That said, low-resolution video still looks reasonably good. While the display can’t do native 4K, there is a noticeable bump in image quality between 1080p and 4K content. Predictably, that makes for a sharp experience. That’s about 280 pixels per inch, or 60 more per inch than a MacBook Pro with Retina. While the standard XPS 13 comes with a 1080p display, our review unit arrived with the upgraded 3,200 × 1,800 touchscreen. The tactile left and right buttons integrated into the touchpad lack travel, but it hardly matters because tap-to-click works so well. Multi-touch scroll, and zoom feel wonderful, almost Mac-like, and we never had an issue with mistaken or unwanted input. Four inches wide, and a hair more than two inches deep, it’s not particularly large, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in fluidity. We can’t praise the touchpad highly enough. A third, even dimmer setting would be preferable.

Just two brightness levels are available and a great deal of light escapes from beneath the keys, which can be distracting. By default it turns on only when the system is actively in use. Multi-touch gestures are smooth and accurate thanks to the brilliant touchpad. A ton of space between individual keys leads to our only complaints: The key caps could be larger, and Backspace is too small. On the contrary, individual keys provide solid feel with reasonable travel and a firm bottoming action. The small size of XPS 13 doesn’t mean the keyboard is rubbish. You may not need Ethernet, because the base XPS 13 comes standard with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. An SD card reader and an audio jack are also included. It offers just two USB ports, both 3.0, along with a Thunderbolt 3/USB 3.1 Type-C port, which handles video and additional peripheral connections. Wired connectivity is not the XPS 13’s strongest point. No other laptop looks or feels quite like this. Dell’s limited gold model resolves that issue with a subtle change of color. Once open, both models reveal a uniquely textured, soft-touch carbon fiber interior that steals the show. Dell could have done more to differentiate the system at a glance from the Inspiron 7000 series, which also relies on silver metallic accents. The exterior of the silver XPS 13 is mundane with the display lid closed. We feel confident the XPS 13 will handle abuse better than most systems of its size. Even the thin-bezel display allows only the slightest flex. The carbon fiber and aluminum chassis feels absolutely rigid. Such compact dimensions may raise durability concerns, but touching this Dell crushes them without hesitation.

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