Features & Specifications
In terms of power, the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook is pretty much the conventional ultrabook. The processor is the Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5-3317U clocking at 1.7GHz, with Turbo Boost taking it to 2.5GHz. We have seen this processor in a lot of ultrabooks since the summer of 2012. There is 4GB RAM along with that.
For storage, the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook offers a 128GB SSD, which is a fairly quick drive, something that will talk about in detail in the Performance section.
The Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook’s 12.5-inch display has a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. From the outset, the performance is very impressive. It was a fear that this resolution on a small display may actually be detrimental, but in this case, those fears don’t hold true. Text has been adequately enlarged so that it doesn’t become too small. Colour handling is extremely good. The brightness level is slightly lesser than the likes of the Samsung Series 5 and the Toshiba Satellite U840, but is more in line with the HP Envy 4-1002tx. Auto brightness, when activated, makes a profound difference, something that isn’t visible to this extent on most other ultrabook. Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook handles video playback brilliantly, and you can jump forward and back on an HD video timeline without any lag or stutter.
However, the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook’s display’s black levels, specifically, could have been a bit better. The only niggle that will become quite a bother for some users is the reflective nature of the display. Even at full brightness, you will still be getting reflections off the ambient environment
The convertible feature of the XPS 12 is something that you are definitely paying a premium for, because you can get a similarly performing (or even better) ultrabook for lesser. The display can go back 180 degrees, and come back the same way. While you may not really use this in most cases, the suits in a corporate setup would love showing this off to those terrified minions huddled across the table! Alternatively, swivel the display and close it on its head and what you have is essentially a tablet. While it is all fair and good as a tablet, a 12.5-inch display size with the weight of what is essentially a full-fledged ultrabook makes this a tad too heavy for that usage pattern.
Windows 8 works brilliantly with touch, but that isn’t to say that those who are using it with the keyboard and touchpad hardware are missing out on anything. For the tablet mode, the usage is quite fun, but the sheer bulk of the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook restricts convenience.