Re: Dell XPS 15 2 in 1 2018 Edition
Dell XPS 15 9575 (i5-8305G, Vega M GL, FHD) Convertible Review
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-...ega-M-GL-FHD-Convertible-Review.296996.0.html
Pros
+consistently strong CPU and GPU performance; no major throttling
+rigid chassis and lid; familiar aluminum XPS design
+bright display backlight; almost full sRGB coverage
+cooler surface temperatures than the XPS 15 9560
+cooler core temperatures than the XPS 15 9560
+4x USB Type-C ports, 2x full-lane Thunderbolt 3
+accessible internals; upgradeable M.2 SSD
+quieter fans than the XPS 15 9560
+Power button fingerprint reader
+long battery life
Cons
-forced Kaby Lake-G; no Kaby Lake, Kaby Lake-R, GeForce, or Coffee Lake-H options
-must rely on adapters for USB Type-A, HDMI, RJ-45, and more
-grease will accumulate very quickly on the black surfaces
-pulse-width modulation on lower brightness levels
-slow black-white and gray-gray response times
-smaller battery capacity than the XPS 15 9560
-slow write performance from Toshiba SSD
-Maglev keys feel awkward when gaming
-select games run slower than expected
-very warm WASD keys when gaming
-no more secondary HDD options
-suboptimal webcam placement
-soft clickpad keys
-no SIM options
-soldered RAM
-pricey
Verdict
In review: Dell XPS 15 9575 Core i5-8305G
The XPS 15 9575 is supposed to translate the standard XPS 15 9560 into a formidable convertible without sacrificing what makes the original so popular. From this perspective, the new XPS is a success as it certainly feels like a classic XPS 15 in terms of quality and rigidity but with the added versatility of a 2-in-1 form factor. It's good to see that the chassis remains as strong as ever in the transition to a thinner design. If you love the XPS 15 9560, then the XPS 15 9575 will feel very familiar.
Performance-wise, the Core i5-8305G CPU and Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU are comparable to the Core i7-7700HQ and GTX 1050, respectively, often by just single-digit percentage points in benchmarks. Dell is absolutely aware of this as the current XPS 15 9560 configuration with the i7-7700HQ CPU and GTX 1050 GPU retails for exactly the same price of $1500 USD as our XPS 15 9575 configuration but with twice the RAM (8 GB vs. 16 GB) and twice the storage (256 GB vs. 512 GB). Thus, there's no question that users are paying a premium for the convertible form factor, touchscreen, and unique Kaby Lake-G SoC of the XPS 15 9575. We've queried Dell multiple times on a potential Kaby Lake-R or GeForce version of the XPS convertible, but the focus at the moment is solely on providing the best Kaby Lake-G experience possible and the 9575 has certainly met our expectations on that front.
The price and spec differences are obvious, but what about temperatures, noise, and battery life? To our surprise, the XPS 15 9575 runs cooler, quieter, and sometimes longer than the XPS 15 9560 when browsing, word processing, or gaming. It's an achievement worth praising because the XPS convertible is on par with the XPS 15 in terms of CPU and GPU power while simultaneously being thinner and with a smaller battery.
The forced Maglev keyboard is hit or miss. It's a significant change from the XPS 15 9560 and it doesn't work as well for the smaller half-sized Arrow keys or Function keys compared to the main QWERTY keys. We believe that an integrated NumPad like on the 2018 Spectre x360 15 would have been far more useful for productivity. The moderate-heavy ghosting, full reliance on USB Type-C, presence of pulse-width modulation, heavy weight, spongy trackpad, fixed RAM, fingerprint-prone surfaces, and more limited storage options round up the list of notable disadvantages. Gaming capabilities are good but far behind the GTX 1050 in some titles where further optimization is required.
Dell's latest XPS convertible is home to a lot of firsts and nearly all are home runs. Kaby Lake-G is comparable to the GeForce GTX 1050 and Core i7-7700HQ while being cooler and quieter than the XPS 15 9560. On the other hand, the Maglev keys are a mixed bag and the NVMe Toshiba SSD is generally slower than an equivalent Samsung PM961. Be ready to carry USB Type-C adapters everywhere you go and a cleaning cloth to keep those dark keys free of grease.
