Introduction and Specifications
For years, the notion of a tablet replacing one's laptop was a novel idea, but hardly feasible. Much has changed in recent times, however, with Microsoft going so far as to claim that its newest Surface units are indeed powerful enough to take the place of a bonafide laptop. It's that push that has gotten the attention of the entire industry, with everyone from Lenovo to Asus and now Dell pushing out potent 2-in-1 units that manage to straddle the line between slate and laptop with very little compromise.
The Inspiron 13 7000 is Dell's latest two-faced unit, and the one we're testing is a top-spec Special Edition model that's faster and more beautiful that the other models in the line-up. What strikes us as most interesting here is the focus that Dell has placed on the "laptop" side of the equation. Said another way, we've grown used to 2-in-1 units being little more than tablets with a bolted on keyboard. That works fine for those who don't need a lot of horsepower, but those in search of a powerful laptop that just so happens to convert to a tablet have been left with very little beyond the Surface Pro 3
This unit, however, feels like it was designed first as a laptop, and second as a tablet. That's a notable shift from how most of the competition is doing things these days. Of course, the Inspiron 13 7000 Special Edition has the price tag to match. The base unit rings up at $750, while our hero unit checks in at $1,000. Those are prices much more in line with what someone would budget for a new laptop, not so much a tablet. Let's take a look at what that price gets you.
Many mainstream consumers have asked themselves if there's a tablet on the market that could suffice as a laptop when needed. This machine begs the opposite question. If you've been hunting for a powerful, mobile laptop that can convert into something more portable and touch-friendly, this particular unit is worth looking at. With that, let's dive in.
The Inspiron 13 7000 is Dell's latest two-faced unit, and the one we're testing is a top-spec Special Edition model that's faster and more beautiful that the other models in the line-up. What strikes us as most interesting here is the focus that Dell has placed on the "laptop" side of the equation. Said another way, we've grown used to 2-in-1 units being little more than tablets with a bolted on keyboard. That works fine for those who don't need a lot of horsepower, but those in search of a powerful laptop that just so happens to convert to a tablet have been left with very little beyond the Surface Pro 3
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| Model | Inspiron 13 7000 Special Edition |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-5500U processor (4M cache; up to 3.00GHz) |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 5500 |
| Operating System | Windows 8.1 64-bit |
| Display | 13.3-inch Truelife LED Backlit Full HD (1920x1020) IPS multi-touch |
| Camera | 720p HD Camera |
| Memory & Storage | 8GB DDR3L-1600 256GB Samsung PM851 7.5mm SSD 2-in-1 SD and MMC card reader |
| I/O Ports | 2 x Full-size USB 3.0 1 x Full-size USB 2.0 1 x Full-size HDMI 1.4a 1 x headphone out and mic in combo jack Noble lock slot |
| Wireless | 802.11ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
| Battery | 43WHr, 3-Cell battery (integrated) Up to 9 hours |
| Size | 0.75" x 12.99" x 8.74" |
| Weight | 3.68 pounds |
| MSRP | Base Price: $749.99 / As Tested: $999.99 |
Many mainstream consumers have asked themselves if there's a tablet on the market that could suffice as a laptop when needed. This machine begs the opposite question. If you've been hunting for a powerful, mobile laptop that can convert into something more portable and touch-friendly, this particular unit is worth looking at. With that, let's dive in.