Dell has updated what might be its boldest and funniest laptop ever, the XPS 13 Plus. The new model looks quite similar to the product released last year; The flat keyboard remains the LED function description and the invisible tactile touchpad. But inside, the new model is powered by 13th-generation Intel processors—specifically, from what I can see on Dell’s website, a Core i7-1360P.
Honestly, the processor is probably what you need to change the most. The XPS 13 Plus I reviewed in 2022 was a nice, well-built device with a great screen, but it got hot and noisy with less battery life than usual. These are big problems for a thin and lightweight laptop, but also problems that a better processor could solve.
The 2023 XPS 13 Plus will still use Intel’s P series, a somewhat confusing chipset family that sits between the ultra-efficient U series and the heavy-hitting H series. However, Intel has made a significant change to the 13th generation of the P series that may work in favor of the XPS 13 Plus. It has increased (in fact, nearly doubled) the number of efficiency cores available in this year’s generation. This means we can hope to expect longer battery life and quieter (knock on wood please) machines.
The only 13th Gen configuration I see on Dell’s website currently includes a Core i7-1360P. You can pair that with 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5 memory, up to 2TB of storage, and a 1920 x 1200 IPS, 3840 x 2400 IPS, or 3456 x 2160 OLED display. The cheapest model I can configure (which includes 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 1920 x 1200 non-touch panel) is $1,399 — which means it looks, on the whole, a bit cheaper than last year’s Core i7 models launched. -1280p.