manual revert to bios 1.3 doesn't help.

Hello. Can you try a yet lower version? There were 6 versions before 1.3.3.

If that does not help, I would contact tech support and let it have a shot at resolving the issue. If support cannot get it quickly resolved, I would consider returning the laptop as defective, if still within the return period.

If I plug headphones sound plays in one ear

Test with other headphones to confirm that issue is in the laptop. You could also test the audio driver by switching between the Realtek driver and the Windows native driver.

1. Open the Device Manager (find it in the Control Panel, or type devmgmt.msc into the search box).
2. Expand the "Sound, video & game controllers" and right click on "Realtek High Definition Audio".
3. Select to "Update Driver Software".
4. Click on "Browse my computer for driver software".
5. Click "Let me pick from a list of drivers on my computer".
6. Put a check in the box "Show compatible hardware" if not already checked.
7. In the list of devices, click "High Definition Audio" (the native driver).
8. Click "Next".
9. On the Update Driver Warning box, click "Yes" (install the driver).
10. Restart the laptop if prompted. If not prompted, then no need to restart.
[To get back to the Realtek driver, do it again but reverse the names in steps 2 and 7.]

If you only have the symptoms with one of the drivers, then the other is at fault. If you have the same symptoms with both audio drivers, then it is probably a hardware or firmware (BIOS) issue.

Headphones are fine, external audio card works perfectly. Couldn't find bios earlier then 1.3.3

Anyway, looks like a hardware issue. Will try to transfer license and get service in my country (laptop was bought in another).

jimco, thank you.

Sure thing.

Btw, all BIOS versions and drivers are available on the XPS 9350 htm page.