Travel Essentials: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

There are a few essentials I take on every trip — a laptop is one of them. Having travelled to over 40 countries, it’s the one thing I never leave home without. As glamorous as the job title “travel blogger” sounds, there’s a ton of work that goes along with what I do so I need my mobile office wherever I go. To write and research stories, edit and store photos and keep up with all of the fun office admin (oh the joys of invoices and exploding inboxes). I digress… Back to the laptop situation: I’ve always lugged around a heavy beast and admired travellers who whip out their thin, lightweight devices at airport lounges, cafes and on public transit. I dreamed the dream that I, too, would one day own a sleek device. Well friends, that day has come {cue the angel music}. Allow me to introduce you to my new travel buddy, the glorious Dell XPS 13 2-in-1…

Yup, you read right: 2-in-1. This beaut is not only a laptop, but it’s also a tablet. Oh, and it just so happens to be the smallest 13 inch 2-in-1 on the planet. But don’t be fooled by its size — it’s fast (7th Gen Intel® Core i7 processor), has plenty of storage space (up to 1TB) and the viewing experience is on point. If you’re in the market for a new laptop (especially if you’re an avid traveller like me), the Dell XPS 13 is for you. Here’s why:

1. It’s Versatile. When you spend as much time on the computer as I do, you need one that goes far beyond a traditional desktop device. The Dell XPS 13 does exactly that with its four modes. I personally like to switch things up a bit when I travel and use the tablet mode for social media, the stand mode to read books/newspapers or watch movies on flights, the tent mode to stream Little L’s cartoon marathons as he masters tummy time and the laptop mode for all the serious stuff (emails and such).

2. It’s Silent. This is a huge deal for me especially when I’m focused on writing (I’m one of those people who needs complete silence when working — good times with a newborn lol). There are no fans in the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 which = no noise!! Those sitting next to you on planes/trains/public transit will love you for the quiet ride.

3. It Has A Long Battery Life. Hallelujah. There’s nothing worse than a dead laptop. Especially in a foreign country when you can’t find a plug (or worse: you forgot your adaptor). The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 can go for up to 15 hours when using Word/Excel or up to 9 hours when streaming video content. Woot!

4. The Image Quality Is Incred. Ok, this feature is very important to me. With an UltraSharp Quad HD+ display that has 5.7 million pixels, an innovative InfinityEdge display (the border is razor-thin… only 5.2mm!!) and an anti-reflective coating (hello, working outside!) it is a dreamy device for the aesthetically inclined.

5. It’s Pretty, Really Pretty. Who said looks don’t matter? Just like a beaut outfit brightens up the day, this elegantly designed laptop will put a pep in your step. Made with premium materials like machined aluminum, carbon fiber and hardened Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBTTM, Dell managed to create a device that is durable without compromising the design. I really love the backlit keyboard (great for red-eye flights), the sleek Active Pen (which is insanely precise), the eye-popping screen that goes right to the edge and how remarkably thin the device is…

After analyzing every inch of the laptop, I only found two things I’d change to make it absolutely perfect: the camera placement (it’s kinda awkward in my opinion) and the opening mechanism (I find it a bit tricky to open it up into lap top mode). Everything else about the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is truly on point. It’s a beautifully-crafted machine that I plan to take everywhere with me and one I’d highly recommend if you’re looking for a sleek, high performing laptop (starts at $1,499.99 CAD).

A huge thanks to Dell Canada for sending over the Dell XPS 2-in-1 and sponsoring this post. As always, reviews and opinions are my own. I truly love this laptop and would highly recommend it!!