The Dell XPS 13, being considerably more affordable, lightweight, and with a longer battery life, is well-suited for general use and those who prioritize portability. It has an adequate display for everyday tasks and a premium build. On the other hand, the MSI Titan GT77, despite being pricier and heavier, offers top-notch performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks, largely due to its powerful processor and high-end graphics card. The MSI also has superior build quality, heat management, and a high-resolution Mini LED display, making it ideal for intensive gaming and content creation, but with a shorter battery life. 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
Advantages of the MSI Titan GT77
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Best in class for gaming and AI
Excellent for software development
Excellent for content creation
Best in class overall display quality
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
602.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Titan GT77 is very good for general use, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Dell XPS 13 offers great portability and battery life, making it suitable for on-the-go usage, with a high-quality screen and adequate performance for everyday tasks through its efficient CPU and sufficient RAM. In contrast, the MSI Titan GT77 provides superior performance with a more powerful CPU and substantial RAM, along with a better screen, but is less portable and has shorter battery life, positioning it as a top choice for demanding applications but less ideal for frequent mobility.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
10.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The MSI Titan GT77 is best in class 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
10.0/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The MSI Titan GT77 is best in class for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
The MSI Titan GT77 is favored for engineering and design due to its more potent processor, ample memory, and high-end GPU, all of which greatly contribute to handling complex computations and intense graphical tasks, along with a superior quality, high-resolution display that benefits design work. In contrast, while the Dell XPS 13 is lighter and more portable, with a quality build and good screen, its modest processor, and integrated graphics are less suitable for engineering applications that require robust performance.
Content Creation
7.7/10
9.1/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan GT77 is excellent 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
9.1/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan GT77 is excellent 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
9.7/10
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
602.0 nits
The MSI Titan GT77 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell XPS 13, with its high-resolution and bright display, excels in clarity and vividness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional engineering work by accurately representing colors in designs. The MSI Titan GT77 offers a superior screen with wider color gamut coverage, essential for engineering and design professionals who need precise color accuracy for intricate work. However, both laptops lack the high refresh rates preferred for smooth 3D rendering and gaming, which could lead to less fluid visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan GT77 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
Poor
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.2 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Titan GT77 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$850
$6,975
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the MSI Titan GT77 costs $6,975.
"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."
"The MSI Titan GT77 HX 13V is the utimate gaming laptop with RTX 4090 & Core i9-13950HX. The new MSI Titan GT77 will most likely only reach a very small group of users due to the high price, but it is still an impressive showcase of what is possible. The high-end gamer combines the best components you can currently get in almost every regard and it is a very good overall package, which does not have to hide behind full-fledged desktop systems."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 or the MSI Titan GT77
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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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