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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 13, being less expensive, offers good portability and a high-quality screen, making it well-suited for frequent movers and general use. However, its performance may not meet demanding tasks like 3D rendering or intensive engineering software. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while more expensive, provides impressive performance that can handle graphic design, engineering tasks, and 3D applications, but it's less portable due to its larger size and weight. Consider the Dell if you prioritize portability and cost, and the Lenovo if you need elevated performance for specialized tasks despite a higher price and reduced mobility. 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
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Dell XPS 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 13 is equipped with an Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU and has a standard screen refresh rate, which provides fair performance for casual gaming and 3D applications but may struggle with more demanding tasks. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 boasts a dedicated Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU that excels at handling more intensive gaming and 3D rendering, though it too has a standard refresh rate, both factors contributing to its good performance in these areas.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.3
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
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
8.2
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
8.4
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
8.2
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell XPS 13 offers high resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general use, but its standard refresh rate is less optimal for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16's display covers a wide color gamut, providing accuracy needed for engineering and design tasks, but like the XPS, it is not designed with a high refresh rate for gaming. Both laptops, while excellent for productivity and professional work, are not specialized for gaming, where fast refresh rates are key to performance.
Portability
Excellent
Poor
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$850
$1,449
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 costs $1,449.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
8.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be very good for general use, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Dell XPS 13, with its lightweight design and smaller screen, offers excellent portability and enough power for general use, complemented by a high-quality screen and very good battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while bulkier and less portable, provides more robust performance suitable for more intensive tasks, a larger and higher-quality screen, and excellent battery life, making it a solid choice for those needing a more powerful workstation on the go.
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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 ThinkPad P16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | Lenovo ThinkPad P16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $1,449 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | July 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 14.3'' x 10.5'' x 1.2'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 6.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 14.3" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 10.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-12800HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 94 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 569 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | 3 | |
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 ThinkPad P16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | February 2023
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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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