How is the touchpad quality on the Dell XPS 13 Plus?
The Dell XPS 13 Plus features an innovative invisible haptic touchpad that blends seamlessly into the palm rest. While visually striking, it has received mixed reviews for reliability.
How It Works
Instead of a mechanical clicking mechanism, piezoelectric actuators create vibration that simulates a click sensation. The entire palm rest functions as the touchpad—there are no visible boundaries.
What Works Well
- Large surface area: Expansive tracking area for comfortable gestures
- Clean aesthetic: Seamless modern design
- Multi-touch: Standard Windows gestures work smoothly
- Glass-like finish: Smooth finger glide
Documented Issues
Some users experience:
- Haptic malfunction: Sound but no physical feedback sensation
- Auto-clicking: Touchpad clicks repeatedly without input
- Uneven response: Haptic strength varies across surface
- Drag interruption: Invisible boundaries make dragging difficult
- Inconsistent force: Pressure required for clicks varies
Fixes
| Solution | Effectiveness | |----------|---------------| | Firmware update (2023.12.13.946+) | Improves reliability significantly | | BIOS update | Essential for compatibility | | Sensitivity adjustment | Helps some users | | Hardware replacement | Required for persistent issues |
The Verdict
The touchpad works well for many users, but others experience persistent issues requiring palmrest replacement. If coming from a traditional trackpad, expect an adjustment period.
Recommendation: Test thoroughly during your return window. Consider keeping an external mouse for precision work.
Considering the ?
Here's our "TLDR" Review
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More Answers
If you're still curious about the , here are some other answers you might find interesting:
How accurate are the colors on the Dell XPS 13 Plus OLED display?
The Dell XPS 13 Plus OLED display delivers exceptional color accuracy that rivals professional monitors—outstanding for creative work straight out of the box.
Color Accuracy
| Metric | Value | Interpretation | |--------|-------|----------------| | Average Delta-E | 0.21 | Near perfect | | Minimum Delta-E | 0.18 | Exceptional | | Maximum Delta-E | 2.20 | Still excellent |
Delta-E measures difference between displayed and reference colors. Scores below 1.0 are professional-grade—the XPS achieves 0.21, meaning differences are imperceptible to the human eye.
Color Gamut Coverage
| Color Space | Coverage | Use Case | |-------------|----------|----------| | sRGB | 100% | Web, general content | | DCI-P3 | 100% | Cinema, modern devices | | Adobe RGB | 96% | Print photography | | NTSC | 94% | Broadcast |
What This Means
- Photos and graphics display exactly as intended
- Colors reliable for professional work without calibration
- Skin tones and gradients render accurately
- HDR content displays beautifully
- Professional photographers can trust what they see
Comparison
| Display | Color Accuracy | Notes | |---------|----------------|-------| | XPS 13 Plus OLED | Delta-E 0.21 | Professional-grade | | MacBook Air M2 | Delta-E ~0.5 | Very good | | Most laptop LCDs | Delta-E 2-4 | Consumer-grade | | Pro monitors (BenQ SW) | Delta-E ~0.3 | Similar |
Do You Need to Calibrate?
For most users, factory calibration is excellent. Professional photographers doing critical print work may benefit from hardware calibration (X-Rite, Datacolor SpyderX), but it's not necessary for most workflows.
What docking station works best with the Dell XPS 13 Plus?
With only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a docking station is essential for most XPS 13 Plus users wanting full desktop connectivity.
Premium Thunderbolt Docks
Dell WD22TB4 (~$350)
- Best Dell compatibility
- Up to 130W power delivery with ExpressCharge
- Dual 4K @ 60Hz display support
- 3× USB-A, 2× USB-C, HDMI, DP, Ethernet, SD, audio
- View prices →
CalDigit TS4 (~$400)
- Premium build quality
- 18 total ports (5× USB-A, 3× USB-C)
- 98W charging, 2.5Gb Ethernet
- SD and microSD slots
- View prices →
Plugable TBT4-UD5 (~$280)
- Best value premium dock
- 13 ports, Dual 4K HDMI
- 96W power delivery
- Tom's Guide "Best Docking Station 2024"
- View prices →
Mid-Range Options
Anker 777 (~$150)
- Portable USB-C hub
- HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, SD
- 85W pass-through charging
- View prices →
Budget Options ($30-60)
USB-C adapters from Anker, Ugreen, Amazon Basics provide basic HDMI, USB-A, and SD expansion.
Selection Criteria
| Factor | Recommendation | |--------|----------------| | Power delivery | 90W+ for charging under load | | Display support | Verify 4K @ 60Hz | | Interface | Thunderbolt 4 for best performance | | Compatibility | Dell docks work best with XPS |
Is the Dell XPS 13 Plus good for photo and video editing?
The Dell XPS 13 Plus OLED is excellent for photo editing and capable for moderate video editing. Here's what creative professionals should know.
Photo Editing: Excellent
Display Quality
- 3.5K OLED: 100% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB, 96% Adobe RGB
- Delta-E ~0.21 (near-perfect color accuracy)
- Perfect blacks for exceptional shadow detail
- Touch screen useful for selections and retouching
Performance
- Intel Core i7 handles Lightroom/Photoshop smoothly
- 16-32GB RAM processes RAW files efficiently
- Fast NVMe SSD speeds import/export
- Sufficient for batch processing
Video Editing: Capable with Limitations
| Task | Performance | |------|-------------| | 1080p editing | Smooth | | 4K editing | Requires proxies | | Short-form content | Good | | Long-form/effects | Limited | | Rendering | Slower than discrete GPU |
Limitations
- Intel Iris Xe lacks dedicated GPU acceleration
- DaVinci Resolve GPU features limited
- Extended exports drain battery
- Not ideal for professional 4K workflows
Who Should Choose This Laptop
Ideal for:
- Photographers needing accurate colors + portability
- Light video work and social content
- Designers (graphics, web)
- Mobile-first creatives
Consider alternatives if:
- Professional 4K video work
- Heavy effects/motion graphics
- GPU acceleration required
Recommendation
For creative work, choose the OLED model despite lower battery life. The color accuracy is genuinely professional-grade.
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