Dell XPS 13
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Dell XPS 13 is a premium, ultra-portable laptop that generates polarized opinions on Reddit. It is frequently praised for its MacBook-like build quality, lightweight design, and exceptional Linux compatibility. However, recent design shifts—specifically the transition to the 'XPS 13 Plus' style with a touch-capacitive function row and a seamless, 'invisible' trackpad—have drawn significant criticism. While long-term users report high durability from older models, newer iterations face complaints regarding hardware reliability, soldered components, and the quality of the base FHD display.
Pros
- Premium build quality often compared to Apple hardware
- Excellent Linux support with many components working out-of-the-box
- Highly portable and lightweight form factor (approx. 2.7 lbs)
- Strong trackpad haptics on premium/newer variants
- Reliable performance for productivity tasks like engineering and coding
Cons
- Soldered RAM and SSD on recent models prevent user upgrades
- Polarizing design choices including a touch-bar function row and hidden trackpad boundaries
- Reports of significant hardware failures, including dead motherboards within the first year
- Base FHD screen is described as poor quality for the premium price point
- High repair costs, particularly for display replacements
Caveats
- The seamless trackpad design can make it difficult to identify the clickable area by touch
- Firmware updates are sometimes necessary to resolve known trackpad and input issues
- Minor hardware quirks reported with webcams and WiFi stability after system sleep
Best for
- Linux users seeking a high-end laptop with official Ubuntu support
- Students and professionals who prioritize portability and aesthetics
- Users looking for a compact Windows alternative to the MacBook Air
Avoid if
- You require upgradeable internal components like RAM or storage
- You prefer physical function keys over touch-capacitive buttons
- You are unwilling to pay extra for an OLED screen to avoid the base display
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is older, with a median source age of 403 days, so confidence is lower for the most recent hardware revisions.
Sentiment
58 positive (46%) · 21 mixed (17%) · 47 negative (37%)
Trust + time weighted score: +6% · raw score 9%
What redditors said (10 of 126)
The touchpad went out on my XPS 13 and the Dell tech who they sent to my house completely demolished my keyboard when he reinstalled it. Broke several of the keys and the attachments inside.
My XPS 13 is appx 2022 and I LOVE it.... I have also worn it out! (I upgraded the SSD to 2GB.... but at this point the hinge is wearing out... the webcam only works half the time... I even managed to crack the aluminum case...)
1) The pgUp/pgDn keys are NOT dedicated... they require the Fn key, which is at the FAR LEFT of the keyboard (e.g. you cannot use one hand to access). IOW: No pgUp/pgDn at all 2) The Home/End keys are NOT dedicated. They are overloads on the F11 and F12 keys. So you can EITHER have function keys OR you can have Home/End.
My current XPS-13 is on last legs... I'd get the new one, but Dell messed up the keyboard design: - No dedicated pgUp/pgDn keys - No dedicated end/home keys
To me, the new Dell XPS 13 looks like a very tempting alternative, but by the time it gets to EU/UK it is a lot more expensive.
Damnit, now I'm regretting my purchase. Reviews were so good 😞
Dell XPS 13 is 2.7 lbs small light. I liked it a lot. The the thumb pad area isn't as big so you can reach the keyboard. Its small all way around.
The Dell XPS 13 is the best one here
I had 3 XPS 13 over the years - all with Ubuntu pre-installed. At first they came with drivers provided by Dell, but later I could re-install with regular Ubuntu and everything worked.
I really would not be able to bring myself to buy the 8GB XPS when Neo exists. The overall difference is huge. ... XPS display looks a noticeably faded/grey in comparison
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