Dell’s updated XPS 13 includes a ‘rose gold’ model
When Intel formally launched its seventh-generation Core processors, you could practically hear the outcry for an updated Dell XPS 13 that uses them. It’s a fan favorite among laptops, but a showcase for what Intel’s technology can do for mobile performance and battery life. Well, you can relax. Dell is releasing an upgraded XPS 13 that not only touts the latest Intel tech, but also comes in an optional “rose gold” (aka light metallic pink). It’s an acknowledgment that the XPS 13 and its near-borderless display have become design statements, and that many people would like color options beyond the usual shades of gray.
Outside of the attention-getting hue, this is mostly a nuts-and-bolts upgrade. The big deals are newer Core i3, i5 and i7 chips that promise faster performance and longer battery life (22 hours 21 minutes in productivity apps, 13 hours for web browsing or Netflix streaming). You’ll also get higher-speed WiFi though Killer networking hardware. However, the addition of Thunderbolt 3 may be especially welcome — the high-speed port opens the door to single-cable docking and up to two 4K external displays, in case your XPS regularly doubles as a desktop.
The specs are otherwise largely unchanged. The XPS 13 still starts at $799 with a 1080p display, a Core i3, 4GB of RAM (seriously, Dell, bump this up) and a 128GB solid-state drive. You’ll have to pay more for one of the speedier CPUs, a 3,200 x 1,800 touchscreen, up to 16GB of RAM and a maximum 1TB SSD. Also, be prepared to pay a premium to stand out from the crowd. Dell tells us that the rose gold model starts at $1,149, so you can’t just choose the new shade alongside your configuration of choice.
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