The Dell XPS 13 7390 has earned a reputation as one of the best premium ultrabooks in its class. Even years after its release, many students, professionals, and casual users continue to consider it because of its excellent build quality, reliable performance, and compact design. While newer laptops offer the latest processors and AI-powered features, this model still delivers a balanced experience for everyday computing tasks.
Whether you are buying a refurbished unit, considering a used laptop, or simply researching its capabilities, understanding what the Dell XPS 13 7390 offers can help you make an informed decision. From its sleek aluminum chassis to its vibrant display and dependable battery life, this laptop remains relevant for many users in 2026.
In this guide, you will learn about its design, performance, display, battery life, strengths, limitations, and whether it is still worth buying today.
Premium Design and Display
One of the biggest reasons the Dell XPS 13 7390 became so popular is its premium construction. The laptop combines a machined aluminum exterior with a carbon fiber interior, giving it a modern appearance while keeping the weight low. It feels sturdy in everyday use and easily withstands the demands of commuting, travel, and daily work.
At just over 1.2 kilograms, the laptop is highly portable. It fits comfortably into backpacks and messenger bags, making it an excellent option for students and professionals who frequently work outside the office or classroom.
The 13.3-inch InfinityEdge display remains one of its strongest features. Dell minimized the bezels around the screen, creating an immersive viewing experience while maintaining a compact footprint.
Depending on the configuration, buyers can choose between a Full HD display and a 4K Ultra HD touchscreen. The Full HD version offers excellent battery life while producing sharp images and vibrant colors. The 4K option provides greater detail and richer visuals, making it attractive for photographers and content creators who prioritize display quality.
The screen performs well indoors and outdoors thanks to its brightness and color accuracy. Watching movies, editing photos, and browsing the web all feel enjoyable on this display.
Performance for Everyday Productivity
The Dell XPS 13 7390 is powered by Intel's 10th Generation Core processors. Depending on the model, it may include an Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or even the six-core Core i7-10710U processor.
For everyday tasks such as web browsing, Microsoft Office, online meetings, email, streaming videos, and light programming, the laptop remains more than capable. Even with multiple browser tabs open alongside productivity applications, the system handles workloads smoothly.
Users who choose the Core i7 version with 16GB of RAM enjoy noticeably better multitasking performance than the entry-level models. Although the memory is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded later, 16GB remains sufficient for most users in 2026.
Storage comes in the form of a fast NVMe solid-state drive. Boot times are quick, applications launch almost instantly, and transferring files is much faster compared to traditional hard drives. Unlike the RAM, the SSD can be replaced with a larger drive if additional storage is needed.
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are suitable for everyday computing, video playback, and light creative work. However, demanding video editing, modern AAA gaming, and professional 3D rendering are beyond the capabilities of this graphics solution.
Keyboard, Battery Life, and Connectivity
Dell designed the XPS series with productivity in mind, and the keyboard reflects that philosophy. The keys offer comfortable travel and responsive feedback, making long typing sessions pleasant. Writers, students, and office workers often praise the keyboard for its consistency and comfort.
The precision touchpad is another highlight. It supports Windows gestures smoothly and provides accurate tracking without requiring an external mouse for everyday tasks.
Battery life depends on the display configuration. Models equipped with the Full HD display generally provide significantly longer battery life than the 4K touchscreen version. Users performing web browsing, document editing, and video streaming can often expect a full working day from the Full HD model under moderate usage.
Connectivity is modern but limited. Instead of traditional USB-A ports, the Dell XPS 13 7390 includes Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, allowing fast data transfer, charging, and support for external monitors. It also includes a microSD card reader and a headphone jack.
Some users may need USB-C adapters if they regularly connect older accessories such as flash drives, external hard drives, or wired peripherals.
Wireless performance remains excellent thanks to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, ensuring stable internet connections and reliable wireless device pairing.
Advantages and Limitations
Like every laptop, the Dell XPS 13 7390 has strengths as well as weaknesses.
Its biggest advantage is build quality. Even several years after release, the aluminum construction feels premium and durable. The laptop continues to compete with many newer ultrabooks in terms of appearance and overall craftsmanship.
Performance is another major strength. For productivity, education, business work, and general computing, the laptop remains fast enough for most users.
The display continues to impress with excellent brightness, sharp resolution, and slim bezels that maximize screen space.
Fast SSD storage keeps the operating system responsive while improving application loading times.
However, there are limitations prospective buyers should understand.
The memory cannot be upgraded after purchase because it is soldered directly to the motherboard. Buyers should choose the 16GB version whenever possible.
The integrated graphics are not designed for high-end gaming or professional creative workloads.
Port selection may also feel restrictive since most connections rely on USB-C. Users with older devices often need adapters or docking stations.
Battery life on the 4K model is shorter than on the Full HD version because the higher-resolution display consumes more power.
These limitations do not significantly affect users focused on productivity, but they should be considered before making a purchase.
Is the Dell XPS 13 7390 Still Worth Buying?
The answer depends largely on your needs and budget.
If you are looking for an affordable premium ultrabook for school, office work, programming, writing, or general home use, the Dell XPS 13 7390 remains an excellent value. Refurbished and used models often cost much less than newer flagship laptops while still delivering reliable performance.
Students appreciate its lightweight design, long battery life, and comfortable keyboard for taking notes and completing assignments.
Business professionals benefit from its premium appearance, dependable performance, and portability during travel.
Freelancers who primarily work with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, web applications, and communication tools will find it more than capable.
Content creators who perform light photo editing can also enjoy its high-quality display, although professional video editors may prefer newer systems with dedicated graphics cards.
If possible, buyers should prioritize configurations with the Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a Full HD display. This combination offers the best balance of speed, battery life, and long-term usability.
Those who require heavy gaming, advanced video production, artificial intelligence development, or intensive engineering software should instead consider newer laptops equipped with dedicated graphics and more powerful processors.
Final Thought
The Dell XPS 13 7390 continues to prove why it became one of Dell's most respected ultrabooks. Its premium design, excellent keyboard, beautiful display, solid battery life, and dependable performance make it a smart choice for many users even in 2026.
While it lacks upgradeable memory and dedicated graphics, these limitations matter far less for users focused on productivity rather than demanding creative or gaming workloads.
If you find a well-maintained unit with a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an SSD in good condition, the Dell XPS 13 7390 can still provide several more years of reliable service. For students, professionals, remote workers, and everyday users, it remains one of the strongest values in the refurbished premium laptop market.
FAQs
Is the Dell XPS 13 7390 good for students?
Yes. Its lightweight design, reliable performance, and long battery life make it an excellent laptop for school and university work.
Can the RAM be upgraded?
No. The RAM is soldered to the motherboard, so it cannot be upgraded after purchase.
Is the SSD upgradeable?
Yes. The NVMe SSD can be replaced with a larger drive if you need additional storage.
Can the Dell XPS 13 7390 handle programming?
Yes. It performs well for software development, coding, and running most programming tools.
Is it suitable for gaming?
It can handle older and less demanding games, but it is not designed for modern AAA gaming because it uses integrated graphics.
Which display is better, Full HD or 4K?
The Full HD version offers better battery life, while the 4K display provides higher resolution and improved image detail.
Is the Dell XPS 13 7390 still worth buying in 2026?
Yes. If purchased at a reasonable price, it remains a great premium ultrabook for productivity, education, office work, and everyday computing.
