Armed with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip, this Arm-based laptop aims to deliver greater battery efficiency and enhanced AI capabilities. However, as with other Windows on Arm devices, it still faces compatibility issues with older x86 apps and experiences average battery life.

Microsoft's Copilot+ program sought to alleviate consumer confusion by setting minimum requirements for participating system makers. The XPS 13 Copilot+ boasts 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a powerful NPU with 40 TOPS of AI performance. But does it live up to the Copilot+ branding? Mostly, it does.

Although the XPS 13 Copilot+ showcases an impressive design with its sleek and minimalist aesthetics, it still exhibits some of the quirks of its Intel counterpart. The "invisible" touchpad, while visually appealing, falls short in terms of accuracy when compared to other laptops like MacBook Air.

The new Snapdragon X Elite chip is the highlight of this iteration, with its 12 cores running up to 3.4GHz, offering faster performance than the Intel XPS 13 in several benchmarks. Alongside its 45 TOPS NPU, the XPS 13 Copilot+ is better equipped for future AI features.

However, the transition to Windows on Arm poses challenges. Some x86 apps run slowly or fail to launch altogether, creating a disappointing experience for users. Additionally, certain games like Fortnite and Destiny 2 are incompatible with Arm chips due to anti-cheat software limitations.

Battery life is another area where the XPS 13 Copilot+ falls short. It lasted around seven hours and 48 minutes in the PCMark 10 Applications battery benchmark, considerably less than the Intel version's 13 hours and 15 minutes. Microsoft's Surface Pro Copilot+ system outperformed it as well, lasting for twelve hours and 15 minutes.

On a positive note, the XPS 13 Copilot+ excels in productivity tasks and multitasking. It effortlessly handles dozens of tabs in Chrome and Edge, video conferencing, and chat applications. Dell's lusciously wide keyboard delivers excellent feedback but may require some adjustment due to its unique spacing.

Moreover, the display quality of the XPS 13 Copilot+ remains sharp and colorful, despite not having the OLED technology found in other XPS variants. The thin InfinityEdge bezels further enhance the immersive viewing experience.

The XPS 13 Copilot+ carries a starting price of $1,300, making it a solid choice for those seeking a powerful 13-inch laptop. However, potential buyers should be aware of the downsides and software issues associated with Windows on Arm. It might be worth waiting for Dell's next refresh of the XPS 13, featuring Intel's Lunar Lake CPU with improved AI capabilities and broader software compatibility.

In conclusion, the XPS 13 Copilot+ is an intriguing addition to the AI PC market, blending impressive design, decent performance, and future-proof features. Nonetheless, it faces challenges in terms of app compatibility and battery life, making it a purchase decision that hinges on individual priorities and requirements.