A capable AI PC, but Windows on Arm issues remain

It’s only been four months since we last reviewed Latest Intel version of XPS 13but has now released a model built for Dell Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI PC initiative. It runs Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite chipas makes it an Arm-based laptop the latest Surface Pro and Surface laptop. But mobile-focused hardware brings new expectations: greater battery efficiency than Intel’s x86 chips, as well as dramatically faster AI capabilities thanks to a more powerful NPU (neural processing unit). As with all Arm-based Windows systems, older x86 applications may experience problems that may run slowly during emulation or not start at all.

It’s certainly a chaotic time for the computer industry as chipmakers and computer companies build for an uncertain AI-powered future. For consumers, it just means confusion. That’s partly why Microsoft launched Copilot+ to begin with, as it requires system manufacturers to include at least 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an NPU with at least 40 TOPS (tera-ops per second) of AI performance. If it says Copilot+ on the box, it is should do Make a decent PC.

So does this XPS 13 fit the Copilot+ brand? Basically it turns out like this. And it’s fascinating to see how it compares to the current Intel version of the same product.

Dell

The XPS 13 is a capable and stylish Copilot+ PC, but it’s sometimes slower than the Intel model and won’t run some games and apps. Battery life is also surprisingly average.

Pros

• Faster than the Intel XPS 13 in some benchmarks
• 45TOPS NPU is better equipped for future AI features
• Great design
• Excellent display with thin bezels

Cons

• Windows on Arm still launches some programs slowly and fails to launch some games
• The current AI features are pretty average
• Average battery life
• Controversial trackpad and capacitive function keys

$1,299 at Dell

What’s new about the XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC?

The biggest addition to this XPS 13 — and the main reason we’re reviewing it — is the Snapdragon X Elite chip. Everything else about this XPS 13 is the same as the previous iteration. It has a strikingly minimalist design, with an “invisible” touchpad that blends into the wrist rest, as well as large button caps that extend from the edge. Don’t forget the capacitive function array, which remains a confusing feature.

If you want to dig deeper into the design of the XPS 13, just take a look my previous review. In short, though, it’s basically a machine that favors looks over usability. It’s light, rugged, and dramatically different from every other laptop out there. But to get there, Dell has made the trackpad difficult to use (it’s not as precise as Apple’s MacBooks or Microsoft’s Surface PCs), and its capacious feature array is just a pain.

As for the XPS 13’s new Snapdragon X Elite chip, it has 12 cores clocked at up to 3.4GHz, with a dual-core boot clocked at 4GHz. By comparison, the Intel variant’s Core Ultra 7 155H chip offers 16 cores and clocks at 4.8 GHz. Qualcomm has an advantage with a more powerful 45 TOPS NPU compared to Intel’s 10 TOPS, but today I haven’t found that a few AI features in Windows 11 can make a big difference. As the benchmarks below show, larger chip numbers don’t always lead to better performance.

What makes the XPS 13 Copilot+ good?

In short, this XPS 13 delivers most of what you want from a modern ultraportable, while preparing you for the potential future with even more AI-powered apps and features. It’s attractive, fast (for most applications anyway), and robust. It’s also the perfect system if you want to stand out a bit, as it looks different from any other laptop out there.

• It handles most productivity apps well, and I had no trouble multitasking when I had multiple tabs open in Chrome and Edge while video conferencing on Zoom and chatting with colleagues on Slack.

• In most benchmarks, such as Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024, this XPS 13 easily beat its Intel sibling by several thousand points.

• Qualcomm’s 45 TOPS Snapdragon X Elite NPU makes the Copilot+ XPS 13 more future-proof than the current Intel model.

• Dell’s XPS 13 keyboard is very spacious and provides excellent feedback. It might take some getting used to because the space is different from other laptops.

• I tested the XPS 13’s entry-level 1080p+ touchscreen, and while it wasn’t as spectacular as OLED-equipped XPS devices I’ve seen, it still looked sharp and colorful.

• As always, Dell’s slim InfinityEdge bezels help make the screen even wider.

What’s wrong with the XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC?

Take away most of the disadvantages of the Intel version of the XPS 13, as well as the problems that still plague Arm-based Windows devices. Surface Proand you have big problems with XPS 13 Copilot+ PC.

• Some emulated x86 applications such as Evernote experience noticeable slowdowns. I often experienced lags when switching between notes as well as scrolling down long documents.

• The built-in AI features in Paint and Photos are mostly useless, and it’s still unclear when the long-awaited Recall feature will arrive for general users.

• We also don’t know when we can expect any other AI features in the OS, or when other developers will start releasing more AI capabilities into their apps.

• Battery life was average compared to most Windows PCs, and surprisingly low for an Arm-based system. It clocked in at seven hours and 48 minutes on the PCMark 10 Apps battery benchmark, well below the 13 hours and 15 minutes scored by the Intel XPS 13 on the modern Office PCMark test. Microsoft’s Surface Pro Copilot+ lasted twelve hours and 15 minutes in the Apps test.

• games like Fortnite, Fate 2 and League of Legends It won’t work on the XPS 13 because their firmware is incompatible with Arm chips.

• I’m still not a fan of the XPS 13’s invisible trackpad. Sometimes it’s hard to locate, and scrolling around isn’t as smooth as Apple’s MacBook Air.

• The XPS 13 needs more than two USB-C ports, or many users will live out the life of the dongle.

• The capacitive function array still disappears in direct sunlight and cannot be used without looking directly at it. After all, it’s hard to create tactile memory without physical buttons.

Should you buy an XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC?

The XPS 13 typically starts at $1,300 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. At the time of this review, it’s currently on sale for $999, but it’s unclear how long that discount will last. The Intel model also starts at $1,300 with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but you’ll need to add another $100 to get 16GB of storage. (The Intel XPS 13 was recently marked down to $1,200, so don’t be surprised if you see Dell’s prices change frequently.)

If you need a powerful 13-inch laptop right now, the XPS 13 Copilot+ is a solid choice. Just beware of the downsides and potential software issues I mentioned above. If you’re on the fence, it might be worth waiting until Dell updates the XPS 13 again. Intel’s new Lunar Lake CPU. It is expected to arrive this fall, and it will have a faster NPU than the Snapdragon X Elite. And since it’s an x86 chip, the Lunar Lake XPS 13 won’t have to emulate older firmware, and it’ll also be able to run games like this. Fortnite.