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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 13 is generally more affordable and offers high portability with its light weight and extended battery life. It's suitable for general use, has a high-resolution screen, and includes features like a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader. In contrast, the MSI GP66 Leopard has a stronger processor and advanced graphics card, making it more suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks. However, it is heavier with a shorter battery life, making it less portable than the Dell XPS 13. 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 MSI GP66 Leopard
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13, with an integrated Intel GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, is less suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI GP66 Leopard, which boasts a more powerful Nvidia graphics card and a higher refresh rate screen. Although both have similar CPU and screen quality, the GPU and screen refresh rate have a larger impact on gaming and 3D performance, making the MSI a better choice for those specific needs.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.9
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard and Dell XPS 13 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI GP66 Leopard is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 13 is equipped with a high-quality IPS display and Intel Iris Xe graphics, making it suitable for engineering and design with good screen quality and efficient integrated graphics, while its portability and solid build add to its appeal for professionals on the go. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard features a powerful Intel i7 processor and a high-end Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU, offering superior performance and screen refresh rates essential for intensive engineering tasks and design work that demands more graphical computing power, though it is less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Screen Quality
7.2
7.5
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Dell XPS 13 and MSI GP66 Leopard offer pleasing visuals with their high resolution and brightness, making text and images crisp and easy to view. When it comes to engineering and design, they both have wide color gamuts ensuring accurate color representation which is crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, their screens lack high refresh rates which are essential for smooth motion rendering, thereby affecting the visual experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 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.
Portability
Excellent
Fair
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The Dell XPS 13 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 offers portability with a lighter weight and a longer battery life, suited for everyday tasks with its good CPU and RAM, along with excellent portability score. In contrast, the MSI GP66 Leopard has a powerful CPU and high-end GPU that support intensive gaming and demanding tasks but compromises on battery life and portability due to its larger size and weight.
Content Creation
7.7
7.4
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
8.0
The Dell XPS 13 and MSI GP66 Leopard both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $1,399 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | MSI GP66 Leopard |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | May 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 65 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 362 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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."
MSI GP66 Leopard
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | December 2021
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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