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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Dell XPS 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" depends on your priorities. If cost is a major consideration, the Dell XPS 13 is the more budget-friendly option. Both laptops feature similar storage and memory capacities, but the Surface Laptop has a slightly better processor and a higher-resolution screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is great for productivity tasks due to more vertical space. However, note that the Dell XPS 13 is lighter and slightly more compact, making it more portable. The Dell also tends to have longer battery life than the Surface Laptop, which is important if you need to work on the go. If you value screen quality and a bit more processing power over price and portability, the Surface Laptop might be the better choice. Else, the Dell XPS 13 offers a balanced experience with cost savings. 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
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2
7.2
13.4in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell XPS 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" both provide vibrant and crisp visuals with their high-resolution displays and bright panels, offering an enjoyable viewing experience for tasks like browsing and streaming. In tasks such as engineering and design, both laptops offer screens that cover a wide range of colors, crucial for accurately representing designs, though the exact color gamut coverage can vary. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops may not be ideal because they lack high refresh rates, which is essential for smooth motion and quick response times in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$850
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 is noted for its higher-quality speakers and better portability, underpinned by a compact form-factor and lighter weight, which along with its sufficient CPU and RAM, makes it an appealing choice for general use. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a higher-resolution touchscreen display which could be ideal for users valuing screen clarity and touch interactivity, despite its shorter battery life and lower portability rating due to being slightly heavier.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" have fair performance for gaming and 3D because both use integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which don't perform as well as dedicated gaming GPUs and have standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz, which is adequate but not ideal for fast-paced gaming. Additionally, they both have high-quality IPS panels, but the CPU and screen resolution, while decent, don't prioritize gaming-specific features, with the Surface having a slightly higher screen resolution.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.1
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both equipped with high-end Intel processors and integrated Iris Xe graphics, making them suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks; additionally, they each boast high-quality screens, with the Surface having a higher resolution and touchscreen capability. While both offer substantial RAM for multitasking, the XPS 13 edges out with slightly better portability due to its lower weight, and both have excellent keyboards, though the Surface Laptop may experience louder operating noise.
Content Creation
7.7
7.4
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
7.2
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
Excellent
13.4in
SIZE
13.5in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-1255U | |
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 | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
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Laptops evaluated
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Laptops stats compiled
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Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
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Recommendations made
28,578
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
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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.
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