Battery Life and Pricing
Comparing the battery life of the XPS 15 2-in-1 to the same notebooks we used for our performance comparisons puts the Dell towards the bottom of the pack at 5.6 hours.
Given the larger 15" form factor and sizable 75 Watt-hour, not being able to crack 6 hours of battery life for web browsing is disappointing for a modern flagship notebook.
Pricing
The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 we received for review comes in at a staggering $2,349. While this is one of the highest possible configurations, with a 4K display, the Core i7-8705G, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, it is still a pricey notebook.
Compared to the newly refreshed Dell XPS 15 9570 clamshell, you can get a very similar configuration featuring a six-core processor, GTX 1050 Ti, and much larger 97Wh battery for $2,099.
Besides the keyboard that didn't quite meet expectations, I don't have any complaints about the XPS 15 2-in-1 as a device. As we've come to expect with the XPS lineup, it's a well built, premium notebook that continues the trend of Dell providing top-notch hardware.
In the end, I am left a little confused with the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1. The extra utility gained by a 360-degree hinge on a 15-in notebook doesn't seem to make enough sense to develop completely separate notebook based on a unique hardware platform. It seems likely that Dell is leaning towards making 2-in-1 the default form factor for device targeting thin designs.
With the new XPS 15 9570 is sporting six-core processors and discrete NVIDIA graphics for a similar size and price range, it's difficult to see why a consumer would be attracted towards the XPS 15 2-in-1 instead.
For users looking at a high-powered 15-in convertible device, I would recommend taking a look at the Surface Book 2, which provides GTX 1060 level graphics, similar levels of CPU performance, and much more battery life, for just a bit extra money.
The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 combines impressive hardware with a unique design that may be hampered by the lofty expectations we had initially placed upon it when announced.
Received mine on Wednesday
Received mine on Wednesday and needed to update the drivers on several items.
The machine could not auto-rotate the screen this was one of several out-of-date Intel drivers that can be updated from Dell support.
The Vega M gpu was reported as Generic VGA, and I didn’t see anything on the Dell support pages to correct this. The ARK page for this CPU however did have the AMD Vega driver though, so I installed them from there.
Now I’m just curious to find out how to ensure the graphics tasks are actually being conducted by the Vega M GPU and hot the Intel HD xxx GPU, which are both active.
Really hate that Dell has
Really hate that Dell has decide to solder RAM and go route of removing SD card slot and full sized USB A port.
So “100% AdobeRGB coverage”
So “100% AdobeRGB coverage” and more graphics software testing please.
“In this case, we have two Thunderbolt 3 ports (providing full x4 throughput), as well as two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports.”
x4 of what? PCIe 2.0 or PCIe 3.0 and the Kaby lage G version gets the Soldered RAM while the non G versions get the upgradable RAM SODIMMS. I’ll bet that the TB3 ports(Type-C) and the USB 3.1 gen 2 ports(Type-C also) are one and the same ports so more adaptor profits for Dell(very Apple Like). And forget that USB Type-C to USB Type-A adaptor as that can be replaced with a Type-C to Gigabit Ethernet adaptor option for those that use wired connections.
This is just more like Apple(not very user upgradable) and less like non Apple laptops(more upgradable). And I can not wait for AMD’s Mobile Vega(Real Vega) to appear in a non Intel(Sort of “Vega” semi-custom) True AMD Zen/Vega option. And no one reviewer appears to have the jewels to see if that Semi-Custom “Vega” in the Kaby Lake G has that working HBCC IP. That Vega HBCC IP that can make use of the HBM2 as High Bandwidth Cache for the GPU with the ability to have more Virtual VRAM swapped out to and from regular system DRAM for non gaming graphics workloads where the user would want very high resolution images that may take up more than only 4GB of VRAM.
I’m Really not liking some reviewers who do not provide close up shots of the Ports on a laptop along with some better all around images of the laptop and those MagLev Butterfly like switches are they exactily like Apple’s Butterfly IP that’s going to get Apple some Class Action Treatment what with the issues they are having with that.
I want a Raven Ridge APU laptop with some Vega Discrete mobile Options with 4GB of HBM2 and that HBCC/HBC IP that actually works for allowing the user to have the HBM2 acting like a GPU Cache to a much larger pool of Virtual VRAM out on regular system DRAM.
The Type-C ports on the left
The Type-C ports on the left are thunderbolt. The rearmost having the power symbol as well. The two on the right are the USB3 ports. The power brick can be plugged into any of the 4.
I would have liked to have one Type-A port so I don’t have to use the dongle to plug in the logitech universal adaptor. (I really don’t like trackpads so a marathon mouse is always in my kit.)
Good news: It’s as fast as a
Good news: It’s as fast as a mobile GTX 1050
Bad news: It have half the mileage than a GTX 1050 system with the same battery, really poor battery life but something which was expected given Vega’s power efficiency
Total no go first off on the
Total no go first off on the cheapest model 128GB SSD only once windows is installed and of coarse the Dell recovery you are left with very little room. The second thing going from 128GB to 256GB is like $200 extra are they on glue. Third thing non expandable memory so you are stuck with whatever the unit came with. I hope this is not a trend but then again if the likes of Del and Apple and MS get away with it then this will become the norm for every company to do in the future.
This is the first time I’ve
This is the first time I’ve seen the review terms and disclosure, I think it’s a great idea.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I am looking at the XPS 15
I am looking at the XPS 15 (9575) and the XPS 15 (9570). do either of these support miracasting with the killer wireless hardware in them? Either the 1535 or the 1435 series? Dell has no support info on these 2 machines and Killer Networks doesn’t either? I find things in forums, but not for these 2 machines? Any help would be great!