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Dell's latest XPS 12 looks like a Surface rival, feels like a step backward
We first reviewed the Dell XPS 12 back in 2012, when Windows 8 had just come out and touchscreens on PCs weren't yet standard. It had a weird design, but it worked: a screen that flipped around inside its frame, allowing you to convert the 12-inch laptop into a 12-inch tablet. No, it wasn't as versatile as the now-ubiquitous Yoga, but it was a well-built, fast machine that could serve multiple purposes, and whose comfortable keyboard made it a dream to use in regular notebook mode. Now Dell has re-released the XPS 12 with a new design -- a 2-in-1 detachable that takes after the Surface Pro. Unfortunately, though, it's a poor imitation, and ultimately feels like a step backward.
Dell's next XPS 12 looks like a Microsoft Surface rival
Wondering why Dell is cool with selling Microsoft's Surface Pro when it doesn't have a direct equivalent right now? This might be why. Giga claims to have leaked details of a reborn XPS 12 that would ditch the convertible laptop design in favor of the Surface's tablet-plus-keyboard combo, right down to the kickstand. Yes, Dell appears to be taking a page from Lenovo's book and competing with Microsoft's 2-in-1 PC on its home turf. Not that this would be a direct clone, mind you. The XPS 12 reportedly touts a color-accurate 4K touchscreen with a super-thin, XPS 13-style bezel. You'd also get a Thunderbolt 3 connector (great for docking a slew of devices using just one cable) and a sharper 8-megapixel rear camera.
Dell refreshes its XPS 12 Ultrabook, XPS 27 all-in-one and XPS 8500 desktop
Now that it's unveiled its next-gen Ultrabook, Dell's taking the opportunity to refresh the machines it's already got. Starting with the XPS 12 convertible Ultrabook, the company is adding an NFC chip, Haswell processors and a bigger battery (50Wh, up from 47Wh). Between that CPU change and the enlarged power pack, Dell says the system will now last up to 9.5 hours on a charge -- more than three hours longer than the OG version. Fortunately for you, the starting price is staying put at $1,200, with shipments beginning July 9th in most regions. Moving on, the XPS 27 all-in-one is stepping up to a 2,560 x 1,440 screen with improved brightness (350 nits vs. 300) and a wider color gamut (99 percent, up from 72). As you'd expect, Dell also swapped in fresh Haswell processors and a 2GB, next-gen NVIDIA GPU, along with a Thunderbolt port, TPM and Dell's ProSupport service offering. Finally, the machine's getting a bigger storage option: a 2TB 7,200RPM HDD paired with a 256GB SSD. That's available today for $1,600 and up -- the same price you would've paid for the last-gen model with a touchscreen. Finally, Dell replaced the XPS 8500 desktop tower with the XPS 8700, which brings Haswell, along with four HDD bays, up to 4TB of storage and up to 32GB of RAM. Additionally, the SSDs offered now include Intel's Smart Response Technology. That's available today too for $700 and up. Happy shopping!
Dell XPS 12 review: with the launch of Windows 8, 'convertible' takes on a new meaning
More Info Dell announces XPS 10 Windows 8 hybrid, XPS Duo 12 convertible Dell XPS 12 Windows 8 convertible priced at $1,199 and up, ships this month with pre-orders starting today Toshiba unveils U925t Ultrabook with slide-out touchscreen A Windows 8 PC that can be used in a tablet mode? Those will come a dime a dozen this fall. But what's fascinating is how each PC maker has approached the challenge of mixing a touchscreen with a more traditional mouse-and-keyboard setup. For some OEMs, this means going the hybrid route, with 10- or 11-inch tablets that slot neatly into an optional keyboard dock. For others, it means a full-fledged PC with a slide-out touchscreen. And for a few, it means a laptop whose screen can fold down, leaving you with what can only be described as an oversized slate. That's how we would describe the Dell XPS 12, a 12.5-inch notebook whose screen flips inside its hinge, allowing you to use the machine in tablet mode or, if you prefer, with the screen facing away from the keys. (Yes, Dell is giving this form factor a second try.) It starts at a relatively steep $1,200 but then again, this is a fairly premium machine we're talking about: it combines all the ingredients of an Ultrabook (lightweight build, Ivy Bridge processor and a solid-state drive) with a 400-nit, 1080p, Gorilla Glass touchscreen. So what's it like to use this form factor? And how does it fare as a regular ol' Windows 8 PC? Let's see.
Dell XPS 12 Windows 8 convertible priced at $1,199 and up, ships this month with pre-orders starting today
Well, that's a form factor you don't see that often. Of all the Windows 8 PCs we've seen so far, the Dell XPS 12 is tough to forget, if only because it's the only one whose screen flips inside the hinge like an easel. We already got hands-on at IFA last month, but now we're learning some key details -- you know, like pricing and availability. Dell just announced that it will go up for pre-order today, starting at $1,199. (It will ship October 26th, the day Windows 8 launches.) That's a princely sum indeed compared to some of the other Windows 8 ultraportables we've seen, but it's important to remember that this runs not on an Atom processor, but an Ultrabook-grade CPU. And while you might assume that 12.5-inch display makes do with 1,366 x 768 resolution, it's actually a dense 1080p panel. Hopefully we'll get to review a final unit soon, but in the meantime feast yourself on a fresh round of hands-on shots below.
Dell announces XPS 10 Windows 8 hybrid, XPS Duo 12 convertible (update: hands-on)
Our next stop on the Windows 8 announcement train is Dell, which today unveiled the XPS 10, a Windows RT hybrid device that runs Microsoft's latest OS on a 10-inch touch-enabled display. Dell says you can expect up to 20 hours of battery life, though the company didn't touch on CPU and storage specs. Dell also unveiled the XPS Duo 12, which sports a 12.5-inch touch display. When closed, it looks like any old XPS laptop, complete with a backlit keyboard, machined aluminum built and carbon fiber surrounding the display. To enter tablet mode, you literally flip the Duo 12's display around and close it over the keyboard. The design is intriguing (and it looks pretty awesome, we have to say), but based on our short hands-on time the hinge feels rather flimsy. Processor options will go up to Core i7 (Qualcomm also told us its Snapdragon S4 chip will power the device). Both the XPS 10 and the Duo 12 will be available later this year after the official Windows 8 launch. %Gallery-163801% %Gallery-163820% Mat Smith and Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.
