CES 2019 is officially underway, and Dell has revealed a revamped XPS 13 laptop. The device comes with a fixed webcam in the top bezel, new Intel Whiskey Lake CPUs on the inside, and other subtle improvements that could make it one of the best laptops of the new year.
The biggest of the changes for the 2019 Dell XPS 13 is a switch to Intel Whiskey Lake CPUs — options include the eighth-generation Intel quad-core i5-8265U or Core i7-8565U processors. Along with an enhanced battery life of up to 21 hours, the new CPUs should provide significant performance and multitasking improvements. For consumers seeking a less-powerful dual-core model, there is also an option for the Intel Core i3-8145U processor.
Dell has also moved the webcam from the bottom back up to the top bezel in the display of the XPS 13. Using a 4-element lens and active alignment technology, it is the smallest webcam ever, coming in at 2.25 mm in size. The company worked for two years to bring it to market and managed to shrink the overall size of the webcam housing down from 7 mm in previous generations. Special temporal noise reduction software is also powering the webcam, promising for better video quality in dim lighting conditions.
On the outside of the new XPS 13, there are now options for a new frost exterior and improved arctic white palm rest. The material brings more color choice, and the new arctic white woven glass fiber palm rest appears brighter, whiter, and stronger than ever.
Other changes on the XPS 13 include a suite of next-generation Dell Cinema technologies, including Dolby Vision, which on supported content on Netflix can deliver brighter highlights and blacks that are up to 10 times darker.
Finally, Dell re-engineered the hinge system on the XPS 13. The new model features a “variable torque hinge” that makes opening the device easier. Dell promises that the change in torque is now smooth, so you can open it with just one hand.
The new Dell XPS 13 will be available later in January for prices starting at $900.
In addition to the new XPS 13, Dell has also announced a new set of Inspiron 2-in-1s, the 13 and 15 7000. They don’t look all that different from previous Inspiron devices, but they now sport diamond-cut chamfer edges on the touchpad.
The “Black Edition” of these devices packs a magnetically attachable full-size pen right inside the hinge. Unlike other 2-in-1s that typically come with pen loops, the pen will always be accessible to the user, no matter how the device is configured. Also, compared to its previous two-hinge design, the new hinge looks a lot nicer and has fewer lines interrupting the overall visual flow of the system. It even helps improve airflow, so that consumers will never accidentally touch a hot spot when handling the device.
As for thermals, Dell is using a new Adaptive Thermal Technology, which enables the Inspiron 13 and 15 7000 to adjust performance so they generate less heat when mobile and more when sitting on a desk. The display looks fairly similar to the XPS 13, packing a narrow border bezel for increased screen space and a smaller footprint.
Also new on the 15-inch version is a keyboard design that debuts a new power key and fingerprint reader, freeing up space for a full-sized number pad. Technical specifications and pricing on Dell’s new 13- and 15-inch 7000 2-in-1s were not available, but they’re set to be released in June and July 2019. A separate model will be available in silver without the pen garage.
ASUS has started selling its UGen Intel Arc Pro B70 graphics card in Europe, bringing its take on Intel’s workstation GPU to customers with a hefty €1,799 recommended price. The card is available in Germany and Austria, while ASUS lists it at CHF 1,799 in Switzerland.
Intel first introduced the Arc Pro B70 in March 2026, with its own branded model starting at $949. ASUS’s version arrives several months later with the same core GPU architecture but a different cooling design and a higher power rating. The price also places it well above Intel’s original starting point, although the two prices are not directly comparable because ASUS’s European figure includes VAT.
Anthropic has officially filed to go public, and buried inside its S-1 is a blunt warning about the technology at the center of its business. The maker of Claude AI says advanced AI could cause everything from large-scale cyberattacks and geopolitical instability to catastrophic or even existential risks for humanity.
The warnings take up a surprisingly large part of the filing. Axios notes that more than 90 pages, or roughly a third of the prospectus, focus on risk factors. Many of them warn about what could happen as AI systems become more capable and autonomous.
AI giants have a growing autonomy problem on their hands. A new Axios report has revealed that Anthropic's Claude recently accessed publicly available Georgia vote count without human authorization, sparking fresh concerns about AI security ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.