When comparing Dell XPS 12 vs Eluktronics PA71HS-G Premium, the Slant community recommends Eluktronics PA71HS-G Premium for most people. In the question“What are the best USB-C laptops?” Eluktronics PA71HS-G Premium is ranked 5th while Dell XPS 12 is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Eluktronics PA71HS-G Premium is:
The case is made from a very durable plastic with a metal finish that does not feel cheap or flimsy to the touch.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Amazing display
The XPS 12 has a 4K display that's one of the best in its class. The sRGB color space is covered by 100% and the screen brightness is great as well.
Pro Unique design
Like other laptops in the XPS series, the XPS 12 is not any different in the design department. It's a beautiful piece of hardware albeit a little strange for convertible laptops since it doesn't have anything that holds the screen and keyboard together. There's no latching mechanisms or prongs like in other similar devices. The screen slots in place and a combination of magnets, friction, and gravity holds it in place.
It may seem a bit unnerving at first but it works and it's very secure while still allowing the user to easily lift the screen off.
Pro Doesn't rely on a flimsy hinge
This 2-in-1 laptop has a rigid keyboard base on which you place the tablet part. This avoids using a flimsy hinge like other 2-in-1 laptops and offers a great tactile typing experience found in business-grade laptops.
Pro Great build quality
Both main parts (the keyboard and the screen) are made of high-quality magnesium alloy and the device is coated with a pleasant layer of soft touch paint.
Pro Great keyboard
The keyboard is on the same level as some business-grade laptops. Keys feel great to the touch and they have a slight curvature which makes hitting keys easier. They also offer a travel distance of 1.9mm, more than any other convertible laptop on the market.
Pro Excellent build quality
The case is made from a very durable plastic with a metal finish that does not feel cheap or flimsy to the touch.
Pro Overall good price/quality ratio
At this price, the Eluktronics P650RS offers a lot of features, performance, and quality compared to competitors. Gaming laptops with a GTX 1070 usually cost $100 or more and might not have the same level of build quality or other features found in this laptop.
Pro Excellent gaming performance
Both the GTX 1060 and GTX 1070 versions of this laptop offer excellent performance when gaming. The P650RS consistently hits 80+ FPS in most AAA games at ultra settings. For example, the GTX 1070 version can play Total War: Warhammer at 100FPS on 1080p with ultra settings. While the GTX 1060 version can play Battlefield 4 at 80FPS on ultra settings.
Even the relatively cheaper version of the P650RS with the GTX 1060 can pack a punch.
Pro Quality speakers
The two speakers packed in this laptop are pretty good, especially when compared with previous models. They provide reasonable bass and the mids have both good richness and deepness to them.
Pro Good keyboard
The keyboard is pretty good. It's backlit with programmable colors. The tactile feedback is decent across all keys and the travel length is about the average (1.5mm) for this kind of laptop.
Cons
Con When using in laptop mode you can't tilt the screen to your liking
Since there's no hinge, you can't tilt the screen to your liking. It stays fixed at a 110 degrees angle.
Con Middling battery life
The XPS 12 has an average battery life of 3 hours.
Con Works comfortably only on a desk or lap
When keeping the laptop on a flat surface such as a desk or one's lap, the viewing angles are good. But working with it in any other position (such as when lying down) you will have a hard time with the viewing angles. There's also the issue of the screen tumbling forward since it's not held in place by anything other than some magnets.
Con The touchpad has issues with two-finger use
When trying to scroll up or down by using two fingers there are some synchronization issues with the touchpad.
Con The display should be better for this price
The Eluktronics P650RS uses a IPS display panel which is decent in itself but could and should probably be better for this price point.
Where it lacks specifically is in terms of contrast, colours, and response time. There's also some light bleeding when looking at a completely black screen.
Con Terrible battery life
Even when using this laptop for light activities such as web browsing, watching movies, or editing documents it averages at about three hours of independent use. This was measured at about 40% screen brightness so it would be much lower at a higher brightness.
When it's used for gaming then the average battery life drops to less than two hours of independent use because of the relatively high resource requirements that both the GTX 1060 and GTX 1070 have.
Con Has some issues with heat
Since the cool air is sucked from the bottom of the laptop, the bottom needs to stay above the sitting surface at all times.
But even when this advice is followed, the P650RS still has some issues with overheating. The center and left parts of the keyboard are the most problematic ones. It's not unusual for the keyboard to heat so much as it starts being a bit uncomfortable to use.
Con The speakers are not very loud
Even though they provide good sound, the P650RS-G speakers are not loud at all.