Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Dell’s XPS 13 has been one of the best Windows laptops for quite some time. Each year, Dell refreshes the device with new internals and a progressively improved design. Usually, we see iterative improvements and smaller refinements that result in a well-reviewed laptop.
Dell took a different approach with the XPS 13 Plus. The company made radical changes, but rather than introduce them to the well-received XPS 13 lineup, it created a Plus variant of the device.
The XPS 13 Plus looks a bit like if you took a time machine and checked out an XPS 13 from 2025. It has a seamless glass haptic trackpad, a zero-lattice keyboard, and a row of light-up function keys that can swap over to multimedia buttons.
We want to know if you like the radical redesign of the XPS 13 Plus or if you prefer the more traditional look of the XPS 13.
The touchpad of the XPS 13 Plus has caused quite a bit of controversy. Some argue that since the device has no visible indicators of where the trackpad is, people won’t know where to place their hands. Others counter that sentiment by highlighting that many modern touchpads don’t have lines or icons for left and right-click and that people seem to use those without issue.
The LED function keys have also drawn criticism, with comparisons being made to Apple’s Touch Bar. Those aren’t exactly fair, however, since the function row of the XPS 13 Plus isn’t dynamic. It isn’t trying to adapt to different apps, and it doesn’t require a separate processor like the Touch Bar did. Instead, users can toggle between F keys and media keys.
The keyboard design of the XPS 13 Plus also allows the laptop to dissipate heat more efficiently. Even with that benefit, some would prefer a traditional row of function keys.
Pitting the XPS 13 Plus vs. the XPS 13 is a trendy topic right now, and we’d like to know which side of the aisle you fall on. Let us know in the poll above and explain your reasoning in the comments below.
