After two years of a rather frustrating lack of consistency on an aesthetic level, the XPS range is being transformed at Dell at the start of 2024. On the menu: three versions of 13, 14 and 16 inches respectively, equipped with a design standardized and the latest Intel “Meteor Lake” processors… doped with AI.
Dell’s star laptops will therefore not wait for the opening of CES 2024 (January 8 in Las Vegas) to show off in front of the press. A few days in advance, the Texan manufacturer is unveiling three new models of 13, 14 and 16 inches respectively. The latter bring to the range the coherence that it had lost, by extending to all the 2024 models a modern look, close to the one we got to know with the astonishing XPS 13 Plus.
The look of the XPS 13 Plus has rubbed off (and that’s good!)
Let’s start by talking about the redesign wanted by Dell. Instead of the 15 and 17 inch models which have coexisted for around 3 years, Dell is opting this year for a large intermediate 16 inch model. The XPS 13 Plus is replaced by a 14-inch model, while the “classic” XPS 13 is maintained in the range, but adopting a design close to the old XPS 13 Plus. In short, everything changes. And if Dell probably won’t admit it, the idea is surely to compete with Apple and its MacBook Air in the field of ultraportability… as well as the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 among power users.
By adopting these new 14 and 16 inch formats, Dell also has its hands free to add larger batteries to its XPS (69.5 Wh for the 14 inch model, for example, compared to 55 Wh previously on the XPS 13 Plus), as well as more efficient components. This development also induces some more modest design changes. The touch control bar of the XPS 13 Plus is for example included on the three new XPS, but in the form of an option, while a key dedicated to Windows Copilot is now included to the right of the space bar.
Meteor Lake and Ada Lovelace at the helm
On the technical sheet side, the XPS 14 will be able to carry up to a Core Ultra 7 165H, coupled with a maximum of 64 GB of LPDDR5x and an RTX 4050 (30 W). In its best configuration, the XPS 13 will feature the same processor and as much RAM, but this time without a dedicated graphics card; while the new XPS 16 will be armed with a maximum of an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, coupled with 64 GB of RAM and an RTX 4070 (60 W). This model will also be powered by a large 99.5 Wh battery, rechargeable using a 130 W charger.
In terms of display, Dell will once again offer OLED panels as an option for its three models. We can thus go up to a 13.4-inch 3K OLED screen on the XPS 13, up to a 14.5-inch 3.2K OLED screen on the XPS 14, and up to an Ultra HD+ OLED panel. 16.3 inches on the XPS 16. In all three cases, the chosen screens will be able to go up to 120 Hz, and it will of course be possible to settle for Full HD+ IPS panels to save money.
Expected on February 24 in France, the XPS, vintage 2024, nevertheless remain high-end devices… and therefore expensive. The XPS 13 will start from 1,499 euros, compared to 1,999 euros for the XPS 14, and 2,199 euros starting price for the Dell XPS 16. We have been warned.
Source: Dell Briefing/Getting Started The Verge
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