Dell XPS 13 9360: A Complete Review and User Guide
When it comes to premium ultrabooks, the Dell XPS 13 series has consistently been one of the top choices for students, professionals, and everyday users who need a balance between portability and performance. Among its lineup, the Dell XPS 13 9360 remains one of the most iconic models, even years after its release.
Packed with a sleek design, sharp display, and powerful performance for its time, this model continues to attract buyers in the refurbished and second-hand market. In this comprehensive guide, we will take an in-depth look at the XPS 13 9360 — its design, hardware specifications, performance, battery life, pros and cons, and whether it is still worth buying today.
1. Overview of the Dell XPS 13 9360
The Dell XPS 13 9360 was first introduced in late 2016 and continued to be sold through 2018, making it one of the most popular laptops of its generation. It built on Dell’s success with the earlier XPS 13 9350 by improving performance and refining the user experience.
At its core, the 9360 is a 13.3-inch ultrabook designed for portability. It is part of Dell’s flagship line, competing directly with other premium laptops such as the Apple MacBook Pro 13, the HP Spectre x360, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
The standout feature that set the XPS 13 apart from its competition was its InfinityEdge display, which significantly reduced bezels and gave the laptop one of the most compact footprints in its class.
2. Design and Build Quality
One of the most praised aspects of the XPS 13 9360 is its design and craftsmanship. Dell used a combination of machined aluminum for the lid and bottom panel, paired with a carbon fiber composite palm rest, giving it a premium yet lightweight feel.
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Dimensions: 11.98 x 7.88 x 0.6 inches
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Weight: Starting at 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg)
These measurements made it smaller and lighter than most 13-inch laptops at the time. Thanks to its minimal bezels, the laptop was almost the same size as a typical 11-inch notebook while still offering a 13.3-inch display.
The hinge is solid and allows for one-handed opening, while the matte carbon fiber interior is comfortable for long typing sessions. Fingerprints can be an issue, but overall, the materials give off a professional and stylish look.
3. Display Options
The Dell XPS 13 9360 came with two different display configurations:
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Full HD (1920 x 1080) non-touch screen – offers longer battery life and is suitable for most productivity tasks.
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Quad HD+ (3200 x 1800) touch screen – provides sharper visuals and touch functionality, great for creative work but slightly reduces battery life.
Both panels use IPS technology, ensuring wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction. Brightness levels reach up to 400 nits, making the laptop usable even in bright environments.
The highlight, however, is the InfinityEdge design — bezels as thin as 5.2mm on the sides. This gave users an immersive experience and allowed Dell to fit a larger display into a smaller chassis.
The only drawback is the webcam placement, located below the display (bottom-left corner). This "nose-cam" position was a compromise Dell made to achieve thinner bezels, though it was later fixed in newer XPS models.
4. Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the XPS 13 9360 was offered with several hardware configurations. Most units featured Intel’s 7th generation Kaby Lake processors, with later refreshes including the 8th generation quad-core CPUs.
Processor Options
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Intel Core i3-7100U (entry-level)
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Intel Core i5-7200U (dual-core)
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Intel Core i7-7500U (dual-core)
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Later refresh: Intel Core i5-8250U / i7-8550U (quad-core, big performance jump)
Memory (RAM)
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4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR3 (soldered, non-upgradable)
Storage Options
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128GB to 1TB PCIe SSD
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Fast read/write speeds ensured smooth performance
Graphics
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Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 (7th Gen) or UHD Graphics 620 (8th Gen)
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Suitable for productivity, light gaming, and multimedia, but not designed for demanding 3D games.
In day-to-day usage, the XPS 13 9360 handles web browsing, office work, media playback, and multitasking without issues. The 8th Gen quad-core models in particular deliver significant performance improvements, making them still capable of handling modern workloads.
5. Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard on the XPS 13 9360 is comfortable, with 1.3mm key travel, backlighting, and a solid layout. Typing feels crisp and responsive, though some users prefer deeper travel found on business laptops like the ThinkPad series.
The touchpad, made of precision glass, is one of the best available on Windows ultrabooks from that era. It supports multi-touch gestures, is highly responsive, and competes with Apple’s MacBook trackpads in terms of smoothness.
6. Connectivity and Ports
Despite its thin design, Dell included a good selection of ports on the XPS 13 9360:
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2 x USB 3.0 Type-A
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1 x USB-C (with Thunderbolt 3 support on higher-end models)
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1 x SD card reader
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1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
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Noble lock slot
The inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 was a big advantage, as it allows users to connect external monitors, high-speed storage, or even an external GPU (eGPU) for improved graphics performance.
One limitation is the absence of HDMI or Ethernet ports, requiring users to rely on adapters if needed.
7. Battery Life
Battery performance is one of the strongest points of the XPS 13 9360. Thanks to efficient processors and a 60Wh battery, the laptop can last:
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Up to 12–15 hours on the Full HD model
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8–10 hours on the QHD+ model
This makes it one of the best laptops for travel and remote work. Even in 2025, with a well-maintained battery, refurbished units still provide solid endurance compared to many modern laptops.
8. Audio and Webcam
The stereo speakers, powered by Waves MaxxAudio, are decent for an ultrabook. They are clear and suitable for video calls, movies, and casual music listening, though they lack deep bass.
The webcam is the weakest point of the device. Its bottom-left placement results in awkward angles during video calls. The camera quality itself is standard 720p, fine for casual use but not ideal for professionals who rely heavily on video conferencing.
9. Software and Operating System
The XPS 13 9360 originally shipped with Windows 10 Home or Pro, but it fully supports Windows 11 as of today. Dell also offered a Developer Edition running Ubuntu Linux, appealing to programmers and open-source enthusiasts.
Dell’s software suite is minimal compared to some competitors, avoiding heavy bloatware. The Dell Power Manager utility allows users to customize performance modes, thermals, and battery charging behaviors.
10. Pros and Cons
Pros
✔ Premium design with slim bezels
✔ Strong performance (especially 8th Gen CPUs)
✔ Excellent battery life
✔ Compact and lightweight form factor
✔ Great display quality with sharp colors
✔ Thunderbolt 3 support
Cons
✘ Awkward webcam placement
✘ RAM is soldered and not upgradeable
✘ Limited graphics power (not for heavy gaming)
✘ Higher configurations can be expensive even today
11. Is the Dell XPS 13 9360 Still Worth Buying in 2025?
The XPS 13 9360 may be several years old, but it remains a relevant and capable ultrabook in 2025. For students, writers, business users, and travelers who prioritize portability, display quality, and battery life, it still checks most boxes.
However, buyers should keep a few things in mind:
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Choose an 8th Gen model if possible, as the performance jump is significant.
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Check the battery health when buying used or refurbished units.
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Don’t expect it to handle modern AAA gaming or heavy creative workloads like 4K video editing.
If your usage is focused on productivity, streaming, and light creative tasks, the Dell XPS 13 9360 is still an excellent budget-friendly premium laptop.
12. Conclusion
The Dell XPS 13 9360 remains one of the most iconic ultrabooks Dell has ever produced. With its sleek design, InfinityEdge display, solid performance, and impressive battery life, it continues to stand as a benchmark for compact premium laptops.
While newer models in the XPS series offer better performance, webcams, and design tweaks, the 9360 still holds its own as a reliable machine for everyday computing in 2025.
If you are in the market for a used or refurbished laptop and want a balance of style, portability, and long-lasting usability, the Dell XPS 13 9360 is a smart choice.
Dell