Dell XPS 13: Beautiful Yet Powerful Laptop for Working at Home or on the Go

As a working mom who is constantly on the go, I need devices that work as hard as I do to keep up with the busy demands of clients, travel and parenting and one of my new favorites is the Dell XPS 13. Touted as the smallest 13-inch on the planet and featuring the world’s first 4K InfinityEdge display, this isn’t just some shiny new object whose function doesn’t match its form.

This machine is instantly appealing at first glance. Cut from a single block of aluminum, the sleek exterior (choose from gold or silver) almost makes it seem like more of an accessory than a high powered laptop. Sure, it’s pretty but beyond its looks it’s a powerful machine that helps me keep up with the demands of everyday life whether at home or on the road.

When I’m at home, I plug my XPS 13 into a 32” monitor that lets me have multiple windows open at once but sometimes I need to unplug it and take it to after school activities so I can finish writing posts, answer emails, or check in on social media accounts for clients. While I appreciate having a light and portable machine for home, it’s more necessary for work trips.

Traveling for work presents its own challenges but not with the XPS 13. In the past month it served as my primary device for local travel to a social media conference that came to Washington, D.C. and endured some heat in the Tucson desert.

Regardless if I’m at home, traveling locally, or taking a train or flying to my destination, I need a reliable machine that is compact and light. The size of the XPS 13 made it perfect for local client work and flying but traveling always presents its own challenges.

Traveling with the Dell XPS 13 & Must-Have Accessories

During the two days I was taking public transportation into Washington, D.C. for the conference, I knew I’d be carrying my XPS 13 with me all day. Even inside the Dell Premier Laptop Sleeve that I received with it, the 13” size was perfect for my purse.

Because of the XPS 13’s slim size (9-15 mm), I was still able to pack other essentials like the charger, external battery for my phone, wallet, car keys, camera, water bottle, etc. Normally a bag with these essentials can feel heavy after a day of carrying them on my shoulder but I attribute most of the weight to my old laptop that is a hefty 4.5 pounds versus the XPS 13 that weighs just under 2.7 pounds! I also didn’t want to leave anything to chance so I brought the charger for the XPS 13 with me although I could have left it at home because even after a day of heavy use, I came home at 10 pm with a laptop battery that was far from depleted.

For my trip to Tucson, I packed my XPS13 in the Dell Premier Backpack for five days of adventures and work in the desert. I always travel with a backpack for work trips and family travel because I like to have my hands free when on the go but features like multiple zipper compartments, lots of pockets, and a dedicated TSA friendly laptop compartment. Not all backpacks are created equally and I’m definitely picky when it comes to features. The Dell Premier Backpack was a dream to travel with because it helped keep the things I needed at my fingertips during my flights there and back.

Traveling with a light laptop in an organized fashioned was my savior on my way home from Tucson where I found myself running from gate to gate when my flight from Tucson to San Francisco landed as my flight home was boarding! Fortunately, the Dell XPS 13 didn’t weigh me down and it was far easier to run with the weight of my carry on evenly distributed across both shoulders! Luckily I made my flight and settled in to write during my trip home thanks to a machine that fit nicely on the tray table and had a long battery life that lasted throughout initial flight delays, additional time on the ground in San Francisco after I boarded, and a 5 hour cross country flight.

With a long battery life, I didn’t need to rely on the power outlets on the plane or the Dell Power Companion I brought along. The Dell Power Companion is an external battery that is designed to extend the battery life of the XPS 13 by 11 hours. I could use also use the dual USB ports to recharge my phone or a tablet. The Dell Power Companion is available in 18,000 or 12,000 mAh.

Summary

Beyond the gorgeous exterior, the Dell XPS 13 is a work horse that can handle the rigors of both working from home and on the road. It’s a great fit for my lifestyle and one Emily hopes I’ll give up soon so she can have it to herself!

If you’re shopping for a new laptop, I highly recommend the Dell XPS 13 but encourage you to read my 9 Features to Look for When Buying a New Laptop post so you can find one that fits your lifestyle and budget.

I am a member of the Dell Inside Circle influencer program and received my Dell XPS 13 for review purposes. No compensation was received for this post.