Dell is bringing the bold design of last year's XPS 13 Plus to the rest of the XPS lineup ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas – and that now includes new 14- and 16-inch models. THE "More" the name has also completely disappeared: the new models are simply called XPS 13, 14 and 16. They all sport the defining features of the XPS13 Plus: A seamless glass wrist rest, which hides an invisible haptic touchpad right in the middle; touch function buttons above the keyboard; and large keycaps for more comfortable typing. And notably, the two larger models solve some of my biggest issues with the XPS 13 Plus.
Once again, minimalism is Dell's defining theme with these computers: they're all polished aluminum and glass at first glance. They are also dominated by their screens: like Dell, they feature the company logo. very slim "Infinite Edge" screen frames. (These computers are also among the first to benefit Dedicated Windows Copilot keys.)
Dell arguably went a little too far with the minimalism angle last year. The XPS 13 Plus only had two USB-C ports and lacked a headphone jack. That's also true for the XPS 13 this year, but not the XPS 14 and 16. They both have headphone jacks, three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a microSD card slot. (Dell also includes USB C to USB Type A and HDMI adapters in the box, which notably don't come with the XPS 13.)
All of these new laptops feature Intel's new Core Ultra chips, which means they also include NPUs to handle AI work. So even without a dedicated GPU, they have the potential to be more useful for some creative work compared to Dell's latest XPS machines (or at the very least, provide killer Windows Studio Effect backgrounds during video chats) . But if you need additional graphics power, the XPS 14 and 16 can also be configured with NVIDIA's RTX 40 series GPUs.
Each new XPS machine also includes FHD+ displays with variable refresh rates, ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz. But they can also be equipped with OLED displays: the XPS 13 and 14 have optional 3K OLED displays with a refresh rate. maximum refresh rates of 60Hz and 120Hz, respectively, while the XPS 16 has a 4K OLED panel that can reach 90Hz. These higher refresh rates make a big difference: last year, many laptops Productivity was getting smoother screens thanks to higher refresh rates, so it's nice to see this finally reaching XPS machines.
I was a little disappointed with the XPS 13 Plus because its touchpad was a little finicky and it really needed more ports. But the XPS 14 seems to be the breakthrough Dell was originally aiming for, especially since its 14.5-inch screen looks almost as big as a 15-inch if you squint a little. It's also relatively light at 3.7 pounds (3.8 pounds with OLED), so it's a potential powerhouse that would be easy to move around.
The XPS 16 also seems like a genuinely interesting option for Windows users who demand massive displays. Sure, its 16.3-inch screen is smaller than the old XPS 17, but it's also half a pound lighter. For many power users, this trade-off may be worth it.
Dell's new XPS line will be available soon, with the XPS 13 starting at $1,300, the XPS 14 at $1,700, and the XPS 16 at $1,900.
We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Follow all the news from the show here.
This article was originally published on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dell-unveils-new-xps-13-14-and-16-laptops-ahead-of-ces-2024-110041195. html?src=rss
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