Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 review: great design and build with Windows Hello-compatible fingerprint reader, but pricier than comparable HP Spectre x360 configurations
Andrew Cunningham / Ars Technica :
Context & Ripple Effects
The premium convertible field keeps getting measured against one machine. When Ars reviewed the Lenovo Yoga 910 last November, the verdict was strong display and bezels but a price above HP's Spectre x360; the new XPS 13 2-in-1 lands in the same spot — praised design and build, Windows Hello-ready fingerprint reader, yet costlier than comparable Spectre configurations.
That matters because Dell built its XPS reputation on value: the original $799 XPS 13 was framed as good value despite pricey high-res options. A 2-in-1 variant that cedes the price argument to HP marks a shift from undercutting the segment to out-designing it at a premium.
First-order effects
- Shoppers comparing 13-inch convertibles right now get a clear verdict: the XPS 13 2-in-1 wins on design and build quality but loses the config-for-config price comparison to the HP Spectre x360, putting the burden on Dell to justify the delta.
- Windows Hello-compatible biometric login is treated as expected equipment rather than a differentiator — the review credits the fingerprint reader without letting it offset the price gap.
Second-order effects
- HP's Spectre line solidifies its role as the segment's price benchmark: two consecutive rival flagships (Lenovo's Yoga 910, now Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1) reviewed as costing more than equivalent Spectre x360 configurations, which pressures both to discount or re-spec rather than reposition.
- Security-forward positioning emerges as the escape hatch from pure price war — HP's own Elitebook x360, months later, leans on hardware-embedded security and a privacy screen at a $1,279 starting price instead of competing on raw specs.
Third-order effects
- If the pattern holds, premium 2-in-1 competition migrates from who has the thinnest bezel or best hinge toward price-per-configuration and built-in security features, with HP holding the reference position and rivals forced to either match Spectre pricing or argue their premium buys something Spectre doesn't offer.
The trend: In premium Windows convertibles, HP's Spectre x360 has become the price-and-feature yardstick that every major rival 2-in-1 — Lenovo's Yoga 910, now Dell's XPS 13 — gets measured against in review after review.