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Ranked #2 of 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·April 20, 2026

Dell XPS 13

Averaged from 1 published rating
The verdict

The Dell XPS 13 9345 continues the XPS legacy as a premium ultraportable with its lightweight design, beautiful display, and solid performance. Powered by Snapdragon X Plus for AI tasks, it offers excellent portability and battery life, though at the cost of upgradeability and with a premium price tag.

Dell XPS 13

Strengths

  • +Ultra-lightweight design at just over 2.5 lbs for maximum portability
  • +Beautiful 120Hz display with crisp text and vibrant colors
  • +Solid all-day battery life with fast charging
  • +Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and Windows 11 Pro security features

Watch-outs

  • −RAM and storage are soldered and not upgradeable
  • −Limited port selection requires dongles for some peripherals
  • −Premium price for the specifications offered

How it compares

The Dell XPS 13 competes directly with the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 in the premium ultraportable space. Its ultra-lightweight design and beautiful 120Hz display make it highly portable, but it lacks the upgradeability of the ThinkPad T14 and the OLED display of the Zenbook. The XPS 13 is ideal for users who prioritize portability above all else.

Who this is for

At a glance: Users prioritizing maximum portability and premium build quality.

Why you’d buy the Dell XPS 13

  • Ultra-lightweight design at just over 2.5 lbs for maximum portability.
  • Beautiful 120Hz display with crisp text and vibrant colors.
  • Solid all-day battery life with fast charging.

Why you’d skip it

  • RAM and storage are soldered and not upgradeable.
  • Limited port selection requires dongles for some peripherals.
  • Premium price for the specifications offered.

Rating sources

pcmag
4.5/5

Our 4.1 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dell XPS 13 worth buying?
The Dell XPS 13 9345 continues the XPS legacy as a premium ultraportable with its lightweight design, beautiful display, and solid performance. Powered by Snapdragon X Plus for AI tasks, it offers excellent portability and battery life, though at the cost of upgradeability and with a premium price tag.
What is the Dell XPS 13's biggest strength?
Ultra-lightweight design at just over 2.5 lbs for maximum portability
What is the main drawback of the Dell XPS 13?
RAM and storage are soldered and not upgradeable
What sources back the 4.1/5 rating?
Our 4.1/5 rating is the average of scores from 1 independent laptops under $2000 review — pcmag. Click any source on the product page to read the original review.

How it compares

See all 5 →
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
#1 · Top Score

ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED competes directly with the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 and Dell Latitude 14 in the under-$2000 business laptop space. Its OLED display outshines the IPS panels of competitors, while its compact design makes it more portable than the bulkier Dell Latitude. However, it lacks the upgradeability of the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5's SO-DIMM slots.

Lenovo ThinkPad L14
#3

Lenovo ThinkPad L14

The Lenovo ThinkPad L14 offers a more budget-friendly entry point with modern connectivity like USB4 in its AMD variant, contrasting with the higher price tags of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and HP Elitebook. While it matches the T14 Gen 5 in offering upgradeable RAM, its screen panel is notably more fragile than the robust displays found on the Dell Latitude 14 or the X1 Carbon.

Dell Latitude 14
#4

Dell Latitude 14

The Dell Latitude 14 delivers strong CPU performance and a robust chassis that rivals the durability of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12, but it is significantly thicker and heavier than all other competitors. It also suffers from a poor clickpad experience and lower base RAM configurations compared to the more premium specifications typically found in the HP Elitebook or the upgradeable nature of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5.

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5
#5

Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5

Unlike the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and HP Elitebook, the T14 Gen 5 uniquely offers user-upgradeable SO-DIMM RAM slots, prioritizing long-term repairability over the premium thinness of its rivals. While it shares the bright 16:10 display found in the Lenovo ThinkPad L14, the T14 distinguishes itself with a more robust chassis design, though it sacrifices raw processing power compared to the HP Elitebook's AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375.

Dell XPS 13
4.1/5· $1,599
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