Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) review: A stunning step backwards

Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) Review: A Comprehensive Overview

Summary Table

Introduction

The Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) continues what the company does well, hammering home high-performance and ultraportable solutions. The Dell XPS 13 Plus is special because it mixes elegance, power, and current technology with the new Intel Raptor Lake 13th Gen CPUs. It almost does everything right, except for a few mentions where it fails generally, and especially at this price range.

This review takes a closer look at the various facets of the XPS 13 Plus, from design through performance, to determine whether this flagship laptop really meets the mark.

Design and Build Quality

The Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) still looks and feels echoic, much like precedents from this very stalwart series. The laptop chassis is basically machined from aluminum, so it feels very solid. It is thin and light—it is almost as slim and light as the MacBook Air, making it very mobile. However, this very attribute might make it a bit hard to open without using both hands, as there is no lip located around the edge.

For starters, you open the laptop, and its Infinity Edge display is met with very thin bezels. The capacitive touch buttons above the keyboard replace its traditional function keys, which add to the feel. The buttons are a slight frustration because they are just not that responsive. It has a workable trackpad, although it turns into something nearly flush with the chassis; you might find yourself fumbling over it, looking for it by feel.

Display Quality

One of the unique features that presided in the current version of the new XPS 13 Plus (to be available from 2023) is the 13.4-inch 3.5K OLED display present. The display panel does have support for HDR; hence, it showers rich colors, deep blacks, and sharp contrasts, thereby making this device one of the easiest in terms of multimedia consumption and creative work. The new OLED panel shall bring a richer color feel to the viewing experience, contrasting it with the traditional LCD.

That averages 373.6 nits for brightness, a touch better than the Pro's predecessor but no brighter than most other premium Ultrabooks. It falls way behind the MacBook Air M2, though, at 473.6 nits. Through its screen, it will be possible to conduct work completely color-accurate, as the panel offers coverage of 113.7% of the sRGB color gamut as well as 80.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

Performance

Powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360P CPU and mated to 16GB of RAM, the XPS 13 Plus 2023 performs quite well for day-to-day usage and general productivity work. With several applications and numerous browser tabs open, the laptop really struggled to offer a laudable performance in more demanding usage like gaming or video editing.

Plus, for those who are going to even marginally push their laptops harder, the Geekbench 5 CPU multi-core test saw the XPS 13 Plus score 9,938 in its default power mode and just a notch lower, around 50 or 100 points, while running in Ultra Performance. and this score is OK-ish, placed in between some most direct competitors, not to mention even its precursor. Plus, evidence of underperformance could be found when video rendering and gaming, in both of which it was slow compared to other similarly-priced ultraportables.

Port Selection

The general selection of ports on the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) has relatively minimal importance, with much focus on individuals who want style and modernity in their laptop outlook. There are only two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports. They are versions hoping to move connectivity into the future—a couple of versatile ports doing all, ranging from charging, data transfer, and video output connections. But at the same time, this can be a limitation for someone who still uses more traditional ports every day, such as USB-A or HDMI.

Realizing this probable hassle, Dell is bundling a USB-C to USB-A adapter and a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in the box. The first benefit is achieved at the cost of flexibility, and the second reduces the minimalistic design to intentions of removing clutter.

For professionals who frequently plug in multiple peripherals, the need for additional dongles or docking stations becomes enough of a demand to render this design an inconvenience factor, thereby dampening the very aspect of portability the XPS 13 Plus was toting. In simpler terms: while the net mix of ports is a reflection of contemporary norms, a certain amount of workflow adjustment and wallet opening could be possibly necessary, depending on their needs.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard design of Dell XPS 13 Plus should be an expression in and of representing an edge-to-edge layout that further contributes toward the sleek, updated appearance of the notebook. The flat-fit keys make it cleaner for an incoming look on a keyboard. At the same time, it may trigger problems, especially if you have big fingers or you are more of a standard keyboard type of person. Although responsive, these keys are a bit cramped, leading to a likely increase in errors while typing.

The single feature that divides more opinions regarding the XPS 13 Plus must be the capacitive touch function row, replacing the old function keys. These are touch-sensitive adaptive strips; that is, their display keeps changing based on which application is actively running at that given time.

This can lead to really-really-not-quite enough feedback at least for one's tastes, and for those tasks that do demand fast function key access, it's nothing short of irksome. The touchpad, fully flushed into the palm rest, continues to reflect the minimalism of this laptop. It is a bit too glossy meaning it is very, very smooth and responsive, but because there are no borders on it, you tend to make accidental touches—most often when typing. Such a design can be innovative, though it may not perfectly serve the purpose and could require modification by users to keep productivity jogging.

Audio Quality

The audio quality of the Dell XPS 13 Plus seems to breathe against everyday use. It sounds clear and even across activities, be that streaming music, watching videos, or participating in video calls. The speakers are smartly positioned for maximum sound output and truly do a good job for such a tiny laptop. It seems that the sound is loud even at full volume, clear, and undistorted, which is an excellent tribute to the kind of built-in audio components in this unit.

Yet, of course the auditory experience is not accessible without flaw either. The biggest con with them, though, is that the bass feeling is lacking with music and other sounds that may literally feel flat. It is most apparent when one listens to genres of music that rely heavily on bass, or watches a movie with a rich soundscape. This is why the XPS 13 Plus might fall short in appeasing the more discerning ears of an audiophile or a more robust audio experience.

This may, however, need the use of external speakers or headphones to achieve a more complete fulfillment of audio quality. Still, for daily use, the speakers prove more than effective, delivering a clean and robust sound, if not remarkable.

Webcam and Software

The webcam here runs at just 720p on the Dell XPS 13 Plus. Account for the functionality, though—just basic usage for virtual video calls and all that jazz. While it performs decently for color reproduction, overall image quality is just reasonably good at best, when compared with the overall superiority of most webcams with much higher resolutions used in other premium laptops.

The 720p resolution tends to present a little grainy. In low light, grain becomes quite pronounced, and the webcam has difficulty maintaining clarity and keeping the details sharp.What's more, this could possibly be an issue, especially for users frequently conducting video calls for professional or recreational purposes.

Software-wise, the XPS 13 Plus (2023) finds its mare way better since it runs on a relatively healthy environment sans the bloatware. Dell prefers to stay narrow-minded on providing serviceable software with a focus on improving the user's experience, instead of populating users' devices with redundant apps.

The MyDell app is a perfect example of this, allowing users to manage virtually anything, from thermal management profiles that can be changed to Ultra Performance mode whenever the device is under considerable loading or battery-saving features, so it can last a little more. The user interface of the software makes all these adjustments quite easy, allowing users to set up the best depending on their requirements.

Battery Life and Heat Management

Battery life is one of the most important things about an ultraportable laptop, but unfortunately, the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) just doesn't impress in this department. Continuing the web over Wi-Fi does not pose an issue in battery life for the laptop; a test proved that, in the process, it drained itself by around 6 hours and 20 minutes approx, lacking inspiration from devices in its category.

Above all, such performance won't be on the user's list of good deals for a premium laptop, as it currently is well below average. Time by Dell is also rated as being problematic, with the 4K model using the OLED panel listing 7 hours free from an outlet while the 1200p model with the standard LCD listing 9 free hours away from a plug. These appear to be rather generous estimates when put into real field use. Such discrepancies can bring frustration when the laptop user stumbles across stand-alone applications that run for more actual time than a normal period of use without an attached power source.

Another weak point of heat management is when the heat is on, where the XPS 13 Plus (2023) shows its limitations. With the lightest of tasks, the temperature is kept quite cool compared to most, whether the laptop is used for browsing or executing word processing applications.

This is, again, except for intensive play, as testing has shown its underside can top out at 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit under several very demanding resource-intensive tasks, such as gaming or video rendering. This excess heat can create a scenario in which one will not find the laptop convenient to keep on the lap for much longer, thereby reducing user experience. Prospective users due to resource-heavy application workloads that will be intended on this device should reconsider such thermal constraints when making a purchase.

Conclusion

Most of all, the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) is the kind of laptop that oozes chic taste in premium creation, crowned with a class-apart OLED screen at its head, making it the to-die creation for most with a proper appetite for display aesthetics and performance. Ensuring this device is well enough for any user's work-related day-to-day activities to glide by, the solid performance handled the day-to-day office chores and activities easily and perfectly done.

However, even as it excels in many areas, some deal-breakers come with the new XPS 13 Plus (2023) that may make people think twice. Chief among these is its below-average battery life, nothing close to what most premium ultraportables have, a definite no-go for many people who really need a laptop to pull through a whole day's workload.

Minor drawbacks may make this equally great for most users, especially for those needing more I/O ports or those really familiar with the antique keyboards and mice.

 Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED and the MacBook Air M2 both offering equal or better performance, battery life, and value for money overall, to choose from.The bottom line for the XPS 13 Plus in 2023—that it's thin, bright, and powerful—still comes at enough of a cost in one too many sacrificed features: battery life, heat management, and usability. For the user who places utmost priority on design and display quality, it may still be the right pick, but any other prioritized essential will likely be better found elsewhere.

FAQs

1. What is the starting cost for a Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023)?

The Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) clocks in at a beginning price of AED 4,586, making this the premium line in the ultrabook arena to boast of outdoor visibility. It speaks volumes about the ultrabook's design queues for a more modern approach, top-quality materials, and innovative touchpad and keyboard integration. While its price point does definitely place the unit near the higher end when it comes to this range of device pricing, it offers a unique blend of aesthetics and performance.

For those seeking a sleek, modern laptop with high-end features, the pricing with the starting price lets one agree to opting for the investment done in the name of Dell, crossing to durability and long-term support. 

2. How does the new Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) compare with the previous version?

But the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) brings a more refined design with few incremental upgrades, like improved display options and a smidge of performance improvement. Sadly, it performs not much better compared to the loved one unit it's establishing, and some users will probably be underwhelmed by the changes, especially in terms of how much battery life is increased.

The new keyboard and touchpad are flamboyantly styled, and not everyone may like it. On the whole, it's a new 2023 model that modernizes the look and brings incremental improvements, but if you're looking for a huge bump in performance from your current laptop, you're not going to get it.

3. Is an OLED display good as an investment?

An OLED display upgrade for an extra AED 734 is truly worth taking if much value is placed on visual quality. Their technology has impressively vivid colors over deep blacks and, in general, better ambiances to appreciate, which is particularly advantageous for people watching photos, movies, or other media and for creative workers.

The OLED display itself continually takes daily tasks to a whole new level with sharper contrast and richer details when editing photos, browsing through your albums, or watching videos. The investment on this upgrade is justified on the basis of the substantial increase in the quality of the display, so it is highly recommended for those who need top-of-the-line visual representation.

4. What are the most significant disadvantages of the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023)? 

Several distinct disadvantages can be detected in the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023). First off, the battery life of these laptops is quite underwhelming, as it gets drained quickly when running some resource-intensive applications. With standard usage, the laptop becomes too much of a hassle for work from anywhere over some time that needs long hours of use without the need for charging.

Moreover, there is the limited port selection and only USB-C on board, which could require a user to rely on different ports or add to cost and hassle. And finally, though it is ingeniously designed, some of these keyboards may not be as responsive or comfortable as normal keyboards, which may directly interfere with typing speed and accuracy.

5. Who should buy the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023)?

Which can be the kind of best suitable match to the Persona on The Dell XPS 13 Plus, 2023? Especially best for holders who prize cutting-edge design, portability, and display quality over all-around performance and a very long battery life. It's a good choice for professionals who spend a lot of time working on the go, who like light and good-looking devices, and who require quality content presentations— like photo editing or content consumption.

But heavy power users with the need for heavy-duty machines or those who need longer battery life will find it ill-suited. Creative professionals and tech enthusiasts will take an interest in this laptop, which comes with a very innovative design.