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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value a more portable and affordable laptop with a good balance for general use, consider the Dell XPS 13 with its longer battery life and light weight making it easy to carry around. However, if you need higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering work and don't mind a heavier laptop with a bit lower battery capacity, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card could be a better option despite being more expensive. Both laptops feature high-quality displays, but the Surface Laptop Studio offers a touchscreen and a higher refresh rate which could enhance your experience when interacting with media or creative work. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2
8.0
13.4in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 provides a clear and crisp display for everyday tasks and detailed work in engineering due to its high resolution and brightness but falls short for gaming and 3D applications because of its lower refresh rate, which can make fast-paced visuals less smooth. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio boasts even greater display quality for both general use and professional design work, offering wide color gamuts essential for accurate color reproduction, but like the XPS 13, it's not tailored for gaming since its refresh rate isn't high enough to support the most fluid gaming experience. Neither laptop is optimized for gaming or high-end 3D work, so while they excel in visual clarity and color accuracy for general use and specialized tasks, they're less suited for scenarios demanding high refresh rates.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 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
14.4in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$850
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13, with its efficient CPU and lightweight design, offers great portability and good battery life for day-to-day tasks, complemented by a high-quality screen and sufficient RAM for multitasking. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is bulkier and has a shorter battery life, but comes with a stronger CPU and a discrete GPU, facilitating demanding tasks and creative work on its high-resolution, touch-enabled screen, thus serving well for both general use and more specialized applications.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell XPS 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13's integrated Iris Xe graphics and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate provide only a modest gaming and 3D performance, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio's dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and a higher 120Hz screen refresh rate offer a more capable experience for such tasks, though neither are top-tier gaming machines. Additionally, the CPU and screen quality of both models support somewhat better performance and visual experience, but these are secondary to the impact of GPU power and refresh rates.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.3
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell XPS 13 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 offers a light and portable package with strong CPU performance and high-quality screen, making it suitable for engineering and design, though its integrated GPU might limit demanding graphical tasks. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with a more powerful dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU and flexible hinge for tablet use, excels in handling design software and creative tasks, but is less portable and has a shorter battery life than the Dell.
Content Creation
7.7
7.4
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-11370H | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 13
See more
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 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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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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