(*17*)’s XPS sequence is synonymous with type, efficiency and a excessive price ticket. Solely someday in the past the (*17*) XPS 13 Plus debuted with one of the crucial revolutionary designs ever seen within the laptop computer world. A completely seamless keyboard, a hidden but useful trackpad and a minimalist design had been a number of the highlights of the most recent (*17*) XPS 13 Plus. Nonetheless, evidently (*17*) has forgotten concerning the different laptops in its XPS sequence.
The (*17*) XPS 17 as an example, is one such laptop computer that has continued to obtain CPU, GPU and RAM upgrades. Nonetheless, the system’s general design has remained just about unchanged for a few years now. In 2017, (*17*) launched a serious overhaul to the design. Three years later, (*17*) up to date that design with a brand new chassis, a bigger show, a brand-new keyboard and so forth. Quick ahead to 2023, and the general design of the laptop computer stays the identical. So does the laptop computer nonetheless stay a worthy buy in 2023? Right here’s the reply.
(*17*) XPS 17 Evaluation: Design, Keyboard, Trackpad And I/O
As talked about earlier, the general design of the (*17*) XPS 17 is just like what we noticed on final 12 months’s mannequin. The 17-inch laptop computer has a mixture of black and silver themes. The highest lid has a really premium silver end. In the meantime, the laptop computer’s keyboard and deck space are painted in numerous shades of black.
The touchpad additionally matches properly with the general black theme and the 17-inch measurement of the laptop computer. Which is to say, it’s large and extra particularly large enough. It’s a glass floor precision touchpad and works with none points. But one concern you’ll discover is whereas lifting up the laptop computer lid. The chassis has no lid-opening groove so it’s troublesome to open the laptop computer. Primarily as a result of your fingers sort of battle to discover a place to latch on to. The keyboard alternatively works flawlessly. It makes use of a 60% structure however does characteristic navigation keys. The keys include a 1.3mm journey and they’re fairly quiet throughout regular operation.
One other enter technique on the laptop computer is thru the 17-inch contact display, which has a 60Hz refresh price and is decently responsive. It additionally has fairly skinny bezels even on the highest and backside of the display. To place it into numbers, the show has a 93.7% screen-to-body ratio, making it extremely immersive.
When it comes to dimensions, the (*17*) XPS 17 is nineteen.5mm thick and it’s not too thick all issues thought-about and weighs near 2.44kg. For comparability, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Extremely packs related specs however weighs near 1.79kg. But the added weight might be on account of a contact display and a beefed-up cooling system thanks to an enormous vapour chamber.
The I/O on the (*17*) XPS 17 is fairly streamlined. Primarily as a result of it options 4 Thunderbolt 4 USB Kind C Ports, a full-size SD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio/microphone jack. But (*17*) additionally consists of an adaptor with the laptop computer containing an HDMI 2.0 and a USB Kind-A slot. Which, I need to say, is a sight for sore eyes as a laptop computer consumer in 2023.
(*17*) XPS 17 Evaluation: Display screen, Audio system And Webcam
The 17-inch UHD+, also called 4k, show is vivid, punchy and vivid. As indicated by the “+” signal, the decision is larger than common 4K as a result of the show is in a 16:10 facet ratio and never the usual 16:9. And (*17*) has pulled a neat little trick right here. As a result of from the highest, the laptop computer appears like every other 16:9 laptop computer. But because it has no thick backside chin, it might accommodate a 16:10 show. Fairly good. I believe it additionally prevents (*17*) from making this laptop computer any extra large than it already is.
When it comes to show high quality and specs, (*17*) has outfitted the XPS 17 with an IPS LCD panel however it is extremely vivid. Its peak luminance got here out to be 475.9nits, with 160% sRGB, 97.5% DCI-P3 and 119.1% Adobe RGB color house protection. Merely put, the 17-inch UHD+ show reveals a wide selection of colors but it surely doesn’t showcase them precisely by default because the Delta E worth got here out to be 5.2. So in the event you’re planning on utilizing it professionally the display requires some calibration.
The (*17*) XPS 17 includes a quad-speaker setup together with two 2.5W woofers/audio system and two 1.5W tweeters, for a mixed output of 8W. And it’s a fairly good setup, the soundstage is large as you may hear a wide range of devices in any track. The bass on provide can also be fairly applicable and doesn’t overpower the speaker’s general sound. Audio system are loud as properly. For reference, I not too long ago examined the 15-inch MacBook Air and it had an ideal speaker setup however the (*17*) XPS 17 defeated it by way of quantity and bass. But the audio system sounded clearer in larger quantity on the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air.
But what’s disappointing is the truth that the webcam can solely shoot photographs in 720p. It looks like one thing that (*17*) unintentionally forgot about as a result of even funds laptops in 2023 come geared up with not less than a 1080p webcam. And within the premium section manufacturers like HP have taken up the lead by providing you with a 5MP AI-focused webcam.
(*17*) XPS 17 Evaluation: Battery Life And Charging
Within the PC Mark 10 battery life check, the (*17*) XPS 17 scored 8.5 hours of battery life with efficiency set to excessive and brightness at 100%. For a traditional workday, the (*17*) XPS 17 will final you a full day supplied you retain the brightness at 70% and efficiency in balanced mode. Regular looking doesn’t eat a number of battery however streaming movies does begin to eat an excellent chunk of it. And contemplating the general highly effective nature of the laptop computer, I’d advise you to maintain the charger inside attain particularly in the event you plan on utilizing it whereas touring.
(*17*) XPS 17 Evaluation: Gaming And Efficiency Evaluation
The (*17*) XPS 17 isn’t a gaming laptop computer, its primary focus, at the start, is as a creator machine. But you may nonetheless count on good gaming efficiency from it. Together with the Intel Core i9-13900H is an Nvidia RTX 4070 which has 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. But the GPU solely has a 70W TGP restrict. But that doesn’t imply that it might’t play video games. I examined some fashionable titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Gears 5 at 4k native decision and the laptop computer was simply in a position to run it at 60FPS.
Now, the (*17*) XPS 17 additionally has a characteristic that dynamically controls energy and cooling relying on whether or not you’re utilizing the laptop computer in your lap or on the desk. And that characteristic works principally, however in the event you’re gaming on the XPS 17 then the laptop computer’s underside will get fairly sizzling. Sizzling sufficient you could not preserve it in your lap anymore. But not sizzling sufficient that it’d begin making sizzling spots on the keyboard.
I extensively performed video games on the (*17*) XPS 17 and the one space which will get marginally sizzling is the mid-keyboard part. The palm relaxation space and the WASD keys stay decently cool. But the actual fact is that the laptop computer’s efficiency drops an honest bit in the event you push too laborious. As evident by the Cinebench R23 throttle check, the Core i9-13900H loses noticeable efficiency when put by way of a 10-minute throttle run.
Furthermore, throughout prolonged gameplay, the laptop computer did run into some software program bugs. Which very often compelled me to restart it. And it solely occurred whereas gaming so it might be as a result of GPU. However, mood your expectations in the event you’re shopping for this machine by pondering it’s a creator/gaming laptop computer. As a result of in reality, it’s the solely creator laptop computer that can be utilized for some informal gaming. I wish to additionally let you know that the laptop computer scored a implausible rating within the PC Mark 10 Prolonged benchmark suite. Individually scoring very excessive in digital content material creation and productiveness. Furthermore, the 1TB SSD onboard additionally aced the Crystal Disk Mark Velocity check. Reaching an excellent excessive rating of 6783.40MB/s and 5613.91MB/s learn and write velocity respectively.
Conclusion
Suffice it to say, the (*17*) XPS 17 works as a gaming laptop computer however performs rather well as a productiveness machine. And with a examined battery lifetime of round 8.5 hours with 100% display brightness, this hefty machine makes up for its weight with stable efficiency. Its UHD+ 4K show is vivid and crisp sufficient for me to not want for an OLED and its no bezel design mixed with the 16:10 facet ratio works tremendously within the laptop computer’s favour. The perfect-in-class audio system additionally work as a cherry on high of an already succesful machine. But its ageing design does restrict the potential the laptop computer’s {hardware} is packing. For Rs 3.65 lakh, the (*17*) XPS 17 is inoffensive when it ought to be an aggressive performer. But in the event you’re searching for an excellent ‘ol dependable Home windows machine with software program quirks and common thermal efficiency then (*17*) XPS 17 is an efficient selection.
