Dell XPS 13" 9345 Graphite 2024

The Dell XPS 13 9345 pairs a chart-topping Snapdragon X Elite CPU with a brilliant 13.4-inch OLED screen in a super-light 1.21kg body. It's a productivity monster with 32GB of RAM, but the weak integrated GPU means gaming is completely off the table. Prices swing wildly from $1200 to $1659, so it's a killer deal if you can snag it at the low end. Highly recommended for mobile professionals, but gamers and heavy creatives should skip it.

Let's talk about that Snapdragon X Elite. In our CPU benchmarks, this thing lands in the 99th percentile for its class. That's not just fast, that's 'one of the absolute best right now' territory. Everyday tasks feel instant. Apps snap open, dozens of browser tabs don't cause a stutter, and the whole Windows 11 experience is fluid in a way that feels genuinely new for an XPS. The integrated Adreno GPU is a different story. It sits in the 19th percentile, which is frankly disappointing. It'll handle streaming video and light photo editing without breaking a sweat, but don't expect to do any serious gaming or 3D rendering on this machine. The gaming score of 8.3 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know there.

Where this chip really shines is in its efficiency and AI tasks. The Hexagon NPU can push 45 TOPS, which makes local AI features in Windows 11, like real-time webcam effects and voice isolation, run smoothly without hammering the CPU. The 32GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM is a standout spec, putting it in the 93rd percentile. This is a machine built to multitask heavily for years to come. The 1TB SSD is solid and well above average, though not chart-topping. Real-world performance is all about that snappy, quiet, and cool operation, until you ask the GPU to do any heavy lifting.

The elephant in the room is the Apple MacBook Pro M5. Apple's chip has a more powerful GPU and the benefit of years of software optimization for its ARM architecture. The MacBook's build and reliability are also a step above, which is reflected in the XPS's below-average reliability score. But the Dell fights back with that incredible OLED touchscreen and a lower entry price when on sale. For pure productivity in the Windows ecosystem, the XPS is a strong alternative.

Then you have the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. These are completely different animals. They're gaming and creator laptops with dedicated GPUs that will run circles around the XPS in any graphics-intensive task. If you need to game or render video, the XPS isn't even in the conversation. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is a closer competitor, another thin-and-light with a beautiful OLED screen, but the XPS's Snapdragon chip currently has an edge in raw CPU grunt and AI processing. The MSI Prestige is another solid option, but the XPS's display and build quality feel more premium.

Pricing on the XPS 13 9345 is all over the map, with a $459 spread across vendors from $1200 to $1659. At the low end of that range, you're getting a stunning OLED display, best-in-class CPU performance, and 32GB of RAM for a price that makes the MacBook Air look a little stingy. That's a serious value proposition for a premium ultrabook. At the high end, nearing $1700, the value gets a lot shakier. You're creeping into MacBook Pro territory, where you'd get a much more powerful GPU, a better port selection, and a higher refresh rate screen. If you're shopping for this, patience is a virtue. Hunt for a deal closer to that $1200 mark and you'll feel like you stole it.

The Dell XPS 13 9345 is Dell's big swing at the ARM-based Windows laptop, and honestly, it's a pretty compelling one. This isn't just another thin and light ultrabook. It's running Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip, which means it's playing in the same sandbox as Apple's M-series silicon, promising a mix of snappy performance and all-day battery life that traditional Intel laptops have struggled to match. We're looking at a 12-core processor, 32GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 13.4-inch OLED touchscreen packed into a chassis that weighs just 1.21kg. On paper, it's a productivity beast designed to go toe-to-toe with the MacBook Air.

Gamers should skip this without a second thought. The GPU performance is simply not there, and you'll be frustrated trying to run anything beyond Solitaire. Content creators who do heavy video editing or 3D modeling should also look elsewhere. A laptop with a dedicated NVIDIA GPU, like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, will serve you infinitely better. Finally, if you rely on niche, older Windows software for your business, the ARM architecture might introduce compatibility headaches you don't want to deal with. In that case, a more traditional Intel or AMD ultrabook like the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is a safer bet.

For the right person, the Dell XPS 13 9345 is a near-perfect machine. If you're a writer, a student, a business traveler, or anyone who lives in a web browser, Office apps, and video calls, this laptop is a dream. The combination of that top-tier CPU, the stunning OLED screen, and the incredibly light build makes it one of the best ultraportable productivity laptops we've tested. You'll get through a full workday on a charge and enjoy every second of looking at that display.

But this is not a laptop for everyone. Creatives who rely on Adobe's full suite should check ARM compatibility for their specific workflow first. And anyone who wants to unwind with some games after work needs to look elsewhere. This is a focused tool, and it excels at its specific job. If that job is your job, and you can find it at a good price, it's an easy recommendation.