The Dell XPS 13 9310 is a highly impressive laptop known for its compact size, strong performance, and respectable battery life. Dell has managed to reduce the size of this 13.4-inch laptop significantly, making it akin to an 11.6-inch model while retaining robust performance and decent battery life. The option for an OLED display adds an extra touch of premium quality to this ultraportable laptop.

The base configuration of the XPS 13 starts at $950, but the entry-level Core i3 CPU doesn’t offer the same capabilities as the Core i5 and i7 configurations, which are Intel Evo-certified. The Evo certification ensures the system meets specific mobile performance criteria such as achieving at least 9 hours of battery life with regular usage, fast recharging, and responsiveness on both battery and plugged-in power. The OLED display option is only available with the i7-1185G7 or i7-1195G7 processors.

Base configurations differ by region, with prices starting at AU$2,499 in Australia and £1,099 in the UK (including a Core i5 processor). Lower-priced configurations prioritize the laptop’s design, still offering a small, lightweight, well-constructed device with improved battery life. In the US, starting prices are around $882, again emphasizing the design and offering better battery life in lower-end configurations.

Key specifications of the Dell XPS 13 OLED (9310) include:

• Display size/resolution: 13.4-inch 3,456 x 2,160 OLED touch display
• CPU: 3GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7
• Memory: 16GB 4266MHz LPDDR4X (onboard)
• Graphics: 128MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Storage: 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (21H2)

The laptop offers four display choices: FHD plus 1,920×1,200-pixel LCD with or without touch, UHD plus 3,840×2,400-pixel LCD touch display, and the 3,456×2,160-pixel OLED touch display. The OLED display excels in color coverage but comes with a battery life penalty. For the longest battery life, the FHD plus display is recommended.

While the XPS 13 excels in design and performance, it has limitations in webcam quality and privacy features. It lacks a physical webcam shutter or quick mute options, features present in some premium models from other brands. Dell’s Latitude business laptops have these features, indicating they might appear in the next XPS 13 iteration. The laptop’s IR camera enables facial recognition for fast sign-in.

The XPS 13’s performance benchmarks indicate its capability relative to other laptops, showcasing its strengths and areas for improvement in terms of computing power and battery efficiency.

Overall, the Dell XPS 13 remains a sleek and capable laptop, particularly with the OLED display option, and potential improvements are expected in future iterations.