Dell XPS 14 (Core i7-3517U Processor 1.9GHz, 8GB RAM) - CNET

Dell's first Ultrabook, the XPS 13, may have arrived later than its competitors, but it stood out for its clean design and solid aluminum and carbon-fiber construction. The company now aims to replicate the formula with a slightly larger 14-inch version. With a similar aesthetic and premium materials, could Dell do it again with the XPS 14?

At first glance, the XPS 14 seems just like a bigger version of the XPS 13.
(Credit: Vincent Chang/CNET Asia)

Upside

Our biggest issue with the Dell XPS 13 was its screen. Yes, it was great to have an edge-to-edge screen reinforced by Corning Gorilla Glass, but its glossy nature didn't help the poor offaxis viewing angles on the XPS 13. Thankfully, the screen on the Dell XPS 14 has been improved.

The screen resolution gets a bump from 1,366 x 768 pixels on the XPS 13 to 1,600 x 900 pixels on the 14-inch version. The 400-nit screen is also one of the brightest we have seen on a laptop. However, it's still far from perfect--offaxis viewing could be better and the colors aren't as vibrant as other screens.

From this angle, the XPS 14 looks thick, though the LED indicator is a nice touch.
(Credit: Vincent Chang/CNET Asia)

Dell also mentioned that the edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass on the XPS 14 is the improved version that has been making its way into the latest tech gadgets, such as the Samsung Galaxy S III.

The design of the XPS 14 is mostly similar to the 13-inch version, which is a good thing. Gone, however, is the slim, tapered profile of the XPS 13. This 14 incher may be only a few millimeters thicker, but its uniform thickness gives the XPS 14 a heftier feel.

With Ivy Bridge processors now the standard for new laptops, it's no surprise that the Dell offers Core i5 and i7 variants for the XPS 14. Unlike the XPS 13, the new Ultrabook also comes with optional discrete graphics in the form of Nvidia's GeForce GT 630M. This graphics chip supports graphics-switching technology that toggles between the integrated and the discrete graphics, depending on the workload. It's a mainstream part that should have better performance in games than the integrated graphics on the typical Ultrabook.

But it just doesn't feel that Dell went far enough--this should have been at least an Nvidia GeForce GT 640M if Dell had wanted to make a case for its graphics performance.

Downside

At around 2.1kg, this 14-inch Ultrabook is surprisingly heavy. When 15-inch laptops such as the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 weighs just 200g more, Dell's got a problem. No doubt, it makes for a very solid, almost rugged feel, but it doesn't seem like something you'll want to carry on a daily basis.

The standard Dell XPS 14 configuration comes with a hybrid HDD that meets Intel's Ultrabook requirement. It's a downgrade from the XPS 13, but we can understand that a larger, less portable laptop that could be intended as a desktop replacement may favor storage capacity over performance. Besides, consumers can opt to upgrade to a proper SSD. As it is, the hybrid HDD is rated at 5,400rpm, which isn't that fast, even with the aid of its 32GB SSD cache.

A major flaw of the XPS 13 is the lack of an SD card slot. Thankfully, Dell has included it on its 14-inch Ultrabook
(Credit: Vincent Chang/CNET Asia)

Optical drives are definitely looking like a dead-end on laptops and we weren't too concerned that this 14-inch Ultrabook doesn't have one. However, we would have appreciated more USB ports--there's clearly space, as one side of the XPS 14 only has a microphone jack, SD card slot and Kensington lock. Meanwhile, the other side has the power, Ethernet, HDMI and mini DisplayPort, together with two USB 3.0 ports.

We could do with more than just two USB 3.0 ports.
(Credit: Vincent Chang/CNET Asia)

Outlook

The Dell XPS 14 is available now online at a starting price of S$1,399, though this base version won't come with discrete graphics. While it's more expensive than competing 14-inch Ultrabooks such as the S$1,299 HP Envy 4, it does feel more solidly built, and has a higher resolution screen. The weight, however, could be a deal breaker for some.