Dell XPS 13 9310 2-in-1

Quality bursts from this gorgeous convertible, and it's easy to negotiate a chunk off the list price

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SCORE

PRICE £1,066 (£1,279 inc VAT) from dell.co.uk

Asits name makes clear, this isn't a run-of-the-mill laptop: it's a 2-in-1 convertible, capable of transforming from laptop to tablet with one smooth swing of the hinge. As with every aspect of the XPS 13's engineering, it does so with grace and finesse; you can only compare Dell's 2-in-1 to the GeoFlex 340 in the same way that you can describe both Liverpool FC and Accrington Stanley as football teams.

The bigger question is whether a convertible design makes sense for you over the non-convertible XPS 13 or a rival such as the HP Pavilion 14. It certainly opens up your options. For instance, flip this laptop into tent mode and it becomes a superb mini TV. Or perhaps you need to read and sign a PDF. Here, tablet mode makes the most sense.

Then there's the traditional laptop format, where the keyboard comes to the fore. Dell stretches the keys across almost the full width of the chassis, ensuring they're large and easy to hit. To add some extra class, a two-level backlight shines through the keys rather than around them, and the glass-coated trackpad is supersmooth. There is little travel to the action, however, which is one area where the standard XPS 13 is superior.