Dell XPS 12-9q33 Pro Reviews

Shoving a fourth-gen Intel Core processor into the XPS 12 greatly improved battery life and integrated graphics performance. The result is a convertible that can handle many tasks, but also break records for battery life. More than 13 hours in the light-load test is outstanding; even some Android tablets don’t last that long. Still, we are dismayed by Dell’s minimum-effort approach. The original was very good, so perhaps the company felt no need to revise the chassis. To an extent, they’re right, as this remains one of the better convertibles on the market. But it’s also among the heaviest and thickest, two traits that distract from the tablet experience. And, since the old model is now sold for $1000 ($200 less than our review unit), the older version seems a superior value. The only major benefit provided by the new model is amazing battery life, but its predecessor was no slouch, and can last 8 hours on a charge. We really think the new model should be reduced to at least $1,100 because Acer, Lenovo, and Samsung are willing to sell similar hardware for a couple hundred less. Still, Dell’s XPS 12 remains one of the best convertibles. This system is small and portable, yet powerful, which means it can handle serious work and casual Web browsing with equal ease. Few alternatives in this category can claim the same.

Truly, there is not much to criticize about Dell’s latest XPS 12. It is a top-tier piece of technology that excels in nearly every department, from its exquisite construction to its clever, versatile design. It maintains one of the best keyboards on any Ultrabook to date, coupled with a comfortable touchpad, accurate 10-point multi-touch screen, and a reasonable weight that—while still a bit heavy by tablet standards—communicates quality. And it’s incredibly stylish, to boot. The Full HD IPS screen, with its high brightness, good contrast, and great viewing angles, exchanges some benefits of its predecessor for slightly better color spectrum coverage—overall, a reasonable trade. Audio quality is sufficient, though Ultrabooks always struggle in this department. In addition to that minor gripe, the only other complaint is that temperatures could be improved, and we’d love to see a third USB port. Performance is excellent thanks to an exceptionally fast SSD and a powerful CPU. Gaming performance in particular is much improved over last generation, scoring anywhere from 35 to 60% better than the Ivy Bridge XPS 12. But the most impressive improvement of all is in the area of battery life, where the XPS 12 manages a premium of nearly 60%—translating to nearly 9 hours unplugged under typical usage. All of this adds up to one of the very best convertible Ultrabooks to date, and there really isn’t much out there in the way of true competition. Only the Sony Vaio Duo 13 comes to mind, which features a better screen and a lighter weight, but still can’t match the battery life of the XPS 12. If you’re bothered by price, you might also consider something like the IdeaPad Yoga 11S—but if cost isn’t a concern, it’s hard to beat the XPS 12-9Q33.

If you’re looking for a lightweight tablet then look elsewhere. The Dell XPS 12 is primarily intended as a powerful working laptop, and its fourth-generation Haswell processor provides performance and battery life that could justify its high price. The tablet mode isn’t entirely successful, but it’s a nice little bonus that you can use to relax when you finish work at the end of the day.

If you can get over the Dell XPS 12's screen acrobatics, this convertible ultrabook is a good way to get both tablet and laptop functionality in one unit.

Has anyone completely nailed the hybrid middle ground between laptop and tablet? I wouldn't say so, but Dell's flip-screen XPS 12 at least makes for a more solid laptop than most of the detachable-screen models we've seen. The carbon fiber body gives it an upscale feel, and the new Intel CPUs take care of our main issue with its predecessor, battery life. The twitchy accelerometer and touch pad are the main knocks, as well as the relatively high starting price for a Core i5/4GB RAM/128GB SSD configuration, but I can say that each version of this design, from the original Inspiron Duo on, has gotten better.