The Dell XPS 13 offers a balance of performance and portability with its slim design and solid-state drive, making it ideal for everyday tasks and lightweight enough for frequent travel. Its Intel i7 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics provide ample power for general use and some light gaming or photo editing. The display, while not 4K, has a respectable resolution and color accuracy suitable for casual use. However, its battery life is modest, and the lack of a dedicated GPU means it may struggle with more demanding graphics tasks.
On the other hand, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is a more robust machine with a larger, high-resolution touchscreen that's great for detailed work and entertainment. The inclusion of an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU makes it capable of handling intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning. It's also well-equipped for engineering tasks with its powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor. The Yoga Pro 9i is heavier and less portable than the XPS 13, but it offers better performance and a more versatile user experience with its 2-in-1 design and stylus support. If you prioritize performance and screen quality over portability and are willing to pay a bit more, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is 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
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Yoga 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
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
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
8.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 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
7.7/10
8.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Yoga 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
7.5/10
8.1/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Yoga 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
7.2/10
9.8/10
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Yoga 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.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$850
$1,450
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i costs $1,450.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i to be very good for general use, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i has 9 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 13 and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 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."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Lenovo Yoga 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.
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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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.