In January Dell updated its notebook lineup with the new XPS 13 ultrabook and new Alienware gaming laptops. At the time the company also promised a new Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Series Special Edition convertible notebook was on the way.
Now it’s here.
The new model is a lot like other members of the Inspiron 13 7000 Series lineup, but it features a few small differences. The laptop is now available from Dell for $750 and up.
The notebook features an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 Broadwell processor, a 13.3 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS touchscreen display, and a 360-degree hinge that lets you flip the screen back and hold the notebook like a tablet.
Each model features 8GB of RAM, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 43 WHr battery. The convertible notebook measures 13″ 8.74″ x 0.75″ and weighs 3.7 pounds.
Dell offers models with 500GB or 1TB hard drives or a 256GB solid state drive.
What sets the Special Edition series apart from Dell’s other Inspiron 13 7000 Series notebooks are the metal palm rest (instead of plastic), curved edges, and “diamond cut touch pad.”
On the other hand, the non-special version has a lower starting price. You can pick up a model with a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and a 1366 x 768 pixel display for $700.
I’d recommend paying the extra $50 for the Special Edition model though, since it has twice as much RAM and a higher-resolution display for nearly the same price.
One of the most underrated laptops on the market in my opinion, all that is missing is an SSD….
These are single channel ram and not upgradable. The XPS has dual channel which means 10-20% better performance in some applications.
Actually, “single channel ram” is what all RAM is, only chipsets support (or not support) multiple channels. But also, this RAM is fully upgradeable: https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Dell/inspiron-13-%287352%29
Dell has been producing much better laptops … like this and the XPS 13. Great to see. Wish they would put some battery life info on this.