Dell XPS 12

You can switch to tablet mode by simply rotating the display within the bezel itself. There are latches that hold the screen in place when locked into position so that it doesn’t accidentally pop out when travelling. The mechanism is extremely smooth...

Outstanding build quality ; No-compromises convertible design ; Great keyboard ; Beautiful 1080p display ; Long battery life ; Fast solid-state drive

Weight makes tablet use awkward ; Finicky touchpad ; Lackluster processor for the price

The XPS 12 absolutely nails the fundamentals of display, endurance, and interface. We would be eager to recommend this device even if it were only an Ultrabook. The ability to turn it into a tablet is just a bonus.

Resurrects the flip-and-fold display. Intel Core i7-3517U processor. 256GB Solid-state drive. Long battery life. Comfortable keyboard and touchpad

A better laptop than a tablet. Limited port selection

The Dell XPS 12 hybrid ultrabook/tablet features a flip-and-fold display, providing ultrabook specs and performance with tablet functionality.

Stylish design; Bright and crisp full HD display; Easy to switch from notebook to tablet mode; Fast SSD

Below-average battery life; No SD Card slot; Feels a bit heavy as tablet

Click to EnlargeWhile we wish it came with an SD Card slot and had greater endurance, the Dell XPS 12 represents the most elegant way we've seen to handle Windows 8's dual interfaces. The flip screen is simple and effective, and the whole device looks...

Lovely design, solid build quality ; 400-nit, 1080p display ; 12-second boot-up ; Comfortable keyboard

Finicky trackpad ; Relatively short battery life ; No SD slot

Even if you never use it in tablet mode, this 12.5-inch convertible is a solid Ultrabook in its own right.

Incredible screen resolution and brightness, particularly at this size. Kids think the swivel screen is “really cool

Can’t use touchscreen while wearing the required oven mitts. Dreadful touchpad. Heavy, hot, loud, and power-hungry as a tablet — a deadly combination. No memory card slot

With a starting price of $1,199, the XPS 12 is well outside the sub-$1,000-price guidelines set forth by Intel for Ultrabooks. Still, this versatile unit has returned the wow to portables, at least for now; it even communicates while in sleep mode...

Excellent performance ; Breathtaking 1080p display ; Travel-friendly design ; Versatility

Poor port selection ; Big and heavy for a tablet ; Slightly wonky gyroscope and ambient light sensor

Dell's first Windows 8 convertible is a doozy, combining ultrabook power and tablet functionality in a portable package with few compromises. It's big for a tablet, but the 1080p display is drool-worthy.

Great keyboard ; Impressive screen ; Very powerful

Pure weight ; Chunky power supply

It’s rare for Dell to be so experimental after the Dell Streak and the combo shows a company unwilling to jump from a core PC laptop business in case the whole Windows 8 tablet thing doesn’t work out.