. Image 8 of 14 At first glimpse, the Dell XPS 13 looks a lot like its predecessor. Image 9 of 14 The laptop is just as slim and light as last year. Image 10 of 14 The glass-coated touchpad is still excellent and comfortable to use. Image 11 of 14 There's a woven carbon fiber on the keyboard deck. Image 12 of 14 The keyboard is just as punchy and responsive as ever. Image 13 of 14 The port selection is considerably better than many rival laptops. Image 14 of 14 The Dell XPS 13 also has the same anodized aluminum screen lid.

Design and display

At first glance, the Dell XPS 13 looks a lot like its precursor, and that’s mainly the case here. However, Dell also didn’t just take an “if it ain’t broke” approach this year. It actually fixed the XPS’s most obvious design flaw: the location of its webcam. In the 2019 model, the webcam is now back in its rightful place above the display.

Dell is very proud of its new 2.25mm webcam, which it spent two years to design. It’s not only small enough to sit above the thin-bezel display, but also uses a 720p widescreen sensor paired with four far-field microphones, which allows you to activate and use Cortana or Alexa from a good distance.

The webcam’s image quality isn’t anything to write home about. However, we still appreciate the fact that the wider frame is making capturing co-workers or friends next to us even easier. Considering 0.9 megapixel stills and 720p video, you’ll look satisfactory in meetings; just don’t anticipate Twitch broadcaster level quality.

Elsewhere, the build quality and design language are mostly unaltered from preceding model. The laptop is just as thin and light as last year at 0.46 inches (11.6mm) and 2.7 pounds (1.23kg), respectively. The Dell XPS 13 also has the same anodized aluminum screen lid and base, coupled with a woven carbon fiber (or glass fiber on light colored models) keyboard deck.

As for the keyboard, it’s just as punchy and responsive as ever, and the glass-coated touchpad is still superb and comfortable to use. These are two of the features from the Dell XPS 13 that were rightly left alone.

The lineup of ports remains unchanged.

The lineup of ports also stays the same, with two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, one USB-C 3.1 port, a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. And, that’s a good thing since this selection is significantly better than many competing laptops, with some of them sticking solely to USB-C 3.1 and not the superior Thunderbolt 3 standard.

Another thing that’s unchanged is the display, not that it needed to be updated. It’s just as dynamic and vibrant as ever in both the Full HD and 4K touchscreen models, and the bezels around the display are practically non-existent.

Specifically on the 4K model we tested for the review, we find the 100% sRGB color reproduction through Dell’s CinemaColor tools to be gorgeous, made even better by some popping HDR techniques and 400 nits of brightness. The 4K panel is very detailed, but it still might be a bit too much for a 13.3-inch viewing area.

Overall, there wasn’t a lot that needed to be changed about the XPS 13 design, except for that one particular elephant in the room that Dell finally fix.

First reviewed January 2019

Images Credit: TechRadar