Dell XPS 11 and 12 Core i3 convertible laptops

Dell has a pair of uniquely placed ultraportable convertible laptops in the XPS 11 and 12. While they each have their own individual pros and cons, they also have much in common, including a huge limited-time coupon that drops the price of each to just $850. That matches (for the 11) or exceeds (for the 12) the best prices we’ve ever seen.


Both laptops are powerful and versatile. They are both powered by (slightly different) Core i3 processors, 4GB of RAM, and a speedy 80GB solid state drive. Wireless is strong with Intel dual-band wireless-AC and Bluetooth 4.0, the battery is rock solid at just under nine hours, and each sports a touchscreen built from scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass NBT. You’re also getting a pair of USB 3.0 ports and built-in NFC no matter which way you go. The XPS 11 and XPS 12 definitely both deliver strong performance as well as portability and touch-friendliness.

These laptops are not the same, though, and one of the big differentiators you’ll notice on the XPS 11 is the incredible 11.6-inch QHD 2560×1440 resolution, resulting in one of the best pixel densities you’ll see in a laptop. Weighing 2.5 pounds and measuring around half-an-inch thin, it’s also markedly more portable. It includes an HDMI port as well, which is often a must for a lot of multimedia setups. The XPS 11 makes use of a fluid hinge design to convert between four possible modes, including tablet, stand (pictured above), tent and laptop mode, similar to Lenovo’s Yoga line.
The XPS 12 also has a rotating hinge, but it looks nothing like the hinge on the XPS 11, with a unique flipping design that lets you rotate the display without moving the keyboard (pictured right). The display resolution here is 1080p, but at 170 degrees, it touts 10-degree wider viewing angles than the higher-resolution XPS 11. While there’s no HDMI, there is a DisplayPort, which is generally harder to find. At 12.5 inches, the form factor is obviously a little bigger here, but it’s still very portable at 3.35 pounds.
Dell has designed these laptops with a mix of machined aluminum and carbon fiber for a luxury feel, and the XPS 12 even includes extras like a full year of McAfee LiveSafe. Both models are backed by a year of Dell’s enhanced support. Grab these portable multi-mode laptops while this big savings lasts.