The Dell XPS 13 Plus buying guide: How to configure it

In terms of aesthetics, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is one of the most beautiful laptops on the market. The keyboard wraps right up to the edges of the chassis, like the infinity display on the XPS. In spite of the fact that it is a basic model, the screen is stunning. It is a head-turner.

If you're interested in buying an XPS 13 Plus, you'll need to order it directly from Dell.com. It's likely that you'll be faced with a wide variety of options that may leave you scratching your head. Are you looking for a certain processor? Is there a better screen? What the heck is Windows 11 Pro? If you're considering buying a new XPS 13 Plus, here's everything you need to know.

XPS laptops from Dell have always been some of the best Windows laptops you can buy. As far as style, portability, and functionality are concerned, the XPS 13 was unmatched. In other words, it's the Windows version of the MacBook Air.

It's time to step it up with the XPS 13 Plus. It has a minimalist, mature look thanks to its all-aluminum body with a soft matte finish. The laptop doesn't have gaudy RGB lighting or stickers all over it like most Windows laptops.

It is always a good idea to start with the base model when configuring a laptop for purchase. It is often sufficient for most people to purchase the base model. The Dell XPS 13 Plus is particularly affected by this.

A decent machine can be had for $1,199. It has an Intel Core i5-1240P processor with 12 cores from the 12th generation. It is capable of reaching a clock speed of 4.40 GHz when boosted. The next two processors are both i7s with marginally faster clock speeds.

In the Dell XPS 13 Plus, you have the choice of four confusing displays. It has that gorgeous infinity edge that the XPS line is known for, and it is also 13.4 inches. Also, they all run at 60Hz.

A touchscreen is available in one of the two FHD+ options. In order to upgrade to a touchscreen, Dell charges an additional $100. If you opt for the i7-1280P processor upgrade, you won't be able to get an FHD+ touchscreen panel and will have to settle for a non-touchscreen.

The term FHD+ refers to Full High Definition ... Plus. It offers 1920x200 resolution at 500 nits brightness. The Corning Gorilla Glass 4 makes it tough enough for most people to use. The 3.5K OLED touchscreen, however, will provide richer, deeper colors and a touchscreen panel. It will cost you an extra $200, but it could be well worth it for better viewing.

As a result, will this machine be worth the cost if you are not going to edit videos or play graphically intensive games? It might be a tough decision to make. It certainly makes for a more enjoyable screen, especially if you plan to use the laptop to watch movies and videos.

If you plan to do video editing, photo editing, graphic design, or gaming on this machine, you may need a faster processor. It's possible to choose between two 12th-generation Intel i7 processors in these cases.

As with the i5, the i7-1260P has 12 cores and a speed almost similar to the i5. The i7 has a smaller cache, 12 MB, as opposed to 18 MB for the i7. It's not much of an upgrade in performance, but it will add nearly $300 to the price.

I doubt it. In most cases, Windows 10 Home will suffice for most people. The new Windows 11 comes with Microsoft Teams, including the ability to send SMS directly from your laptop via the new Chat app.

Let's be real for a moment. An XPS 13 Plus isn't going to be the best for heavy gaming. It simply lacks the graphics card to handle anything heavy. As a result, you shouldn't get involved with major video editing or animation projects.

Storage capacity is 512GB on the base model. In contrast to many companies, such as Apple with its M2 MacBook Air, Dell has not offered a 256GB model. If you want to save all your files and programs locally, you should buy 1TB of storage.

The perfect Dell XPS 13 Plus features an i7-1280P processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD storage, and an FHD+ touch display. It's all yours for just under $1,899. It's only $2,099 for the complete package if you'd like an OLED touchscreen display. Alternatively, you can get the non-touchscreen FHD+ model with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for a little less. That would cost $1,500.