Review: The 2022 Dell XPS 13 is more than just a pretty face

Enlarge (credit: Scharon Harding)

Specs at a glance: Dell XPS 13 2022 (9315)
	Worst	Best	As reviewed
Screen	13.4-inch 1920×1200 IPS non-touchscreen	13.4-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Home
CPU	Intel Core i5-1230U	Intel Core i7-1250U vPro	Intel Core i5-1230U
RAM	8GB LPDDR5-5200	32GB LPDDR5-5200	16GB LPDDR5-5200
Storage	512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x2 SSD	1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x2 SSD	512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x2 SSD
GPU	Intel Iris Xe
Networking	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Ports	2x Thunderbolt 4
Size	11.63×7.86×0.55 inches (295.4×199.4×13.99 mm)
Weight	2.59 lbs (1.17 kg)
Battery	51 Wh
Warranty	1 year
Price (MSRP)	$849	$1,499	$1,150
Other	USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to 3.5 mm adapters included

I was treated to a welcome surprise when I first laid eyes on the latest Dell XPS 13 (9315). The color options—a youthful sky blue or a unique purplish brown—are visual candy in a PC world dominated by shimmery silvers, grown-up grays, and boring blacks. Dell's 2022 XPS 13 doesn't compromise by offering a more traditional colorway for cheaper, as prior XPS 13 laptops did, either.

After I moved past appearances, I found there was more to enjoy under the hood. While this machine isn't as wild of a redesign as the one given to the costlier Dell XPS 13 Plus, the company did some tinkering to make the XPS 13 lighter and thinner than ever, all while accommodating quality-of-life upgrades like better speakers and a bigger battery. Unfortunately, it has a dreadfully limited and dongle-dependent port selection.

There are flashier alternatives for a thin-and-light laptop, but the 2022 XPS 13 is an admirable clamshell with more to offer than a couple of unique hues.

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