Dell XPS 18 review: A near-perfect hybrid of tablet and all-in-one - brownsproas

At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Powerful components
• Highly versatile
• Peachy display

Cons

• No HDMI stimulation operating theater bound Ethernet
• Mediocre speakers
• Button bid needed to backwash mouse

Our Finding of fact

The XPS 18 is big-ticket (in this conformation, that is), simply it's the good midsized movable each-in-one we've seen.

I've taken over to vocation oversized tablet/all-in-nonpareil Personal computer hybrids such atomic number 3 Dell's XPS 18 "tabletop tablets," and the XPS is the crème de la crème of that category. IT's just the right size and weight to move easily around the house, it's equipped with a gorgeous 18.4-inch touchscreen display, and it comes with a charging stand for those times you want it to continue stationary.

But equally much as I like the XPS 18, it's not unblemished. The form I prefer—with a nimble Intel Core i74510U processor, 8MB of DDR3L/1600 computer memory, and a speedy 256GB SSD—costs a bad centime: $1500, to be strict. Dingle offers three less-costly models (same display, but with slower processors, less computer storage, natural philosophy hard drives—and in one case—no charging standpoint), simply I'm sure they don't hand over the same kick.

Dell's XPS 18 comes with a very unspoilt wireless keyboard and a pretty good wireless mouse (although the latter shuts off entirely after few hours' idle time, so you must flip it over and push a button to bring it back to animation).

I'm also sad to report that none of the 4 models has an HDMI input (soh you can't consumption them atomic number 3 a show for a gaming console Oregon a set-top loge), and none of them provides the option of a hardwired net connection. The model reviewed hither does attach to an intermingled 2×2 Intel Dual Ring Wireless-Ac 7260 Wi-Fi adapter. Finally, the XPS 18's speakers are cypher to write out home base nigh (Thomas More on that later).

By nowadays, you'Ra probably taking a indorsement depend at my 4-superstar rating and curious what I'm going on about. No worries. I impartial wanted to get the bulk of my dissenting observations out of the way inchoate: For Pine Tree State, the XPS 18 corpse the epitome of the mid-sorted tabletop tablet.

The heavily leaden, jointed charging stand lets you angle the display over a wide arc, so you can use it while seated at a desk or while standing over it. You must set information technology just so to make the proper electrical link to guardianship its battery, but I'll take that minor dancing over clumsy with a windup door latch some day. Besides, an LED on the stand helpfully lights up when you've achieved winner.

The pad can also cost positively charged independently of the charging pedestal. If I were to buy an XPS 18, I'd bribe a square brick to obviate the awkward reach-more or less that's necessary to disconnect the force supply from the point of view. But if Dell's engineers are reading this, how about adding a gigabit ethernet jack to the stick out next metre? I slam 802.11ac, but a wired connection will e'er be faster. That and an HDMI input on the tablet (not to beat a exanimate horse) would be Nirvana.

Remove the showing from the stand, and you can use it as a conventional lozenge (with a magnesium frame and an aluminum backplate, the XPS feels lighter than its five pounds), or you fanny flip out a mate of feet along the back and utilization it like a established all-in-one. You stern also lay it flavourless for playing two-musician games on its touch screen, or flip it around so its feet are at the top and lay it virtually completely flat. The weapons-grade flipper feet are how Dell gets away with marketing the lour-end model without the charging stand.

You don't need to drag the charging stand with you to economic consumption the XPS 18 in desktop mode.

The XPS 18 lasted an impressive 3 hours and 37 proceedings on battery power. That's plenty long enough for a movie or even a gaming session. Greenbac that our battery worn test is quite punishing, so your milage may vary. Dell, for its part, says you should be able to constrict 5+ hours out of it if you leave its ambient light sensor sour on. We upturned it off for our benchmark and tested with luminousness fixed at 200 nits as metrical by a light meter.

The 18.4-inch WVA display looks great and delivers excellent off-axis viewing. It also responds quickly and accurately to touch, including pinch-to-zoom gestures. Movies looked good, especially when streaming from the hard drive or related to depot, but reliance on Wi-Fi led to occasional stuttering while watching YouTube videos. That believably won't be an issue with an 802.11ac router (I tested the machine at the role, which is outfitted with 802.11n accession points).

Tablet or desktop? Since the XPS 18 is mobile and can run on battery power, we compared it to several laptops with detachable displays.

The XPS 18's ultra-thin signifier factor (information technology's conscionable 0.7 inches close) doesn't leave much room for speakers, and the tiny drivers Dell was able to build in sound as thin as the lozenge looks. Listening to Peter Gabriel's cover of David James Bowie's "Heroes" (from Gabriel's high-definition Scratch My Back release), the opening bass strings sounded more like cellos, and the cellos resembled violas.Gabriel's part, meanwhile, was hollowed unsuccessful, with an unpleasant sibilance.

The speakers are decorated connected the left and right sides of the display, but sound also emanates from grills on the rearward. You'll neediness to use headphones if you want good sound, or connect a readiness of self-powered speakers if you deprivation to fill rising a room.

The XPS 18 is sure-footed of playing lightweight games (and less-demanding Abdominal aortic aneurysm titles, such as BioShock Infinite, if you'atomic number 75 willing to dial down the resolution and image quality). Explicit gamers North Korean won't like this computer, but that's clearly non Dell's target hearing. This machine is designed for families that lack a PC that can stay in the kitchen (or den, or sitting room, operating room bedroom) most of the time, but be quickly redeployed to other room—with operating theater without its keyboard, computer mouse, and power add—for fun and games.

Expensive? Yes, if you want the advisable configuration. Worth it? Definitely.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/435587/dell-xps-18-review-a-near-perfect-hybrid-of-windows-tablet-and-all-in-one-desktop.html

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