You’ll be able to buy the Dell XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition pre-loaded with Ubuntu from August, Dell has announced.
The company’s boldly redesigned XPS 13 Plus is also now certified for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This means anyone who purchased the laptop with Windows 11 can install Ubuntu 22.04 LTS on it themselves and still benefit from the same hardware-optimisations that the pre-installed version offers.
“By bringing the enhanced performance and power management features of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to our most advanced premium laptop, Dell and Canonical reinforce our joint commitment to continue delivering the best computing experience for developers using Ubuntu,” Jaewook Woo, Product Manager at Dell Technologies says.
Dell describes the Dell XPS 13 Plus as its “most powerful 13-inch XPS laptop”, touting up to 2x the performance thanks to its 12th generation Intel core processors.
But it’s the striking design choices that set the Plus well apart from its non-plus predecessors.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus uses a zero-lattice keyboard that spans edge-to-edge. It is topped by a row of capacitive function keys. A ‘seamless glass touch pad’ with no visible borders, buttons, or palm rests is stripped across the bottom.
Complimenting the modern looks are Intel’s latest chips. These are supported by bigger fans that Dell say provide 55% better airflow without increasing noise or temperature.
The Plus features a flush 13.4-inch “Infinity Edge” display with options ranging from a modest FHD display through to an OLED 4K Ultra HD (3840×2400).
Other noteworthy features of the Dell XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition:
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Pre-loaded
- Quad speaker design
- Fingerprint reader on power button
- M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs
- All-new packaging made from 100% sustainably sourced/renewable materials
The Dell XPS Plus 13 Developer Edition will be available to buy with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS pre-installed from August 2022 in the United States, Canada and select European countries.
Keep your eye on Dell’s website for more details, and full pricing.
For some context on cost the Dell XPS 13 Plus with Windows 11 is priced from $1,299 in the US. This is for a base config kitted-out with a FHD screen, Intel Core i5-1240P CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. A totally tricked out model with UHD touch display, Intel Core i7-1280P CPU, 32GB RAM, and a 2TB SSD costs $2,399.