The Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon is a great for music or watching movies, but they get the job done. They’re not bad either. If you need better audio quality, I would recommend pairing the laptop with external speakers or headphones will definitely help improve the experience.
Among PC offerings, I’ve consistently admired the Dell XPS series. The recent redesign showcased in the XPS 13 Plus might just be my favorite laptop design of all time. When this laptop was initially unveiled, my immediate thought was a desire for an Arm processor version, and now that wish has come true with the Dell XPS 13 9345, boasting Snapdragon’s latest X Elite SoC as its system on chip.
The Dell XPS 13 is among a select number of laptops available today that offer the choice between Intel or Snapdragon processors, making it possible to analyze their differences directly. It’s well-known that the Dell XPS 13 with an Intel processor delivers excellent performance, but it does tend to get quite warm and doesn’t boast exceptional battery life.
In essence, does the Dell XPS 13 model powered by Snapdragon effectively resolve these issues? Does it offer improved battery life and performance? Has the initial hype surrounding the first XPS Copilot+ PC been validated? After using the XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon X Elite for several weeks, here is my comprehensive review.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Price and specs
The Dell XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon is among the most adaptable laptops boasting Snapdragon, offering a variety of RAM, storage, and display options. The model we’re assessing is the more affordable one priced at $1,259, complete with a 1080p non-touch screen, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. At this moment, for Black Friday, you can get this model for only $959! Don’t miss out on this deal!
As an analyst, I’d rephrase it as follows: If you’re seeking higher RAM or storage capacity, Dell offers customization options for the Snapdragon XPS 13 laptop. You can boost the RAM up to a staggering 64GB, and choose from 1TB or 2TB storage. Additionally, you have the option to enhance the display, offering a quad-HD resolution with touchscreen capability, or a 3K OLED display that includes touch functionality. However, these premium upgrades will increase the price significantly, with a fully customized XPS 13 featuring Snapdragon retailing at approximately $2,099.
Recommended configuration
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Design and ports
The Dell XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon shares the same design as the XPS 13 Plus, which came out a few years back, but with Intel processors. Ever since that laptop was unveiled, I’ve been hoping for an ARM version from Dell, and now they’ve finally delivered.
This design is remarkably similar to what others have praised before. However, it stands out as both breathtakingly beautiful and distinctively innovative. It appears as if it’s a laptop from an advanced future, boasting an invisible haptic touchpad and a key layout that eliminates the spaces between keys, known as zero-lattice design.
The device additionally features a row that performs both function keys and media control tasks, controversially including the escape key which many power users prefer not to have integrated here. Personally, I haven’t found it problematic, but I can understand why some might want a more tangible feel from their escape key.
From an external perspective, the 13.4-inch XPS seems remarkably similar to a 12-inch laptop due to its ultra-slim bezels. Additionally, this device is exceptionally lightweight, offering effortless maneuverability and portability. Its featherlight nature ensures it won’t weigh you down when placed in your backpack, making it an ideal pick for students who are always on the move.
When closed, the laptop’s lid aligns seamlessly with its keyboard base, allowing for easy one-handed opening. The unique wedge-like shape of this device gives an impression of slimness, much like the Surface Laptop 7 or earlier MacBook Air models. I appreciate this design choice and find it puzzling that Apple abandoned it in the latest MacBook Air versions. It’s refreshing to see this design reappear in this laptop model.
Concerning the ports on this device, I must confess that I encounter some limitations. There are merely two USB4 Type-C ports available, and they are both occupied by peripherals, external storage devices, and charging equipment. Frankly, I believe there could be more ports, as I frequently find myself in need of an extra one or two. Additionally, I would appreciate the inclusion of a microSD card reader in the design.
To wrap things up, let me share some thoughts on colors. The XPS 13 with Snapdragon comes in either white or black hues. I’ve got the sleek white version for review, and if you’re after a futuristic vibe, this is definitely the one to go for! It’s as clean and minimalist as it gets, and trust me, it really catches people’s attention in coffee shops.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Display
As a tech enthusiast, I must confess that this section of the review presents a bit of a challenge due to the variety of display options available – three in total, and I’ve only had hands-on experience with one. The model I’ve been using comes equipped with a full HD non-touch screen display, which, if I were personally investing in this laptop, wouldn’t be my first pick.
The screen measures 13.4 inches diagonally, featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. This Full HD LCD panel delivers impressive visuals. A layer of anti-reflective coating has been applied to minimize glare in well-lit surroundings. While it performs exceptionally, there might be a slight impact on image sharpness. The color accuracy is excellent within the sRGB spectrum, registering 98%. However, it falls short in Adobe RGB (77%) and DCI-P3 (75%). The screen’s maximum brightness can reach approximately 520 nits.
My personal opinion is that full HD at this screen size isn’t high enough resolution. I can clearly see pixels on this panel at a regular working distance, which means text and images don’t look as crisp.
Luckily, you can upgrade this display to something with a QHD or 3K resolution, and I recommend everyone do so if they are looking to buy this laptop. The minimum you should go for is the QHD option, which is an LCD panel with touch features and a higher pixel count. It’s a win all around.
If you’re looking for a top-tier experience, consider opting for the model featuring a 3K display with touch functionality. This upgrade will take you from LCD to OLED technology, enhancing color contrast significantly. Since I haven’t had a chance to evaluate higher resolution models personally, I can’t vouch for their quality. However, it’s important to note that the OLED model with its 3K resolution may impact battery life slightly, so be mindful of this aspect.
If you’re not overly concerned about screen resolution, the basic model’s 1080p panel will work fine for you. Unfortunately, this display doesn’t come with a touchscreen, which I believe is essential in every Windows laptop by the year 2024. Therefore, even if it lacks a higher resolution, I’d suggest choosing a model that does have a touchscreen.
It’s disappointing that the display choices offered only support a 60Hz refresh rate, as I’ve found most Windows laptops this year come with a 120Hz screen. After using 120Hz, it’s hard to go back – the difference in responsiveness and smoothness is noticeable.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Performance and battery life
As a researcher exploring the realm of portable computing, I must say that the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon has proven to be an unexpected powerhouse. The Snapdragon X Elite SoC inside this machine is nothing short of remarkable, transforming it into a miniature powerhouse of a laptop. Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor truly shines in this device, enabling it to handle an array of tasks except for gaming and heavy-duty creative projects.
For individuals who primarily use their laptop for productivity-focused activities like working in Microsoft Office, engaging in virtual meetings via Teams or Slack, managing emails, designing presentations, web browsing, and enjoying music, the Dell XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon should more than suffice.
If you’re skilled at using creative applications such as Photoshop or Adobe Premiere Pro, your abilities are likely solid. Notably, Photoshop is built specifically for Arm systems, making it capable of handling heavy tasks smoothly without any noticeable problems. At present, Adobe Premiere Pro operates under emulation, which means it’s more suited for lighter video projects. However, this situation will improve as Adobe continues to develop and release all its apps natively for the Arm architecture.
As a researcher examining performance benchmarks, I can confidently say that the XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon outperforms the Dell XPS 14 powered by Intel Core Ultra 165H in both Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024. Notably, these benchmark tests are specifically optimized for Arm64 architecture, where the XPS 13 takes the lead. In native applications, the XPS 13 surpasses other Intel Core Ultra 1 laptops, showcasing its superiority in performance.
The Snapdragon X Elite holds its ground against the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in certain benchmarks, particularly in the PCMark 10 Applications test where it scored almost 1,000 points higher than the Ryzen AI 9 in the Beelink SER9 Mini PC. Impressive indeed! However, it’s important to note that the Snapdragon X Elite’s performance appears more ordinary when we consider emulated benchmarks. For instance, in Crossmark, the Snapdragon in the Dell XPS 13 scored 1,492 points, which is significantly lower than the Dell XPS 14 with Intel Core Ultra 1, which managed a score of 1,741 at the end of the test.
Regarding gaming, the Snapdragon X Elite isn’t classified as a gaming laptop, which means you shouldn’t anticipate high-performance gaming from it. The main reason is its Arm64 architecture, most games don’t support this, and even if they did, the GPU in the Snapdragon X Elite isn’t particularly strong. Consequently, while some games can be played at 1080p with lower to medium graphics settings, many other games simply won’t function on it.
In simple terms, the fan on my device generally operates well, but it does get noticeably louder when under pressure, registering around 45 decibels. Additionally, when running at maximum speed, there’s a subtle hum or buzz that I don’t recall hearing from other laptops.
Battery life is excellent on the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon, too. In our Procyon Battery Drain test, which runs productivity apps such as Microsoft Office on a loop until the battery dies, the XPS 13 managed 19 hours and 37 minutes, an incredible feat and beats most other Snapdragon X Elite powered Copilot+ laptops. The Surface Laptop 7 15-inch, for example, came in at over 18 hours.
Of course, battery life will depend on your kind of workflow. If you’re running many apps under emulation, rendering video and doing lots of heavy multitasking, battery life will be considerably less. I attempted to drain the battery as fast as possible one afternoon, and I was able to get it down from 100% to 15% in about 10 hours of constant heavy use. That’s an incredible result for an unrealistic workflow.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard and trackpad on the XPS 13 with Snapdragon have been a little bit of a mixed bag for me. We’ll start with the controversial function row, which I personally don’t mind and actually prefer aesthetically. It looks really futuristic and clean, and with how rarely I even need to access function keys, it’s really not been a big deal for me.
The layout of this keyboard is appealing as well, boasting tactile keys that provide a satisfying typing experience. This XPS 13 model with Snapdragon incorporates Dell’s “zero-lattice” key structure, meaning the keys on the keyboard have no space between them. It’s another design element that adds to its sleek look and feel, which I find appealing as well.
Adapting to this keyboard might require a brief period of time, considering there are no spaces between the keys. However, you’ll quickly notice that the keys themselves are larger due to the absence of these gaps, making typing easier.
As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been intrigued yet slightly troubled by this sleek trackpad of mine. Visually, it’s a marvel – the glass surface blends seamlessly with the rest of the device, eliminating any visible borders or outlines that might hint at its presence. It’s not mechanical, instead, it uses haptic feedback, vibrating gently under my touch when pressed.
On your initial view, the trackpad isn’t spread across the lower half of the keyboard tray as you may anticipate. Instead, its width is comparable to that of the space bar and alt gr keys. It provides a complete press function regardless of where it’s pressed within this area between those two keys.
The design isn’t my problem, it’s the tactile feedback that concerns me. Generally, I appreciate haptic touchpads, but there seems to be an issue here. It might be specific to my device, as I’ve noticed on several occasions that the haptic trackpad either gets stuck or fails to respond when waking the laptop from sleep mode.
Frequently, I encountered issues where the trackpad seemed overly responsive, registering clicks when I only intended to move the cursor. In certain instances, the haptic feedback would also cease, causing me to lack the tactile confirmation that a click was successfully recorded.
Each time these problems occurred, restarting fixed them, but I had to do it quite frequently, which became irritating. I’m unsure if this is a problem with my device itself or if there’s a software issue in the trackpad driver or firmware that needs to be resolved. It’s worth monitoring the situation further.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Camera, mic, and audio
On the Dell XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon, you’ll find superior quality in its integrated camera and microphone. This is made possible by a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which works alongside Windows Studio Effects to enhance both audio and video quality. The effects allow the microphone to primarily focus on your voice and subtly clear up the camera image for a cleaner, more prominent output.
Contrary to expectation, given that both the XPS 13 models utilize identical hardware components, the imaging pipeline on the Snapdragon version significantly outperforms its Intel counterpart. This difference results in images that appear noticeably brighter with reduced noise, and a more robust sounding microphone. The built-in mic is capable of handling Teams meetings effortlessly without any issues.
The webcam also has built-in IR hardware for Windows Hello face unlock, which is my preferred method of bio-authentication. Face unlock is secure and superfast, and even works in the dark just like an iPhone.
In addition to these sensors, some proximity-detecting equipment (not found in every Copilot+ PC) is also integrated. This additional hardware enables Windows to perform some fascinating tricks regarding the laptop’s wake and sleep functions. Without utilizing the actual webcam, it can sense your presence, causing the screen to go dormant when you step away for a while and then automatically awaken again when you return.
This convenience is particularly useful in communal workspaces, as your computer will automatically lock after some time, ensuring security when you step away. It also wakes up just before you return to your seat, reducing wait time. However, if you frequently move back and forth from the laptop, this feature might be inconvenient, as it puts the device to sleep. Fortunately, you can adjust these settings according to your preference.
The built-in speakers of this device are functional, but they’re far from the top-tier speakers I’ve encountered on a Copilot+ PC. They manage virtual meetings just fine and maintain clear sound quality, but they could use more bass. Cranking up the volume to maximum can result in a faint rattling noise, at least with our model. For serious audio listening, it would be advisable to use headphones with this laptop instead.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Competition
It appears that the device most comparable to the Dell XPS 13 might be the newly released Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, as they both share the Snapdragon X Elite processor and possess a similar size. Both models boast impressive displays, with an OLED option available for the Yoga Slim 7x, much like the XPS 13 offers.
If you want a larger device, a close competitor is definitely the ASUS VivoBook S 15, which also has a Snapdragon X Elite SoC, along with a 15.6-inch OLED display. It doesn’t have a touchscreen, though, so you might want to consider that.
The 13-inch Surface Laptop 7 is equally competitive with the Dell XPS 13, our pick for the best Windows laptop of 2024. In my view, it boasts a more appealing 3:2 screen ratio and offers a smoother keyboard and trackpad experience. The Dell XPS 13, powered by Snapdragon, also holds its own against the MacBook Air in my estimation.
Dell XPS 13 9345 Snapdragon: Should you buy it?
✅ You should buy this if…
- You want the most portable Copilot+ PC on the market right now.
- You need a great travel laptop with all-day battery life.
- You want something that’s lightweight.
- You want an OLED display and a futuristic design.
❌ You should not buy this if…
- You want to play AAA games.
- You have certain peripherals or apps that won’t work on Arm (yet.)
- You need to edit video or audio in Premiere Pro and Audition.
In summary, the Dell XPS 13 equipped with Snapdragon offers exceptional performance. This ultraportable device boasts increased capabilities due to the Snapdragon X Elite. It provides long battery life and handles tasks effortlessly. For the most part, it operates quietly, and its sleek design sets it apart from other laptops available today.
Similar to past Intel models, certain design elements might seem off-putting to some users. While I understand if others find the capacitive function row or hidden trackpad unappealing, I, for one, appreciate their unique aesthetics and am comfortable with these features.
As a researcher, I’ve found myself grappling frequently with an issue pertaining to the trackpad drivers on this particular machine. On numerous instances, these drivers have proven to be less than reliable, causing me inconvenience during use. Interestingly, I haven’t encountered such problems on any other haptic trackpads, leading me to suspect that there might be something unique about the Dell XPS 13 model I’m working with.
If these concerns only apply to my particular unit, I’d say the Dell XPS 13 is a worthwhile purchase, particularly with the Snapdragon X Elite. It doesn’t break the bank if you opt for the 1080p version, which also boasts some of the best battery life we’ve observed in a Windows laptop.
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2024-11-23 14:40