The Dell XPS 13 has an advantage in portability due to its lighter weight and smaller dimensions. It also offers a longer battery life, which is beneficial if you're often on the move. The XPS 13's processor is suitable for general use and multitasking, and it's a good fit if you're looking for a laptop for everyday tasks, work-related applications, and some light media editing.
On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is slightly heavier and larger, but comes equipped with a dedicated graphics card and a processor that's better suited for demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, gaming, and machine learning. The IdeaPad's display is larger and has a higher resolution, which could be better for multimedia consumption and professional creative work. However, it may not be as convenient to carry around due to its size and weight.
Both laptops are priced in the lower midrange but the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is generally more expensive. If your priority is portability and battery life for general use, go for the Dell XPS 13. If you need better performance for advanced computing tasks and a larger, higher resolution display, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro would be the better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro both offer panels with high resolution and bright displays, which are essential for clarity and visibility in general use scenarios. These laptops are suitable for engineering and design due to their ability to display a wide range of colors, covering significant portions of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, but they may not cater to the high refresh rates needed for smooth 3D gaming and animation. While their resolutions and panel types provide decent image quality, without high refresh rates, they fall short for gaming where fast motion requires quicker screen updates.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 boasts a robust CPU and RAM, a bright, high-quality screen, and excellent portability due to its lightweight and small dimensions, making it ideal for on-the-go use and everyday tasks; its battery capacity supports prolonged use away from power sources.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Dell XPS 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Dell XPS 13 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.5/10
7.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has 10 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$850
$860
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro costs $860.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 13 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro compare to other laptops
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Laptops evaluated
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Recommendations made
25,133
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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.