The Dell XPS 13 offers a balance between cost and performance, being less expensive and offering satisfactory capabilities for general use, such as web browsing, office applications, and media consumption. It's more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller form factor, suitable for those who value mobility and have less demanding computing needs. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while costing more, provides higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, thanks to its more powerful CPU and dedicated graphics card. This makes it ideal for engineering and creative professionals who require robust processing power, but it is less portable due to its larger size and weight. The battery life will be a consideration for both, with intensive tasks draining the battery faster on the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, whereas the Dell XPS 13 may offer longer usability for everyday tasks. 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
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio outperforms the Dell XPS 13 in gaming and 3D because it has a superior Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics unit and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth, detailed visuals in intensive graphics tasks. While both laptops have quality displays and capable CPUs, these very important factors give the MSI an edge for a more immersive gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Dell XPS 13 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its excellent portability, quality keyboard, and suitable CPU and GPU for lighter tasks, but it's limited by less raw power than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which boasts a superior CPU and dedicated GPU, making it very good for more demanding engineering software and design work at the expense of heavier weight and lesser portability.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
7.6/10
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Dell XPS 13 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio both offer high-resolution displays and brightness, making text sharp and movies vibrant, suitable for everyday tasks and productivity. When it comes to engineering and design, the screens on both laptops cover a wide range of color gamuts, presenting accurate colors which are crucial for professional photo and video editing. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack high refresh rates, which leads to less fluid motion making them less ideal for fast-paced gaming or intensive 3D simulations.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
Good
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$850
$1,520
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Dell XPS 13 are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 offers a balance of performance with its capable processor and integrated graphics, ample RAM for multitasking, a high-quality screen for clear visuals, and excellent portability with its lightweight design and long battery life, making it a good choice for general use.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.9/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Dell XPS 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
7.5/10
7.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 and MSI Stealth 14 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 13 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the MSI Stealth 14 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 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.
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
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
131,895
Recommendations made
28,578
Consumer hours saved
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.