When closed, the Dell XPS 13 2020 looks much like any other ultrabook laptop. Think silver finish, small and light, vendor logo on the top and you've got the design recipe for just about any ultraportable, really.
However, this ultraportable is slightly smaller than you might think, measuring in at a scant 15.8x302x199mm. It's only when you open it up that you work out how Dell keeps the XPS 13 so svelte, and that's because the 13-inch display has extremely minimal bezels around it. Smaller bezels allow you to create a smaller laptop overall, which makes the Dell XPS 13 2020 easy to carry around or sling into a bag as needs be.
That smaller design isn't wasted when it comes to the keyboard either, which extends to much the same bezel position as the screen, so it really makes the most of its space. Key travel is quite good for an ultrabook, although I wasn't as much a fan of the separated cursor key design on the XPS 13. Possibly I just like having regular-sized up and down cursor keys more than most folks, but beyond that, the Dell XPS 13's keyboard performs well.
As with most of Dell's range, there's a degree of customisation when it comes to the display on the Dell XPS 13 2020. The top tier models ship with a 4K-capable 13.4-inch touch display, but the review model as tested was the more moderately priced non-touch-capable 13.4-inch Full HD display. At this kind of size, 4K might be overkill for many folks, although if you're a fan of touchscreen iteration, it's the way you'd have to go. Still, the display on the regular model was nicely sharp and bright, and the lack of prominent bezels really does draw your eye into the display whether you're working or taking a sneaky Netflix binge break.
At just 15.8mm high, there's only so much space for external ports on the Dell XPS 13 2020, and it's one notable weak point if you do need to plug in a lot of external devices. The right side of the Dell XPS 13 2020 houses a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port with DisplayPort and Power Delivery capabilities as well as a microSD card reader. The left-hand side mirrors that Thunderbolt USB-C port, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack, and that's your lot. The dual ports do mean that you can charge the Dell XPS 13 2020 from either side, but if your workflow encompasses a lot of peripherals, or you need features like wired Ethernet access, it could get clunky with USB docks and adaptors.
One great little design note that I genuinely didn't even spot at first is the location of the Dell XPS 13 2020's integrated webcam. In an era of endless Zoom meetings, a webcam is something of a must, but at first, you might assume the Dell XPS 13 2020 is lacking when it comes to an integrated video camera. It's located in the top bezel, almost imperceptibly hidden in the very small black strip at the top. It's not the best webcam I've ever tested, but it's OK for basic use.