Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 becomes a Microsoft Surface-like detachable

Dell revealed the last pieces of its 2022 XPS 13 lineup today. After releasing the XPS 13 Plus earlier this year, Dell has announced the more traditional, lower-priced XPS 13 clamshell refresh. Dell also overhauled the XPS 13 2-in-1's design, transforming it from a portable ultralight with a 360-degree hinge to a tablet with an optional detachable keyboard cover sold separately.

XPS 13 2-in-1 specs

Available this summer, the XPS 13 2-in-1 (model 9315) at its base configuration is basically a tablet running on up to an Intel Core i7-1250U (two performance cores at 1.1-4.7 GHz, eight efficiency cores at 0.8–3.5 GHz, 12 threads). For comparison, the similarly designed Microsoft Surface Pro 8 detachable has up to an i7-1185G7 (four cores, eight threads, up to 4.8 GHz).

Dell’s detachable will also be configurable with up to 16GB of soldered LPDDR4x-4266 RAM and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD.

Bezels measuring 9 mm surround the tablet’s 13.3-inch touchscreen, which uses the 3:2 aspect ratio and 2880×1920 pixels. It claims up to 500 nits of brightness, 100 percent sRGB coverage, and, impressively, a 1,800:1 contrast ratio.

The screen is supposed to be both anti-reflective and anti-smudge and uses Gorilla Glass 7 for durability.

Perhaps as expected, port selection on the tablet is scarce: A pair of Thunderbolt 4 is it. However, Dell will be gracious enough to ship the machine with USB-C-to-USB-A (3.0) and USB-C-to-3.5 mm adapters.

Á la Surface keyboard

With a detachable, optional keyboard that doubles as a cover and 13-inch-class tablet design, the redesigned XPS 13 2-in-1 is awfully similar to Microsoft's Surface Pro lineup, more specifically the flagship Surface Pro 8.

And, similar to the Surface Pro 8, you'll have to pay extra for a Type Cover, or, I should say, XPS Folio. The XPS Folio attaches to the PC via magnets and pogo pins and wraps over the top of the screen with microfiber lining for protection. Attaching the XPS Folio would make the computer weigh an extra 1.23 lbs while adding a keyboard and a 4.49×2.92-inch touchpad.

But one of the reasons Microsoft manages to get away with selling its Surface devices without the Type Cover is that the tablets have a kickstand built into the backside. That makes it easy enough to prop a Surface Pro up on a desk for more serious tasks, especially if you already own a compatible wireless keyboard.

The XPS 13 2-in-1, however, doesn’t have an integrated stand, making the XPS Folio seem more critical. It enables 100, 112.5, or 125-degree-angle props, Dell said.

Still, keyboard comfort and performance will be critical for anyone considering using this for significant amounts of typing. I briefly checked out the XPS Folio, and my short experience was surprisingly similar to what I felt with the XPS 13 Plus' integrated keyboard in terms of travel. They don't just look similar; both keyboards' keys have 1 mm of travel and large key shapes.