Head-To-Head: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Vs. Lenovo X1 Yoga 2017

2-in-1 Face-Off

One of the things that was clear coming out of CES 2017: The craze around 2-in-1 convertible laptops is not going away this year. Lenovo, whose Yoga line of laptops pioneered the convertible concept, unveiled a second-generation update to the X1 Yoga at CES in January. Also at CES, Dell launched the first-ever 2-in-1 version of its popular XPS 13. For those in the market for a new 2-in-1, which is a better fit? In the following slides, the CRN Test Center breaks down how the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the Lenovo X1 Yoga 2017 match up on specs and price.

Display

The first difference between the two laptops is on the size of the displays -- the XPS 13 measures 13.3 inches, while the X1 Yoga is a bit larger at 14 inches. Both laptops feature touch-screen displays and, of course, are convertible, with the ability to fold the display back all or part of the way. Beyond that, Dell and Lenovo have provided some options to choose from on the display. To start with, the XPS 13 2-in-1 comes in FHD (1,920 x 1,080 resolution) or QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800 resolution) variations. Both are InfinityEdge displays with practically no bezel on the top and sides.

The X1 Yoga for 2017 has three options for type of display. At the top end is the OLED WQHD (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) option. There's also an option for WQHD IPS, as well as a FHD IPS (1,920 x 1,080 resolution) configuration for the new X1 Yoga.

Processor

For the 2-in-1 version of the XPS 13, Dell has favored low-power processors -- the seventh-gen Y-series Intel Core processors (formerly known as Core M), which don't require a fan and can aid with battery life. Specifically, the laptop's processor options are for the Core i5-7Y54 (up to 3.2GHz) or Core i7-7Y75 (up to 3.6GHz).

The X1 Yoga 2017 opts for seventh-gen U-Series Intel Core processors, which offer more horsepower but fewer benefits around battery life and form factor (i.e., they require a fan). The processor options include Core i5-7300U vPro (up to 3.5GHz), Core i7-7560U (up to 3.8GHz) and Core i7-7660U vPro (up to 4GHz). Lenovo also offers several other seventh-gen U-Series Core processor options for the new X1 Yoga.

Battery Life

As mentioned, achieving strong battery life was a key reason for Dell's decision around processors for the XPS 13 2-in-1, and the company is touting 15 hours of battery life on a charge for the laptop (which has a 46Whr battery). That easily beats the 10.5 hours of battery life promised by Lenovo for the OLED version of the X1 Yoga 2017.

For non-OLED versions of the new X1 Yoga, however, Lenovo is promising even higher battery life than the XPS 13 2-in-1 -- 15.5 hours. That suggests the company has included a sizable battery in the new X1 Yoga -- as Lenovo did with the recently released Yoga 910 -- although the specific size of the battery hasn't been disclosed.

Thickness And Weight

The XPS 13 2-in-1 benefits from having a fanless processor in another way: The processor enables a very slim body. The XPS 13 2-in-1 measures just 0.54 of an inch thick. By contrast, the OLED version of the new X1 Yoga comes in at 0.69 of an inch thick, while the non-OLED version has a thickness of 0.67 of an inch.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 also has the edge on lightness, weighing in at 2.7 pounds. The non-OLED X1 Yoga is verging on a half-pound heavier, at 3.13 pounds, while the OLED version weighs 2.99 pounds.

Memory And Storage

Lenovo has said only that that new X1 Yoga comes with up to 16 GB of RAM, while Dell has specified that the XPS 13 2-in-1 has configurations of 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB available.

Both laptops offer a number of configurations on storage -- with variations for 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB in each case.

Ports And Pens

Lenovo's Yoga X1 includes a wider range of port options, with two USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt 3, three USB-A ports, HDMI, microSD and microSIM. Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1, by comparison, relies on two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 3 support) and microSD for its connectivity -- although Dell says it packages a USB-C to USB-A adapter with the laptop.

Both laptops are built to work well with digital pens. In the case of the X1 Yoga, the pen is included with the laptop, and in fact is stored in the side of the laptop's base. Dell's Active Pen, meanwhile, is sold separately from the XPS 13 2-in-1.

Price And Availability

Not all of the details are out yet on the pricing and availability for the 2017 edition of the X1 Yoga. During CES, Lenovo said the laptop would be available in February but hasn't set a specific date. The company also said only that the X1 Yoga will come with a starting price of $1,499. The OLED version can be expected to fetch a higher premium, as can X1 Yoga models with the fastest Intel Core i7 processors, 16 GB of RAM and higher amounts of storage.

For the XPS 13 2-in-1, which is available now, Dell has a number of configurations that are less expensive than the starting price of the X1 Yoga. The convertible XPS 13 has a starting price of $999.99 at the lowest end, for a model with Intel Core i5-7Y54, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. At the top-end standard configuration, Dell is offering a model with an Intel Core i7-7Y75 processor, 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage for $1,799.99.