Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2022) Review

PCMag has reviewed several convertible 2-in-1 versions of the Dell XPS 13 in the past, but we had to throw out what we know for this new format. The 2022 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (starts at $999; $1,249 as tested) ditches the foldable-laptop style for a tablet with a detachable keyboard, which means several big changes for this product. On its own, the super-light tablet is a capable enough performer, with new 12th Generation Intel U-Series processors and two high-resolution cameras in an expectedly premium build.

But to function as a true laptop replacement, it needs the XPS Folio accessory (a $100 add-on), which is a kickstand, keyboard, and cover all in one. The combined solution works well, so while there are some limitations with the ports and middling battery life, this is one of the better detachable 2-in-1s around. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 Gen 7 is a cheaper, faster one-piece convertible alternative that’s more potent and longer-lasting, and holds an Editors' Choice award, but lacks the detachable design if you’re married to that form.

A More Surface-Like XPS 13 2-in-1

Detachability is the name of the game with Dell's new model, so you’ll have to think of Microsoft's Surface Pro rather than a traditional laptop design that happens to fold. If that comparison doesn’t work for you, here’s the difference: With a detachable, the device itself is just a tablet, with a keyboard—usually sold separately—that can be attached and removed to mimic the function of a traditional laptop. A convertible 2-in-1, which is what the past XPS 13 2-in-1 solutions were, is a full laptop, but with a screen hinge that allows you to rotate the attached keyboard behind the screen to act like a tablet.

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Review

That means with this year's XPS 13 2-in-1, the processor, storage, and all other components are contained behind the tablet screen, unlike convertibles and standard laptops, which house those parts primarily beneath the keyboard. This results in a much smaller, lighter device, but also lighter performance due to the thermal constraints of the smaller, thinner frame.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

This brings us to the super-compact size of this XPS 13 2-in-1. It measures just 0.29 by 11.5 by 7.9 inches (HWD), an incredibly thin device that also weighs a mere 1.6 pounds. The frame is metal and feels like a high-quality product. The newest non-convertible XPS 13 measures 0.55 inch thick and weighs 2.59 pounds, so even though that’s still very portable, the size jump to a full laptop is notable.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

But that is, of course, not all there is to this package. Unlike the Surface Pro, there is no kickstand built into the tablet itself. Instead, the XPS Folio accessory serves as a case, kickstand, and keyboard hybrid in one. Unfortunately, like the Surface Pro, it is not included in the base model, costing $100 more to include it in your order. It adds an extra 1.23 pounds to the device total, and about another half-inch of thickness.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

The XPS Folio snaps on to the bottom of the tablet magnetically, like the Surface Pro keyboard, but that’s about where similarities end. The Folio has a back cover, which extends all the way up the rear of the tablet to protect the device, and even has a groove to fit over the camera. On the other side, the keyboard covers the screen when closed, ready for carrying or putting in your bag.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

When you need to use the device like a laptop, though, you can extend the keyboard and fold the rear cover into a triangle, so that it supports the tablet. The top end of the rear cover can slide down onto two magnetic sections, so you can adjust your angle by snapping it in place. It’s not as adjustable as the Surface, whose integrated kickstand angle can be stopped at any point, so options are a bit more rigid. Learning to fold the folio correctly also takes a bit of trial and error, and is not as intuitive as a normal kickstand. Like me, you’ll get used to it after a few tries, though.

Form, Function, and Features: A Well-Rounded Tablet

In terms of comfort and usability, these smaller issues result in a system that is serviceable and useful, if not ideal. The keys are flush together rather than chiclet style—more like the XPS 13 Plus keyboard—which has a pleasing look and maximizes room on an otherwise compact solution. The keys have an enjoyable bounce, and typing is largely comfortable and easy.

As with other detachable tablets, using this device in your lap with the flexible keyboard doesn’t feel as stable as it needs to. The stiff, flat bottom keyboard deck of a traditional laptop will always be superior, but there’s also no denying this is a lighter and more portable device. If you’re going to chiefly use this on a desk or table while working, it’s a suitable solution.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

The display makes up most of this tablet device, so let’s take a closer look at what it offers. The panel is a 13-inch screen in a 3:2 aspect ratio with a “3K,” 2,880-by-1,920-pixel resolution. It is naturally touch capable, and offers pen support, though no pen is included. The XPS Stylus can be added to your order for $100, and there are a few separate Dell Active Pen options that range from $40 to $90. The screen itself delivers pleasing picture quality, which is what you want out of a tablet since it’s all you interface with—the 3K panel is bright, sharp, and responsive.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

One downside to this system is that physical connectivity is pretty limited, though we also see that with plenty of full-size ultraportable laptops these days. The ports comprise just two USB Type-C connections on the left edge, both with Thunderbolt 4 support. And yes, I do mean those are the nikan ports, period—there’s no headphone jack here. (This is a worrying trend last seen in Dell's own 2022 XPS 13.) A USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter is included in the box, as well as a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

As far as the lack of headphone jack, Dell isn't the only PC maker out there making the cut. Microsoft is of the same mind, dropping the industry-standard audio jack from its Surface Pro 9. I’m generally not in favor of the move, and while it’s so far mainly these two companies opting to drop the jack, this is now the fourth time I’ve had to walk through this situation.

That qualifies as a trend, so don’t be surprised if you see more major PC manufacturers cutting the cord, so to speak, as Apple did before them with its phones. There are wireless headphones aplenty, of course, and the logic is that most people shopping for premium devices like these already own them, but the option for hardwired audio can’t be beat. There is at least the included adapter, so you can only complain so much, but if you’re using an adapter and charging the device, you’re already out of ports entirely without a docking station or USB-C hub.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

Outside of that, the XPS 13 2-in-1 includes some uncommonly high-end cameras. This includes a quite high-resolution, 2160p rear-facing camera, a right rarity in laptops. You can use it for recording the world like a giant smartphone, as some tend to do with iPads, and you may find the occasional use case for recording while propped up on the Folio stand. Its user-facing camera uses a 1080p sensor, which produces a sharper and clearer image than the many mediocre 720p webcams we still see on far too many modern laptops.

Irinše ati awọn atunto

The new XPS being a tablet, the component options have a ceiling, but they are surprisingly close to the full-size XPS 13. The two are, in fact, quite similar; it’s more about which form factor is a better fit for you.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 starts at $999, which components-wise nets you an Intel Core i5-1230U processor, 8GB of memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive. There is one other CPU option, the i7-1250U for a touch more performance, as well as a maximum of 16GB RAM and up to a 1TB SSD. There are no other component options, only Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, and the sole display selection described above.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

Our model is very similar to the base unit, but the RAM is bumped up to 16GB, bringing the cost to $1,049 (at the time of writing—PC site deals are often subject to change and sales). On top of that, our unit was bundled with the XPS Folio and the XPS Stylus, putting the total cost at $1,249. At the time of writing, there was also a sale to bring that bundle down to $1,099, which could return before the end of 2022.

Intel’s 12th Generation “Alder Lake” mobile processors have proven particularly efficient, and the U-Series designation signals that this is a model with a lower power ceiling. These chips are meant for the thinnest and lightest PCs and tablets, so don’t expect the world of the XPS 13 2-in-1. There is also a fanless cooling system inside, so while it’s quite quiet, the lack of active cooling further limits performance. We’ll see how that shakes out against the standard XPS 13, since it uses the same processor, in our testing.

Testing the 2022 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1: Steady as the Intel U-Series Goes

To gauge its relative performance, we're comparing the XPS 13 2-in-1’s benchmark results with those of the following systems…

This is a relevant mix of hybrid 2-in-1 devices, the standard XPS 13 laptop (starts at $999; $1,249 as tested), and the comparable MacBook Air (starts at $1,199; $1,899 as tested) alternative—albeit both non-convertible. You’ll note the prevalence of U-Series chips in this category, as well as Apple’s own M2 solution and Microsoft’s Arm-based SQ3 chip in the Surface Pro 9 (starts at $1,299; $1,599 as tested), which (like the M2 in some instances) runs applications through a layer of emulation.

Note that, as a result, a couple of the systems here—most commonly the MacBook Air, but the Surface Pro, too—will be missing from a few of the following results; that means they were unable to run or complete some of these Windows-based tests.

Awọn Idanwo Iṣelọpọ

We primarily test PCs using UL's PCMark 10, which simulates a variety of real-world productivity and content-creation workflows to measure overall performance for office-centric tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet work, web browsing, and videoconferencing. We also run PCMark 10's Full System Drive test to assess the load time and throughput of a laptop's boot drive.

Awọn aṣepari mẹta miiran dojukọ Sipiyu, ni lilo gbogbo awọn ohun kohun ati awọn okun ti o wa, lati ṣe oṣuwọn ìbójúmu PC kan fun awọn ẹru iṣẹ aladanla. Maxon's Cinebench R23 nlo ẹrọ Cinema 4D ti ile-iṣẹ yẹn lati ṣe iṣẹlẹ ti o nipọn, lakoko ti Primate Labs 'Geekbench 5.4 Pro ṣe afarawe olokiki apps orisirisi lati PDF Rendering ati ọrọ ti idanimọ si ẹrọ eko. Ni ipari, a lo transcoder fidio orisun-ìmọ HandBrake 1.4 lati ṣe iyipada agekuru fidio iṣẹju 12 lati 4K si ipinnu 1080p (awọn akoko kekere dara julọ).

Idanwo iṣelọpọ ikẹhin wa jẹ oluṣe iṣẹ-ṣiṣe Puget Systems 'PugetBench fun Photoshop, eyiti o nlo ẹya Creative Cloud 22 ti olootu aworan olokiki ti Adobe lati ṣe oṣuwọn iṣẹ PC kan fun ṣiṣẹda akoonu ati awọn ohun elo multimedia. O jẹ ifaagun adaṣe adaṣe ti o ṣiṣẹ ọpọlọpọ gbogbogbo ati awọn iṣẹ-ṣiṣe Photoshop ti o yara ti GPU ti o wa lati ṣiṣi, yiyi, iwọn, ati fifipamọ aworan kan si fifi awọn iboju iparada, awọn kikun gradient, ati awọn asẹ.

On its own, the XPS 13 2-in-1 presents capable results for general productivity as far as everyday home and office tasks. There’s no noticeable slowdown in general use, and you’ll be able to run a few applications and multiple tabs simultaneously. For the type of product this is, that’s really all you need.

When we zoom out and compare the results to the other systems here, it still looks competitive, and the clamshell XPS 13 perhaps looks a bit worse. This tablet version keeps pace with—and even bests in some cases—its full-size counterpart. Lenovo’s very budget-friendly Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 Gen 7 is generally the quickest Windows machine with its Core i7 U-Series chip, while the MacBook Air’s M2 flexes its muscles the most. Apple's laptop, however, is in a higher tier than the rest, which are merely generally capable compared to the MacBook's proficiency at more strenuous media tasks.

Eya ati ere igbeyewo

A ṣe idanwo awọn aworan PC Windows pẹlu awọn iṣeṣiro ere DirectX 12 meji lati UL's 3DMark, Night Raid (iwọnwọnwọn diẹ sii, o dara fun awọn kọnputa agbeka pẹlu awọn aworan ti a ṣepọ) ati Ami Time (ibeere diẹ sii, o dara fun awọn rigs ere pẹlu awọn GPUs ọtọtọ). A tun gbiyanju awọn aṣepari OpenGL meji lati ori-agbelebu GFXBench, ṣiṣẹ ita gbangba lati gba awọn ipinnu ifihan oriṣiriṣi.

Unsurprisingly, graphics power is not a strong suit here. These slim and portable machines utilize only the integrated graphics processing built into the CPU rather than a discrete GPU, which has its clear limits. For what it’s worth, the M2 again shows up the other systems, but none is especially prepared for graphics-based applications or gaming. See our in-depth testing piece for what you can expect from gaming with modern integrated graphics.

Batiri ati Ifihan Idanwo

A ṣe idanwo igbesi aye batiri awọn kọǹpútà alágbèéká nipa ti ndun faili fidio 720p ti o fipamọ ni agbegbe pẹlu imọlẹ ifihan ni 50% ati iwọn didun ohun ni 100% titi ti eto yoo fi kuro. A rii daju pe batiri naa ti gba agbara ni kikun ṣaaju idanwo naa, pẹlu Wi-Fi ati keyboard ti o wa ni pipa.

Lati ṣe ayẹwo siwaju awọn ifihan kọǹpútà alágbèéká, a tun lo Datacolor SpyderX Elite atẹle sensọ isọdọtun ati sọfitiwia Windows rẹ lati wiwọn itẹlọrun awọ iboju kọǹpútà alágbèéká kan — ipin wo ni awọn gamuts awọ sRGB, Adobe RGB, ati DCI-P3 awọ tabi awọn paleti ifihan le fihan- ati 50% rẹ ati imọlẹ tente oke ni awọn nits (candelas fun mita onigun mẹrin).

To be blunt, the XPS 13 2-in-1 battery life is disappointing for this category, and we ran the test more than once to confirm it was not a fluke. While roughly seven hours of video playback may be all you need from a tablet, heavier use will run it down faster, and you can see that the competition runs for much longer. Given how portability-focused this device is, this battery life doesn’t support the use case too well.

Meanwhile, the display's color coverage falls in line with the others, and the brightness measurements are strong. The maximum brightness rating confirms the eye test: This is a colorful, bright, and sharp panel. We just wish the tablet lasted longer on a charge.

Verdict: A Real-Deal Detachable

The XPS 13 2-in-1 is a more interesting entry than the previous editions due to the detachable change. It’s still similar to the mainline XPS 13—in part because that system became more tablet-like at the same time, not less—so the difference is really down to form factor. That may be what Dell had in mind with its three current offerings (this detachable, the XPS 13 clamshell, and the XPS 13 Plus), delivering the same general computing experience with a different external design.

(Kirẹditi: Kyle Cobian)

We covered the downsides of that for the XPS 13 itself in that review, but here, it doesn’t seem to have hindered things. This is probably a better overall 2-in-1 solution than the old convertible style, because folding the keyboard behind the screen is not as sleek or comfortable as holding a real tablet. The ports are limited, and the battery could last longer, but with the XPS Folio, this is a better-built and more capable laptop-replacing 2-in-1 than many rivals.

All said, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is one of the better detachable options we’ve seen recently, and maybe awọn best for 2022, given the misgivings we have with the SQ3-based Surface Pro 9. (The Intel-based model is likely a better pick for most.) The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 Gen 7 is the best overall convertible—a less premium build for much less money. But, if you’re set on the detachable style and can handle the limitations on connectivity and battery, as well as the performance ceiling, the XPS 13 2-in-1 looks to be the strongest pick of 2022.