46 PCWorld FEBRUARY 2020REVIEWS DELL XPS 13 2-IN-1 VS. HP SPECTRE X360 13
Sure, Dell gives you a dongle, and it has
Thunderbolt 3 ports on both sides (which
means you can charge from either side), but
we can’t quit USB Type-A just yet. We know
what it’s like to be on the road and have to go
dongle-begging from others just to access a
USB memory stick.DISPLAY
The Dell’s 13.4-inch Sharp SHP14AF IPS panel
is simply spectacular. It puts out a blazing 550
nits, and text is perfectly crisp. The display
also includes EyeSafe technology (go.
pcworld.com/isfe), which purports to lower
sleep-stealing blue light emissions without
making it look like you just put on a pair of
brown-tinted sunglasses.
The Spectre x360 13t’s panel is a very
good 13.3-inch AU Optronics “IPS-like” panelthat can use as little as 1 watt
under many conditions. Its
maximum brightness is a
good 350 nits. Overall,
however, it’s just not quite as
lovely as the Dell’s.
The other point in Dell’s
column is the use of a
1920x1200 resolution, which
results in an aspect ratio of
16:10. That makes it slightly
taller than the 16:9 displays
used in most other 13-inch
laptops, and better for actual
work with open windows.
While the Spectre’s panel is fine and
commendably power-efficient, panel
aficionados will prefer the Sharp screen in
the Dell.
Winner: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390KEYBOARD AND TRACKPAD
Keyboards and trackpads are truly personal
experiences for most people, so it’s always a
little difficult to pass judgment. We will say
that Dell’s decision to go with a low-travel
“Maglev 2” keyboard continues to be
polarizing. Certainly not as polarizing as
Apple’s unreliable and now-abandoned
Butterfly series of keyboards, but it’s not what
you’re used to.
The Maglev 2 uses magnets to repel the
keys, which just sounds louder. When
everyone in the conference room gives youThe newest HP Spectre x360 13t (top) features a USB Type-A port
using a drop-down latch. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 (middle), throws
USB Type A under the bus. On the bottom is an older Spectre x 360 13t
with the fully exposed USB Type-A port.