Apple, Hewlett-Packard and Dell offer solid 2017 versions of their flagship 13-inch models. I have been using all three. So, which one comes up?
(Note that both battery life and discussions about ports have been updated and biometric and keyboard notes have been added at the end).
The configurations that I have been using are: the latest HP Specter 13 of 2017 with Intel 8th generation quad-core processor (Core i7 855oU), 8GB memory, 256GB of storage. The late version of the 2017 Dell XPS 13 with the same Intel 8th generation quad-core processor and a 16 GB / 512 GB configuration. And the 13-inch MacBook Pro in mid-2017 with Intel 7th Generation processor (Core i5 2.3 GHz base speed), 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage.
Note that this is a concise review (not exhaustive) and is intended to be a quick read.
I will grade laptops in six key metrics to keep the comparison as concise as possible. And, yes, the Dell XPS is a totally specific model, so I have to compensate.
The HP Spectre is the lightest and sleekest (2.45 pounds) and uses both machined aluminum and carbon fiber. The design is impressive because it squeezes a quad-core processor into an impossibly-thin 0.41-inch thick chassis. And it's definitely a looker. The Dell XPS 13 is about 2.7 pounds and its weaved carbon fiber palm rest give it a distinct look. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is just over 3 pounds but it's built like a tank with its sturdy all-aluminum construction.
Winner: I'm going to give it to the HP Spectre because it's pushing the boundaries of ultra-thin industrial design but still delivers good performance. And HP redesigned the 2017 Spectre 13, using thinner display bezels, reducing the footprint. I'll add that the Dell XPS 13 has become an icon for 13-inch laptop design with its thin display bezels and compact 12-inch laptop form factor. The only problem is, the design is beginning to age a bit. The MacBook Pro looks slightly dated against the HP but still looks great.
Will the average consumer notice the performance gap between the 8th generation Specter / XPS and the 7th generation MacBook? Probably not. The most conscious notice of performance? Yes.
That is the key for me. That is, the quadruple core of generation 8 feels faster (for me) and is much faster if you use raw reference points. MobileTechReview is getting a 40 percent jump in performance (7:40 in video) for some operations. That is important for a comparison of gene to gene.
Winner: both HP and Dell because they have gone on to have four cores and at the same time maintain ultra-thin form factors with good battery life. That said, I would not go so far as to call the Intel processor of the 7th generation of the MacBook a scribble. And in daily tasks, it is more than adequate.
Battery life [UPDATE]: updated with more real battery life ranges (real world). It's a close call between the Dell XPS (60 watt hour battery) and the MacBook Pro (54.5 WHr battery). The duration of the battery depends on so many factors, it is better to give a range (imo). Dell XPS 13: You can watch 10 to 12 hours (that is, all day) if you keep the lid closed on things like screen brightness, binging video and games. Otherwise, it could be much less (like 6 - 8 hours or less). And that applies to browsers too. Run a browser with many open tabs running processes in the background, and you will receive a battery hit. MacBook Pro 13: could rise to the range of more than 10 hours. Again, that means keeping a detailed record of the use of energy. If you do not see the power consumption, you are talking about 6-8 hours or less. HP Specter (43.7 WHr): you're talking more than 6 hours, maybe 7 or more, depending on the amount of processor and screen tasks.
Winner: Dell XPS 13. The XPS is excellent for balancing quad-core performance with battery life. And that's even with the QHD + screen (in the configuration I'm using). You will get even more battery life with the FHD screen model (which I do not have). The MacBook Pro will not disappoint. And HP does a commendable job considering how incredibly thin and light the Specter is.
Display: Both the Dell XPS 13 and the MacBook Pro are very high resolution. The XPS 'QHD + touchscreen has a resolution of 3,200 by 1,800 and the MacBook has 2,560 by 1,600. Note that in more economical configurations, Dell uses an FHD screen. The HP has 1,920 by 1,080 FHD and now has a touch screen as standard. With respect to color accuracy, I will refer to the reviewers (below) who have more experience than me.
XPS 13: Some of the reviews I've seen (including Lisa Gade's) say that Adobe RGB and / or DCI P3 coverage (see here for DCI P3) is a little bit lacking in Dell. I'll add that it's something I did not notice. I looked over (very unscientific, by the way) the XPS 13 against my very precise UltraFine 5K LG 27-inch screen and saw little variation in color quality between LG and Dell. In addition, the Dell display is a pleasure to see and use every day. MacBook Pro: Let's face it, Apple is really good at making sure their screens are always first class. The rating of MacBook Pro DCI P3 is very high (good). And the nits (brightness) are also very high. HP Specter: While the Specter's screen is behind the MacBook in things like resolution and brightness, it's perfectly fine for the vast majority of users and almost any business user.
Winner: MacBook Pro 13. The MBP wins by the precision and brightness of color and by offering a high resolution Retina display as standard. Screen technology is a religion for Apple and that shows.
Ports: [UPDATE] XPS 13, HP and MacBook Pro do a decent job with ports, considering how thin, compact and lightweight all laptops are. All have USB Type C ports Thuderbolt 3 and USB 3.X (Type C).
For example, the HP Specter hit on the back provides two Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C and one USB 3.1 Type-C. The XPS 13 has two standard USB 3.0 (one with PowerShare) and one Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C. The MBP 13 (my low cost configuration) has two USB Type-C ports.
Winner: No vendor really stands out.
Price / bang-for-buck: this, for obvious reasons, is paramount for most people. After all, any provider can charge a large amount of money for a specified laptop with UHD display, fast processor, 16 GB of RAM and a large solid state drive. The trick is to hit the sweet spot. That means a system decently configured at a reasonable price and of good quality.
Winner: Dell XPS 13. Now it has a price of $ 1,149.99 * (usually $ 1,299) with a configuration that has a FHD screen, 256 GB SSD and quad-core processor. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not using that exact configuration. I have the XPS configuration completely specified (QHD + screen, 16GB, 512GB) which is priced at approximately $ 1,650. That is also a very good price for those specifications. And it would also win if I were making a comparison between Dell, HP and Apple laptops with those high-end specifications.
Overall winners: Dell XPS 13 at $ 1,299 (regular price) and HP Specter at $ 1,399.99 (direct from HP).
Dell wins battery life, performance (along with HP) and bang-for-the-buck. As I said before, it is magnificent, tested and well built. And it would win even if the specs on the Specter and the MacBook were jacked up to 16GB and 512GB SSD and if the HP was configured with a UHD screen. A footnote: for better or for worse, consumers (and reviewers) like to see the design of a laptop update after 3 or 4 years. Will that happen in 2018 for the XPS 13? We can find out in CES 2018.
HP wins by being eminently totable (2.45 pounds) and by its durable industrial design. It is expensive to build an incredibly thin / light laptop that is resistant. And the Specter is incredibly beautiful to begin with. And it's not a magnet for fingerprints / body oil (compared to the XPS handset, which it is). It also gets quad-core performance (i7 8550U) (which includes Intel UHD 620 graphics), a good FHD screen (1,920 by 1,080), very good audio **, reasonable battery life and a 256 GB SSD. One disadvantage that I did not like was the hinge on the screen, which will not allow you to tilt the screen from the XPS and MacBook screens.
The MacBook Pro 13 (mid-2017) is a very high quality laptop and you can find one these days (discounted) for around $ 1,150 with a 128 GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM and an Intel 7ma processor generation. Up to 256 GB SSD, however, and the price jumps considerably. The price and the absence of Intel's latest quad-core processors are the only things that keep the MacBook at bay.
Addition / update - biometrics: Another reason why I preferred the XPS 13 and the Specter 13 for the MacBook Pro is biometrics. The Dell XPS 13 (even lower priced SKUs) comes with a fingerprint reader and the Specter has facial recognition through Windows Hello. Both are essential and should not cost more. You have to pay $ 1,799 to get a 13-inch MacBook Pro with touch bar that has an integrated fingerprint reader.
Addition / update - keyboard: in order to keep the comparison as concise as possible, I jumped the keyboard. That said, I did not find obvious problems with the keyboards / trackpads on the XPS 13, the Specter 13 or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The only noticeably different keyboard is the Butterfly keyboard on the MacBook Pro, which has a limited travel and tactile feedback may be less than satisfactory for some users. That said, I like butterfly keyboards on the 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro, but I can be a minority.
Here is a short video that I took showing the 3 laptops up close:
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