JUNE 2020 PCWorld 49but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same.
Some vendors, including Dell, may employ
software tricks to enhance 720p video
quality. Others,
including
Apple (go.
pcworld.com/
mp20), appear
to be caught
flat-footed with
inferior 720p
output. While a
1080p webcam
may seem like a
desirable
upgrade,
remember that
the higher
resolution
creates a larger data file—which may end
up getting compressed by applications
such as Zoom anyway.
We compared the XPS 13
9300’s webcam module to that
of six other laptops, including
HP’s Elite Dragonfly and the Dell
XPS 13 2-in-1 7390. All feature
720p cameras, and all
performed adequately. We’d
give the Elite Dragonfly a slight
edge. Most of the webcams
produced overly compressed
imagery typical of their tiny
sensors and optics. In the end,
the XPS 13 9300 produces
perfectly fine video for your
Zoom videoconferences.The keyboard is good ol’ traditional dome, and it feels great.
Dell’s new XPS 13 9300 features a single thick heat pipe, two
fans, plus a standard M.2 slot.