Review: Dell XPS One 27

Dell's XPS One 27 is a Windows 8 all-in-one PC, available in both touch and non-touch configurations. We tested the touch version with the highest specifications.

All touch versions include a highly adjustable stand with a 35-95 degree tilt range, which makes it easy to find the ideal viewing angle, or to tilt the screen back into a highly reclined position for use with touch applications. Despite the weight of the large 27-inch display, it tilts smoothly and holds its position well.

A wireless keyboard and mouse are included in the box, both of which are functional but otherwise unremarkable.
The screen has the highest resolution of all the all-in-ones we tested in our roundup, at 2560 x 1440 pixels (109 pixels per inch). That gives a fairly sharp display, just a little less sharp than your average Ultrabook.

Consequently, it’s the only all-in-one we tested in our February 2013 roundup that didn’t show visible pixelation when close enough to use the touch interface. It’s not nearly as sharp as high-resolution tablets and smartphones, but then, you won’t get as close to a 27-inch monitor even if you’re touching it.

We used the Spyder4Elite calibration tool to assess monitor quality. The screen scored four out of a possible five, but showed weak tone response and average luminance uniformity, which may make it unsuitable for professional photo editing and desktop publishing.

Behind the screen is an Intel Core i7-3770S quad-core CPU, 8GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics solution with 2GB of dedicated memory. There’s also a 2TB 7200RPM hard drive, in a hybrid-storage setup with a 32GB SSD, and a Blu-ray reader/DVD writer.

Performance in our standard benchmark suite exceeded that of the Dell Inspiron 17R laptop that has held many of our performance records since mid-2012. The XPS One 27 outperformed the all-in-ones in our roundup, and in most categories beat them by a wide margin.

The other tested models were fairly weak in storage-based tests, primarily because they use 5400RPM hard drives. The XPS One 27, however, has a 7200RPM hard drive/32GB SSD hybrid storage that performs admirably – almost at the level of purely SSD-based Ultrabooks.

The XPS One 27 won’t keep up with a custom-built gaming desktop, but it’s perfectly sufficient to run most modern games at medium graphical settings or lower. It’s also great for things like amateur/hobbyist video and photo editing with its fast, multi-core CPU and quick storage... just bear in mind that the screen isn’t ideal for professional photo work.

The XPS One includes a stunning six USB 3.0 ports, HDMI input and output, headphone and microphone sockets, SP/DIF output audio output, and gigabit Ethernet. Wireless features include 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and it also offers Intel Wireless Display (WiDi).

Overall, Dell’s XPS One 27 is a slim, attractive and powerful all-in-one. You’ll pay for that combination – at $3,599, it’s not really an impulse buy – but it’s worth it if you’re looking for something more than a web browser and media player. If you want an all-in-one you can run 3D games on, work on your next 48-hour film festival entry, or use to develop the next big mobile app, here’s your big-screen powerhouse without the big-old box.