The ultimate in speed, power and screen resolution is available for $1,478
By Stephen Pate – The last of and highest performance of three new Dell XPS 13 2015 Laptops is now available. Microsoft is putting on product release special pricing at $1,479 when you take the Office 365 bundle.
The XPS 13 is the smallest 13″ laptop and probably the best buy of all models including the 4-year-old MacBook Air.
The three available models of the XPS 13 are:
- Dell XPS 13 with QHD+ Touchscreen, i5-5200U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD – $1,299
- Dell XPS 13 with QHD+ Touchscreen, i7-5500U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Office 365 Home – $1,479
Through a quirk, you save money on the XPS 13 i7 when you take the Office 365 bundle over the laptop without it. I don’t know how long that pricing will last.
All models include the latest 5th generation Intel processors which are slightly faster than last year’s but use less battery power and produce less heat. All 3 models will run programs like Office, Photoshop and Premiere, although the i5 and i7 with 8 GB will run faster.
The i7 benefit is that programs will run faster without killing your battery. The obvious improvement in the 3rd model is the Intel i7 5500U processor which is 5% faster than the Intel i5 5200U in the first two models. The i7 also has a larger 4MB cache, runs at 3 GHz but both use the same battery power and generate the same amount of heat.
The i7 XPS 2013 leaves the MacBook Air in the dust and will outperform the $2000 MacBook Pro with Retina. Sweet. With Windows 10 on the horizon for this fall, the Dell XPS 13 is now the hottest laptop in the market through Dell’s adoption of the 5th gen Intel processor and their continuous improvement over the past 4 years.
For more details on the 2015 Dell XPS 13 see the previous stories
Dell XPS 13 Now Available in Hi-Res Touch Screen and
Dell XPS 13 Gives MacBook Air Fanboys a Choice
The HD model now has the upgraded QHD+ touchscreen. Touchscreen is an obvious choice since Windows 8.1 and the upcoming Windows 10 are touch operating systems. Along with the QHD+ screen, you get 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD drive. All three upgrades make this a sweet model.
If you don’t want a touchscreen the $899 model is a steal. The performance difference is really small between all three models, although I prefer 8 MB of RAM over 4 MB.
The QHD+ is 3200 x 1800 display out performs Apple’s 2560-by-1600 Retina display. The MacBook Pro is a bigger, heavier at 4.5 lbs, has an older processor, does not have a touch screen and costs $200 more.
Here’s a video showing how little bezel there is around the screen, which is the secret of putting a 13″ screen in a small laptop.
The Dell XPS 13 is the hottest new laptop and they are selling out as quick as they come into stock. For a long review, try Windows Central. The Wall Street Journal said Dell XPS 13 Review: The MacBook Air Meets its Match
Dell XPS 13 Core i5 128 GB Signature Edition Laptop available from the US Microsoft Store and Microsoft Store in Canada. The QHD+ display will be available in Canada within a few days.
Dell have been upgrading their laptops annually. If you’re shopping for the XPS 13, be careful to get the 2015 model. The links take you to the right model.
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