Is the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 good for gaming?

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Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (Image credit: Windows Central)

Is the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 good for gaming?

Best answer: The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) wasn't designed with gaming in mind. This convertible laptop does not come rocking a dedicated GPU, making playing games a challenge.For play: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (From $1,049 at Microsoft)For work: Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 (From $1,000 at Dell)

A fantastic 2-in-1, just not for gaming

Dell's newly refreshed XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) sports some pretty powerful hardware. The convertible can be kitted out with Intel's latest 10th Gen processors, including the Core i7-1065 G7, clocked at 3.9GHz. One would imagine that such a PC would also pack similar specifications in the GPU department, but alas, Dell opted to use Intel's integrated GPU.

What this means -for those who enjoy playing some games on their portable PCs- is the new XPS 13 2-in-1 won't be able to handle more demanding games. You'll be ready to fire up titles like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, or Terraria. Sadly, PUBG, Forza, and even Fortnite will be out of reach. On the positive side, these new 10nm Intel processors without a dedicated GPU will be able to run more efficiently and cooler, and the latest Iris graphics from Intel is considerably better than previous generations.

But if games are your thing, you're going to want to look elswhere.

Game on a 2-in-1 with Microsoft's Surface Book

If you must play games (at decent settings with stable results) on your convertible PC, Microsoft has an answer for you in the form of the Surface Book 2. This powerful machine has some serious performance, allowing you to configure the 13-inch version with up to an Intel Core i7 CPU and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1050 GPU. While not the most powerful GPU on the market, it's superior to Intel's integrated graphics processing.
For Gamers
Surface Book 2

For when you want to game on the go

Should playing games be a vital part of your lifestyle and you desire to enjoy the latest titles on your 2-in-1 Windows PC, you'll have to look elsewhere. The Surface Book 2 from Microsoft is an exceptional PC with more than capable internals to handle even demanding games.
Convertible Experience
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390)

Get more done with the latest hardware

Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 refresh packs inside the latest Intel processors from Intel. While these 10th Gen processors are great portable CPUs, the integrated graphics processing just isn't up to snuff for gaming. The worst part is you don't have the option for a dedicated GPU.

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Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.