In a market saturated with sleek, lightweight laptops, the Dell XPS 13 Plus manages to stand out not just for its elegance, but for its bold, minimalist approach to design. Dell has consistently set the standard for premium Windows ultraportables with the XPS line, but the "Plus" designation signifies a decisive leap into a more futuristic and refined aesthetic. This machine is engineered for the modern professional and power user who values both style and substantial performance, presenting a stunning combination of streamlined beauty and powerful internals.
A Design That Commands Attention
The Dell XPS 13 Plus (Model 9320 and subsequent generations sharing the same chassis) is instantly recognizable and controversial in the best way. Dell didn't just iterate on the previous XPS design; they completely reinvented the interface, removing visual clutter to create a seamless, harmonious surface.
The most striking change is the Zero-Lattice Keyboard. Stretching from edge-to-edge across the chassis, the keys are larger and have virtually no space between them, giving the impression of a single, continuous plane. This design choice provides a comfortable and spacious typing experience, allowing for fast, efficient touch typing while contributing significantly to the laptop's minimalist aesthetic.
Equally revolutionary is the Seamless Glass Haptic Touchpad. You won't find any visible outline or demarcation for the touchpad. It is integrated directly into the glass palm rest, making the entire area appear as one smooth piece. This innovative haptic feedback technology provides a highly precise and responsive clicking sensation, mimicking a physical click without any actual movement, much like Apple’s leading trackpads. The learning curve for finding the borders is minimal, and the result is a truly unified and modern look.
Finally, the traditional function row has been replaced by a Capacitive Touch Function Row. This backlit row of icons switches effortlessly between media controls (volume, brightness) and standard function keys (F1-F12) with the press of the Fn key. While some traditionalists miss the tactile feel of physical keys, this feature contributes to the clean, seamless design while remaining highly functional and modern.
The overall build quality is exemplary. Crafted from machined aluminum, the laptop is razor-thin, starting at a lightweight figure around 1.23 kg (2.7 lbs). This makes it the quintessential machine for professionals who are constantly on the move, offering robust durability without the burden of weight.
A Feast for the Eyes: The InfinityEdge Display
The XPS series has long been famous for its InfinityEdge display, characterized by razor-thin bezels. The XPS 13 Plus continues this legacy, offering a nearly borderless 13.4-inch screen that maximizes the viewing area within the compact chassis.
Crucially, the XPS 13 Plus provides several exceptional display options, ensuring there's a panel for every user:
FHD+ (1920 x 1200): The most battery-efficient option, still offering high resolution and clarity for productivity tasks.
3.5K OLED (3456 x 2160): This is the display that truly elevates the visual experience. With a stunning 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, the OLED screen delivers perfect blacks, incredibly vibrant colors, and instantaneous response times. It is ideal for creative professionals—graphic designers, photographers, and video editors—who require the highest color accuracy and visual depth.
UHD+ (3840 x 2400): Offering the highest pixel density for those who prioritize absolute sharpness, though it requires more power than the FHD+ option.
All panels incorporate Eyesafe low blue light technology to reduce eye strain without compromising color integrity. The breathtaking visuals are contained within the signature small footprint, making movie-watching or detailed work an immersive experience.
Under the Hood: Performance and Thermals
Despite its slender profile, the Dell XPS 13 Plus packs serious power, specifically targeting the higher wattage chips in its class to ensure performance suitable for demanding work.
The machine is typically configured with up to 13th Generation Intel Core i7 P-Series processors (such as the i7-1360P), which feature a higher Thermal Design Power (TDP) than the U-series chips found in many competitors. This means the system can handle heavier, sustained workloads, making it a capable tool for tasks like coding, photo editing, and advanced multitasking.
To manage this increased power without increasing the laptop's size, Dell engineered a significantly improved thermal system. It utilizes larger dual fans, providing up to 55% more airflow compared to previous non-Plus XPS models. Users can customize the system's performance via the Dell Performance application, choosing from modes like "Optimized" (the best balance of performance and thermals) or "Ultra-Performance" for maximum speed during intensive tasks, acknowledging that the fans may run louder in this mode.
Coupled with fast LPDDR5 RAM (up to 32GB) and swift PCIe SSD storage (up to 2TB), the XPS 13 Plus ensures quick boot-up times and instantaneous data access, contributing to its premium, speedy feel.
The Trade-Offs: Minimalism and Ports
The pursuit of ultimate minimalism often comes with a trade-off, and for the XPS 13 Plus, that compromise is in its port selection. To maintain its sleek profile, Dell limited connectivity to just two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports. While these ports are incredibly versatile, supporting charging, high-speed data transfer, and external display connections, they necessitate the use of dongles or a docking station for connecting older USB-A devices, HDMI, or audio jacks. Dell graciously includes a USB-C to USB-A adapter and a USB-C to 3.5mm headset adapter in the box to mitigate this inconvenience.
Battery life, while improved with newer generations, can be highly configuration-dependent. The high-resolution OLED and UHD+ panels, combined with the powerful P-Series processors, draw more energy. While models with FHD+ screens deliver excellent all-day battery life, users prioritizing the OLED screen or maximizing performance should be prepared to manage their power consumption more actively.
Conclusion: A Statement Piece with Substance
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is an elegant statement piece that embodies the future of laptop design. It takes risks with its seamless trackpad and zero-lattice keyboard, but these elements ultimately contribute to a stunning, unified aesthetic that is both beautiful and highly functional.
This laptop is ideal for the executive, the creative professional, or the student who needs a potent machine that is remarkably portable, exceptionally well-built, and visually striking. It successfully marries cutting-edge design with powerful, high-wattage performance, setting a new benchmark for premium ultraportables. If you seek a compact, powerful Windows laptop that oozes sophistication and is designed to turn heads, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is the choice that brings the future of computing to your desktop today.
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