Review: Dell Chromebook 13

After using close to a dozen different models, I've come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as the perfect Chromebook. There is always something missing, always something that could be better. Even when there isn't, as in the case of Dell's new 13-inch Chromebook, you'll pay as much as you would for a low-end PC laptop that's capable of a lot more.

Perfection is not something you'll find in a Chromebook; buying the one that's right for you consists of finding the right set of compromises. That said, if money is no object, the Dell Chromebook 13 is pretty close to perfect.

Billed as "business class,” the Dell Chromebook 13 comes in a wide variety of configurations ranging from low end Celeron models (like the one I tested), to higher end models with up to 8GB of RAM, an Intel i5 processor, and a touchscreen. Prices range accordingly, from $400 all the way up to $900. Yes, Dell has joined Google in making it easy to drop nearly as much on a Chromebook as a low end ultrabook.

The first thing you'll notice about the Chromebook 13 is that it feels like a "real" laptop. The carbon fiber exterior and magnesium alloy chassis give it a look and build quality that has more in common with ultrabooks that the typical, all plastic construction of Chromebooks. It also has the sharpest, nicest IPS screen (1920×1080 matte) this side of the Toshiba Chromebook 2. While the display is sharp and clear, the model I tested did have some noticeable light leaks on two edges. I haven't seen other reviewers mention anything of the sort though, so it could have just been my unit.

The keyboard is backlit and well-constructed with none of the sponginess that plagues some Chromebooks. The trackpad is similarly nice and I rarely had any trouble with errant taps while typing. The port setup is typical of Chromebooks in general, with a USB 2.0 port on the right and a USB 3.0 port, HDMI port, microSD card slot, and combo headphone/mic jack on the left. A nice touch: The microSD card slot allows the card to sit flush, so you can leave it plugged in for additional storage space.

One thing that hasn't really changed in over a year of Chromebook reviews is Chrome OS itself. Google pushes out regular updates, but it's more or less the same it was when it launched. While I still dislike the Google-centric universe that Chrome OS lives in, I've come around to the actual experience of using it. Chrome OS, while limited to browser-based tasks (the list of which gets longer everyday) is more secure and much easier for most people to figure out that something like Windows 10.

Hopefully Google won't mess up Chrome's strong points—security, simplicity, discoverability, ease-of-use, etc—in the merger with its "other" OS, Android, which at this point feels more like a complicated way to deliver malware than an operating system anyone wants to use (yes, I use it, no, there's nothing better yet; that doesn't make it good though).

Dell has worked with Google to add Citrix-based virtualization for Chrome OS, which makes it moderately more "business class.” This makes it possible to access your Windows desktop remotely through Chrome. Of course you can already do this with using Chrome Remote Desktop, but the Citrix version adds some security features (SonicWall VPN for instance). How useful this is will depend on what you do for work, honestly.

Dell's latest offering could be one of the speediest Chromebooks out there if you opt for the i5 chip and 8GB RAM. That will set you back $900 though, making it the second most expensive Chromebook out there. At the other end of the price spectrum is the Intel Celeron 3205U processor, 2GB of RAM, which will run you $399.

The model Dell sent WIRED was the next one up from the bottom, which has the same processor and hard drive but adds 2GB of RAM for a total of 4GB. This model sells for $429. Performance on this lower end machine was fine for everyday tasks, though if you do want to log in to your Windows machine and have a dozen tabs open at the same time, you should spend the money for one of the more powerful models.

Battery life may well be even more important than raw power with Chromebooks, and the Dell is hard to beat in that department. Dell claims up to 12 hours, and in my testing that's pretty close to accurate. If you go on a Mr. Robot bender and stream hours of video you probably won't get to 12 hours, but for everyday use—email, news reading, Web browsing, streaming music—the Dell has very impressive battery life.

The Dell comes as close to the ideal Chromebook as anything I've tested. The catch is that you'll pay for it. It's probably best compared directly to the only Chromebook that's more powerful and pricier—the Pixel. If you want a high-end Chromebook and don't mind spending $900 for it, the Dell bests the Pixel in many ways, including battery life.