The Dell Chromebook 13 ($799.99 as tested) is a business-class chromebook featuring better-than-typical build quality and faster hardware than the majority of its Chrome OS contemporaries. Its superior hardware, specifically an Intel Core i5 processor, results in a snappier system that doesn't struggle with multitasking, but the price is also much higher than most chromebooks, and there are similarly equipped alternatives for the same price or less that provide access to full access to Windows. The Asus Chromebook Flip (C100PA-DB02) remains our Editors' Choice for chromebooks given its affordable price and quick performance, while the Lenovo ThinkPad E450 is a slightly less-expensive Windows solution.

Design and Features
The aluminum frame that houses the Chromebook 13 measures 0.51 by 12.93 by 9 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.23 pounds. The lid is made of carbon fiber, and the overall, the chromebook feels well made and sturdy It could stand to be a bit slimmer and lighter, however, especially compared with the Asus Chromebook Flip, which weighs just 1.96 pounds and measures 0.61 by 10.35 by 7.18 inches. But it stacks up well against other 13-inch systems like the Windows-equipped HP Stream 13 (13-c020nr), which weighs 3.33 pounds. Even the slick Google Chromebook Pixel measures 0.6 by 11.7 by 8.8 inches and weighs 3.3 pounds.

The 13.3-inch display has a full-HD (1,920-by-1,080) resolution, which is higher than most chromebooks. The Asus Chromebook Flip, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook, and the Dell Chromebook 11 Non-Touch—all 11-inch models—have screen resolutions of 1,366 by 768 or lower, though they do cost hundreds of dollars less. The Chromebook 13's larger, higher-resolution display means more screen real estate, which is particularly useful for multitaskers. The Toshiba CB35-B3340 Chromebook 2 is one of the few chromebooks with a 13-inch full HD screen, but it uses a less-powerful (and less-expensive) Intel Celeron processor. The Acer Chromebook 15 (CB5-571-C09S) offers the largest screen size at 15.6 inches, also at full HD resolution. Only the $1,000 Google Chromebook Pixel offers a sharper, 2,560-by-1,700-resolution display.

The spacious, backlit keyboard is nice to type on, and the keys have good travel. The touchpad's glass surface is very smooth, responsive, and feels good to use. The speaker volume isn't tremendous, but the sound quality is decent, which, combined with the high-resolution screen, means you can watch movies on the laptop without a problem.

Chrome OS is well-suited to basic work and entertainment, with Chrome Web apps like Docs and Sheets serving as able replacements for the Windows programs like Word and Excel. While this may be incompatible with some business environments, these and other Internet-based Chrome OS alternatives for those who need to work mostly online, watch videos, and do simpler photo or video editing will get the job done. Also, your IT folks can use Google's Chromebook Management Console to control your users' access, manage network settings, and keep track of inventory.

There's a 32GB solid state drive (SSD) on board the Dell Chromebook 13, which is not particularly generous, but it's double the 16GB of flash memory included in the Asus Chromebook Flip, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook, and the Dell Chromebook 11 Non-Touch. Chromebooks rely on the Internet for additional storage. As such, Google offers two years of 100GB of cloud storage with every chromebook. The system offers a fairly standard selection of connectivity options, including an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port, an SD card slot, and a headphone jack on its left side. On the right are a USB 2.0 port and a Noble Lock slot. The system also includes dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity. Dell offers one year of hardware service, with onsite repair after a remote diagnosis.

Performance
The Chromebook 13 has a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-5300U processor and 8GB of memory. In comparison, the Asus Chromebook Flip has a 1.8GHz Rockchip RK3288C ARM CPU and 4GB of memory, which keep its price down, but those components aren't as fast as those of the Chromebook 13. An Intel Core i5 processor is much more powerful than what you'll find in most chromebooks, and it shows—if you need to do intensive work on your notebook, the Chromebook 13 has the power to keep up. Again, only the Google Chromebook Pixel is in the same class, with a 2.2GHz Intel Core i5 CPU and 8GB of memory. (We can't run most of our standard test software on chromebooks, so we don't have the usual results to compare.)

See How We Test Laptops

Most people may be satisfied with a typical, less-expensive chromebook, but having been built with business professionals in mind, the Chromebook 13 is better suited for more demanding users. There was no lag when flipping through tabs and applications in anecdotal testing, and the laptop holds up well to plenty of multitasking, with video streaming and music playing.

Battery life is good; the Chromebook 13 lasted 10 hours 48 minutes on our rundown test. That's better than the Lenovo 100S (8:09) and the Dell Chromebook 11 Non-Touch (10:37), and it's especially impressive, considering the 1080p display. The Asus Chromebook Flip (11:15) edged the Chromebook 13, and the Google Chromebook Pixel still leads the category, lasting 12 hours on the same test.

Conclusion
The Dell Chromebook 13 offers a better build quality and performance compared with most chromebooks. The increased speed is useful if you're a professional running a lot of Chrome apps and services simultaneously, and the price, while higher than most chromebooks, is still less than the Google Chromebook Pixel. The Google Pixel is the superior system, offering extra ports and features with longer battery life, but it's even more expensive, making it less appealing for businesses buying in large numbers for employees.

The Chrome OS concept still works best as a simple, affordable alternative, so a relatively costly system makes less sense when a less-expensive Windows laptop can offer the same speeds and also provide access to full Windows programs for you or your employees. The Dell Chromebook 13 is a well built system that performs well, but you may be better served with a comparable Windows business laptop, like the Lenovo ThinkPad E450 or the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12. For chromebooks, the Asus Chromebook Flip (C100PA-DB02) remains our Editors' Choice for its performance, long battery life, portability, and $300 price.