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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 13 offers a good balance for everyday use, being more affordable and lightweight with respectable battery life, making it highly portable. Its performance is suitable for general tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i, while more expensive and heavier, provides significantly more power with a stronger processor and dedicated graphics card, making it better for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering work. It also has a higher-resolution, brighter touchscreen display but shorter battery life, which may affect its portability. Choose the Dell if you prioritize cost and portability for routine tasks, or the Lenovo for high-end performance and superior display at a premium. 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
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7
8.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for general use, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is rated higher for general use because it offers double the RAM and storage of the Dell XPS 13, a significantly more powerful CPU and GPU, and a higher resolution touch-enabled Mini LED screen, which translates to better multitasking, storage space, faster processing, and crisper visuals for an overall smoother experience. However, the Dell XPS 13 is lighter and boasts a longer battery life, making it more suited for those who prioritize portability and the need to work on the go without frequent charging.
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13, while fair for gaming and 3D tasks, has an integrated GPU that is less capable for demanding graphics compared to the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i's Nvidia RTX 4050, which is specifically designed for higher graphics performance. Additionally, the Slim Pro 9i offers a significantly higher screen refresh rate, which provides a smoother visual experience in fast-paced games or 3D animation work, making it overall better suited for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.9
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is excellent for engineering and design use because it's equipped with a more powerful processor, double the RAM, a high-end dedicated graphics card, and a superior Mini LED display with higher resolution and brightness, which is beneficial for detailed work. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13, while still suitable for engineering tasks with its capable processor, integrated graphics, and high-quality IPS display, is less powerful and equipped, making it merely good in comparison.
Content Creation
7.7
8.5
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for content creation, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
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
8.3
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for software development, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
7.2
9.6
13.4in
SIZE
14.5in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, where clarity and ease of viewing are key, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i's high resolution and brightness ensure crisp text and vibrant images, outperforming the Dell XPS 13 in overall screen appeal. When it comes to engineering and design, the Lenovo has greater coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, providing more accurate color reproduction essential for detailed work, whereas the Dell, while good, doesn't quite match Lenovo's color fidelity. With 3D applications, however, both laptops fall short, with neither offering high refresh rates that are crucial for smooth rendering of fast-moving visuals, making them less ideal for gaming or intensive 3D modeling.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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
14.5in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$850
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Slim Pro 9i both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | Lenovo Slim Pro 9i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 12.9'' x 9.6'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 12.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 9.64" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-13705H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 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" | 14.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3072 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 618 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
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 Slim Pro 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | August 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is an impressive laptop with a brilliant Mini-LED display, a powerful 100-watt version of Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, and excellent connectivity. Having run the Cinebench benchmark again, we were impressed with the CPU performance. That makes the Slim Pro 9i is an easy recommendation, especially for those who care about GPU and CPU performance. It’s also a fantastic choice if you frequently view HDR movies and games on your laptop."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
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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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.
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