Dell has capitulated to HP and Lenovo by producing a convertible version of its well reviewed XPS 13 Windows laptop. The entry-level version costs $999.99, which puts it $200 above the base-model XPS 13. After using the convertible for the past few weeks, I get the idea. But I’m not convinced the new model is worth paying the extra money. I found that its clamshell sibling is very good on its own. Splurging for improved specs, including a touch-friendly display, might well be the better move.
Don’t get me wrong; the convertible does work as intended. You can easily flip the screen 360 degrees, which can make it more comfortable to watch movies in bed or read while standing. The sturdy metal hinges keep the display from wobbling. And it’s slightly shorter and thinner, making it less unwieldy in tablet mode. But I’m not sure I need these things.
I’d prefer better performance than what you get out of the box with the XPS 13 2-in-1, which comes with a 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Core i5-7Y54 chip, an Intel HD Graphics integrated graphics processing unit (GPU), 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD). The unit I reviewed — with a Core i7-7Y75 chip, 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and a 256GB SSD — costs $1,299.99.
The power button has also been moved away from the keyboard and tucked into the narrow right edge of the machine, making it more difficult to push.
