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Specs
CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 256V (8 cores)
RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X
GPU: Intel Arc Graphics
Storage: 1 TB SSD
Show: 13.3-inch IPS HDR
Weight: 2.36 lbs (1.07 kg)
Dimensions (in): 11.64 x 8.23 x 0.7
Dimensions (mm): 295.7 x 209 x 16.6
Dell has relaunched its total portfolio of laptops, with the Dell Professional 13 Premium one of many first off the blocks. This new machine is in some ways the non secular successor to the Dell XPS, though in reality it appears nothing prefer it at first look. Its chassis seems a bit like a MacBook crossed with older enterprise-focused machines — and it definitely doesn’t create a contemporary or slick first impression.
However appears to be like aren’t every thing, and this machine is an especially compact and light-weight possibility with lots packed below the hood, alongside providing some nice connectivity choices — making it a worthwhile laptop computer for coding and programming whereas on the transfer.
Dell Professional 13 Premium evaluation
Dell Professional 13 Premium: Design
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The Dell Professional 13 Premium speaks two design languages without delay — the primary is one among class and robustness whereas the opposite is one among bland, unremarkable professionalism.
There’s not a lot pleasure to be discovered at the hours of darkness grey that its 90% recycled magnesium chassis is draped in. However on the flipside, some components strongly resemble a MacBook, together with rounded-off corners and a dint on the entrance that you need to use to get sufficient buy to open its lid when closed. Coupled with the aesthetically pleasing gapless keyboard, it makes for a sensible general look, and feels wonderful to deal with.
We additionally preferred the way in which that tilting the display again raises the incline of the keyboard, which elevates the expertise when typing. However the thick borders round its IPS show (principally above the display to slot in the webcam) are a bit extra clunky, and once more betray the company nature of this machine.
The place the Dell Professional 13 Premium excels, nonetheless, is in its dimensions (should you ignore its thickness) and very low weight. Measuring 11.64 x 8.23 inches (179.5 x 171.9 mm), the Dell Professional 13 Premium is sufficiently small to suit into your bag simply should you’re hoping to work on the transfer. It is also exceptionally gentle, weighing simply 2.36 lbs (1.07 kg) — making it one of many lightest machines you should buy right this moment.
Dell Professional 13 Premium: Show
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The usual matte FHD+ IPS non-touch show fitted into our evaluation mannequin was unimpressive on the entire. With a pixel decision of 1,920 x 1,200, it is not as sharp as you’d count on given how a lot this machine prices — with a pixel-per-inch ratio of simply 170 (often we would be searching for 200-plus) — and its refresh price is proscribed to 60 Hz.
Notice {that a} glass-coated QHD+ touchscreen variant is on the market, which Dell claims is brighter and sharper, so we might in all probability advocate contemplating that over this model should you want a high-quality panel, though we have not been in a position to check it and that is adequate for many day-to-day functions.
Testing with a show calibrator rendered a brightness results of 369 nits — simply shy of the 400 nits Dell claims this display can hit. This isn’t a foul end result (it is above common in contrast with different machines), however the colours seem washed out and the white stability is just too heat, so will want some recalibrating.
That stated, the colour accuracy is completely cheap, with the Dell Professional 13 Premium scoring 99.9% protection of the sRGB coloration spectrum. Its black degree of 0.3 nits and 1,202:1 distinction ratio aren’t dangerous for non-OLED shows, however there’s nothing exceptional about these stats both, and this display is let down by its skewed white stability and a definite lack of sharpness.
Dell Professional 13 Premium: Keyboard and touchpad
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The gapless keyboard is much like that utilized in current Dell XPS machines — aside from the return of the row of bodily operate keys, which is extremely welcome. Its gapless keys are spaced out sufficient to really feel snug when typing, however there’s a lack of punch within the haptic suggestions you get with every keystroke. This is not made any higher by the quick journey distance. Whereas it is completely snug to kind with over prolonged durations, we choose keyboards with extra room to push every key whereas touch-typing.
The touchpad is sized proportionately for the machine general, however it may be fiddly to make use of at instances, because of a frictionless floor which means it is troublesome to exactly management your cursor — your fingers are likely to glide throughout its floor a bit too simply. Clicking feels a bit hole, and whereas we skilled no sensitivity issues, the haptic suggestions appeared a bit underwhelming.
Dell Professional 13 Premium: Efficiency and battery
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Our evaluation unit featured the identical Intel Core Extremely 7 256V CPU and Intel Arc Graphics GPU fitted into the HP OmniBook Extremely Flip 14, and paired these with 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. These are high-end specs, and the brand new Intel Core Extremely (Sequence 2) chips are stated to be much more environment friendly than their predecessors.
We confirmed this in our testing. Total, the Dell Professional 13 Premium scored effectively in our benchmarking, with a really excessive single-threaded rating of two,828 and respectable multi-threaded rating of 11,196. This was greater than the HP, which scored 2,701 and 10,793 once we examined it, which will be accounted for partly by its solely having half the quantity of RAM.
It is price noting, nonetheless, that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips underperform on single-threaded duties however vastly outperform the Intel chip in multitasking, scoring between 13,000 to fifteen,000 relying on how the machine is optimized.
The place we have been very impressed was with a rating of 29,925 within the OpenCL check for the graphics chip — which approaches what you’d usually count on in a mid-range GPU from the likes of Nvidia or AMD. This end result means we would advocate this machine for visual-based work on the transfer if it wasn’t for the standard of the show.
The effectivity of this new Intel CPU actually shone by way of, nonetheless, in our battery check, with the Dell Professional 13 Premium lasting a staggering 24 hours and 26 minutes. With the earlier era of Intel chips, you’d be fortunate in case your machine might final greater than 15 hours — with many Snapdragon-powered gadgets in a position to eclipse that determine simply, and a few lasting so long as 28 hours, together with the Dell XPS 13 9345. Nevertheless it reveals the brand new Intel chip has lastly caught up by way of energy effectivity.
Dell Professional 13 Premium: Ports and options
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The Dell Professional 13 Premium is a bit thicker than most gadgets, with a peak of 0.7 inches (16.6 mm), however you’ll be able to forgive that after you take a look at the variety of ports out there. This machine comes with an HDMI port, a USB-A port and a USB-C port on both facet of the chassis. That is along with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a wedge-shaped lock slot for a bit added peace of thoughts.
The machine additionally options robust connectivity choices like the newest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 requirements, in addition to together with an optionally available nanoSIM slot in some fashions. The webcam is 8 MP and gives sharp photographs in good lighting, however you too can reap the benefits of the AI-powered Studio Results to optimize your image, as you’ll be able to in all AI PCs.
Dell Professional 13 Premium: Ought to I purchase it?
It is arduous to advocate the Dell Professional 13 Premium given its value and the truth that extra elegant and stronger machines exist. However what the Dell Professional 13 Premium excels at is providing wonderful efficiency general in a package deal that is extraordinarily gentle and environment friendly, guaranteeing you a long-lasting battery that takes longer to run down than most different machines.
If the standard of the display does not matter an excessive amount of — or you’ll be able to afford to improve to the QHD+ variant — it’s best to definitely contemplate it, particularly if portability and dealing on the go are your principal priorities in a laptop computer for coding and programming.
If the Dell Professional 13 Premium isn’t for you
There are many 2024 machines that may match the invoice, however the machine we would advocate above all others on this value vary is a MacBook Professional — whether or not you go for a brand new M4-powered machine or an older (however nonetheless highly effective) M3 model.
You may additionally have an interest within the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 7. Though it is almost a yr previous, this Snapdragon-powered machine outperforms the Dell (albeit not by way of graphics efficiency) and features a beautiful IPS show. Its battery can be greater than sufficient at 17 hours and 31 minutes.
