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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i are both solid choices for lower midrange laptops with similar RAM and storage. The Dell XPS 13 is more portable, slightly lighter, and has a longer battery life which is great for on-the-go use and general tasks, but its performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering work is lower than the IdeaPad Pro 5i. The IdeaPad Pro 5i, with a more powerful main processor and dedicated graphics card, is better suited for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for frequent mobility. Additionally, the IdeaPad Pro 5i tends to be somewhat more expensive. 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
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.4
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.7/10
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
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13 has an integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate which makes it fair for gaming and 3D applications; whereas, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i includes a dedicated Nvidia graphics card and a higher refresh rate display, which enhances its gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.1
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is preferred for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7-13700H CPU and dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, which provide superior performance for computer-aided design and 3D modelling tasks when compared to the Dell XPS 13, which has an Intel i7-1250U CPU and integrated graphics. While both have high-quality IPS displays and the same amount of RAM, the Dell XPS 13 offers a more portable design and quieter operation, making it a suitable option for users who value mobility and a less intrusive working environment.
Screen Quality
7.2
7.8
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 Pro 5i has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell XPS 13 suits general use well due to its high-resolution display and bright screen, delivering sharp content and comfortable viewing in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design tasks, it offers solid color accuracy, but the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i outshines it with a wider color gamut, crucial for professionals needing precise color rendition. However, both laptops have limited appeal for gaming and 3D due to their lower refresh rates, which can't match the smoother visuals a high refresh rate display provides, crucial for fast-paced gaming and fluid 3D rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has 6 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$850
$950
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i costs $950.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.7
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Dell XPS 13 are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 is excellent for general use due to its higher portability supported by a lighter weight and longer battery life, accompanied by a high-quality screen and very good keyboard, although it has an integrated GPU which is less powerful than the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i's dedicated one. The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, on the other hand, includes a dedicated GPU and a larger, higher-resolution display, making it well-suited for more graphics-intensive tasks, but this comes at a cost of decreased portability and shorter battery life compared to the Dell XPS 13.
Content Creation
7.7
7.7
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Dell XPS 13 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
7.7
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Dell XPS 13 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.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $950 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 4.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 409 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 13
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chen | April 2023
"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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | January 2024
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
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.
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