XPS 13, Latitude 9510 and an Alienware monitor: Dell's new products from CES
Two notebooks, a gaming monitor and new software are the most exciting CES innovations from PC manufacturer Dell.
The new edition of the XPS 13 and the Latitude 9510 are the latest notebooks from Dell, with the Latitude also available as a convertible with a touchscreen. They are joined by a monitor from the gaming brand Alienware and a programme designed to connect your smartphone more closely with your Dell computer.
XPS 13 (9300): Black or white
The XPS 13 is Dell's flagship notebook and is being updated for CES. This ranges from the display to the hardware and connections to the materials used. Aluminium, carbon and glass fibres, among other things, are to ensure a robust housing that still looks elegant and is light. According to Dell, the laptop weighs 1.2 kilograms - 1.27 kilograms if you want it with a touchscreen.
The 13.4-inch display with an aspect ratio of 16:10 is said to have particularly narrow edges. Dell calls it the InfinityEdge display and has calculated a screen-to-body ratio of 91.5 per cent. There is a 4K version with 3840×2400 pixels and a Full HD+ version with 1920×1200 pixels, which is also available with an optional touchscreen.
The XPS 13 will also be available in several other hardware variants. Dell is installing the latest generation of Intel's Core i processors. Namely the Core i3-1005G1, the Core i5-1035G1 or the Core i7-1065G7. The RAM is 4, 8, 16 or 32 gigabytes in size and the built-in SSD has a capacity of 256 or 512 gigabytes or 1 or 2 terabytes.
With the 52 watt-hour battery, Dell is aiming for a runtime of up to 19 hours - with Full HD+ resolution. The power supply has an output of 45 watts and a USB-C connector. There is a USB-C port (Thunderbolt 3) on the right and left of the XPS 13 chassis. There is also a 3.5 mm connection and a microSD card slot. A USB-C to USB-A adapter is included in the scope of delivery.
The XPS 13 features Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. With dimensions of 14.8×295.7×198.7 millimetres, Dell says it has made the individual keys on the keyboard and the touchpad larger compared to its predecessor.
The new Dell XPS 13 (9300) will be available from 7 January in Germany and Switzerland, among other countries. The cheapest configuration starts at 1000 dollars in the USA. You can choose between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro for the operating system. The XPS 13 Developer Edition with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS will also be released later. However, the launch date, exact configuration and price of the Linux notebook are still unclear.
Latitude 9510: Laptop or 2-in-1
The new Dell Latitude 9510 is available as a classic laptop or as a 2-in-1 device, where you can rotate the display 360 degrees and then hold a tablet in your hands. You can also choose between Windows 10 Pro and Home for the operating system. Dell also plans to offer an Ubuntu version from May 2020.
The display is 15 inches in size and has a Full HD resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. In the 2-in-1 version of the Latitude 9510, Dell has installed a touchscreen that also recognises styluses. The notebook should be available from the end of March. However, the exact configuration remains vague.
So far, Dell has only revealed the maximum possible configuration: Intel Core i7-1065G7, 16 gigabytes of RAM and an SSD with 1 terabyte of storage space. There are also three battery options: 4 cells with 52 watt hours and ExpressCharge, 6 cells with 88 watt hours and ExpressCharge as well as a promised runtime of over 30 hours or 4 cells with 52 watt hours and a long-life battery. Conversely, this means that the batteries with ExpressCharge last less. As the battery is not supposed to be replaceable by the customer, it may be worth foregoing the quick charge here.
The Latitude 9510 supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5, and you can optionally equip it with an LTE or 5G modem. However, the latter is only available for the convertible version and only from July 2020. Three USB-C ports are available with one USB 3.1 Gen 1 and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. There is also an HDMI 2.0 socket.
The new Latitude 9510 should be available at the end of March. Dell has not yet provided any information on prices.
Alienware 25 gaming monitor
Alienware, Dell's gaming division, is keeping a low profile at CES. However, with the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor (AW2521HF), there is at least one innovation from the gaming sector. The screen has a refresh rate of 240 hertz and a response time of 1 millisecond. The IPS display has a Full HD resolution and covers 99 per cent of the sRGB colour space according to the manufacturer. Apart from the bottom edge, Dell also praises the narrow bezel.
The Alienware 25 is said to be even easier and better to adjust than the brand's previous monitors. The flat stand is designed to fit under a keyboard. The screen is compatible with AMD Radeon FreeSync and G-Sync from Nvidia. You can always see how well your system is performing on the integrated FPS counter.
The Alienware 25 will be available from 11 March. Its price is still unclear.
Connection to the smartphone
"Dell Mobile Connect" is the name of the new software that Dell wants to bring to its computers free of charge from March 2020 at the latest. The purpose of the programme is to establish a connection with your smartphone via Bluetooth in order to copy files, reply to messages or mirror apps - regardless of whether Android or iOS is running on your mobile phone. Of course, this only makes sense if you are not satisfied with the on-board Windows tools, which offer similar functions.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.