A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize savings and want a solid all-around laptop, the Dell XPS 13 could be a good fit - it's generally less expensive and well-rounded. However, if you need higher performance for tasks like 3D modeling or intensive engineering software, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i might be worth the extra cost. Keep in mind that the Dell XPS 13 is lightweight and has a strong reputation for portability and build quality, which might appeal to those who travel frequently. On the other hand, the Lenovo may offer more power and potentially better screen quality, which could be important if you edit videos or photos. In terms of battery life, both brands offer competitive performance, but specific usage and settings can greatly affect longevity on a charge. Consider what matters most to you - cost, performance, display quality, or portability - to make the best 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
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2
6.9
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offer high-resolution displays with panels that provide clear images and good brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops have screens with wide color gamuts, ensuring precise color representation which is crucial for professional photo editing and CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens lag behind due to lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and slower response times compared to displays designed specifically for gaming.
Battery
10.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.7
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 offers a vivid display and excellent portability with a lightweight design, making it ideal for carrying around, while its battery life supports extended use away from a power source. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i also provides solid performance for general use, with slightly longer battery life and robust speakers, making it suitable for media consumption, but it's a bit heavier and thicker, which could affect its portability.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell XPS 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i both offer fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks, primarily limited by their use of integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which are less potent than dedicated gaming GPUs and screen refresh rates that max out at 60Hz, less ideal for fast-paced or competitive gaming. While both laptops are equipped with capable CPUs and good screen quality, their modest GPUs and lower refresh rates are not as suitable for the high demands of gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.1
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 is equipped with a high-resolution screen and a high contrast ratio which are crucial for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offers a slightly larger screen and better battery life but has a lower screen brightness and contrast ratio, making the Dell superior for screen quality but the Lenovo more convenient for longer unplugged periods. Both laptops feature capable CPUs, enough RAM for design tasks, and integrated graphics sufficient for less GPU-intensive engineering applications, with the XPS prioritizing a top-tier keyboard and the IdeaPad providing quieter operating noise.
Content Creation
7.7
7.7
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
7.5
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 to have excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$850
$899
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i costs $899.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $899 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 12.6'' x 8.2'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 2.99 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 12.62" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 8.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-1165G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 11.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 60.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 340 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
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 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
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 Slim 7i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Ted Needleman
| January 2022
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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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