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Updated March 21, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023), consider portability and upgradability. The XPS 13 Plus is more compact and lightweight, making it great for travel, while the Framework Laptop offers easy upgrades and repairs, extending its longevity. The larger screen and higher performance of the Framework are suited for demanding tasks like 3D modeling and engineering, but it comes at the cost of reduced portability compared to the more travel-friendly XPS 13 Plus. Battery life also tends to be better on smaller laptops, so the Dell may suit you better for on-the-go use without frequent charging. 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 Plus
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
- The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13 Plus.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.4
8.4
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
374.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 16 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Framework Laptop 16 have high-quality screens with good resolution and brightness, which makes text and images sharp and easy to view. Engineering and design professionals benefit from the accurate color representation due to wider color gamuts on both laptops, ensuring that their work is displayed with true-to-life colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short because they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has excellent portability, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,849
$1,699
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a price of $1,849 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.0
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
374.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a balance of high-quality CPU and RAM, ensuring smooth operation for everyday tasks, complemented by a sharp screen and strong battery life, all housed in a slim, lightweight design that's easy to carry. Meanwhile, the Framework Laptop 16 provides similar performance capabilities with the added benefit of modularity for easier upgrades and repairs, a slightly larger and high-quality screen, but may be a bit less portable due to its larger size, though it still maintains respectable battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.8
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, while boasting a capable CPU and good screen quality for general use, generally has an integrated GPU, which limits its gaming and 3D rendering capabilities, and typically has a standard refresh rate screen not ideal for fast-paced gaming. Conversely, the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) may offer more flexibility with GPU options and potentially a higher refresh rate screen, enhancing gaming and 3D performance, but it may still fall short for high-end gaming compared to laptops specifically designed for this purpose.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a combination of powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen which suits engineering and design tasks well, although it lacks a dedicated GPU which can be a limitation for highly graphics-intensive work. The Framework Laptop 16 (2023), on the other hand, balances CPU, RAM, and notably includes a dedicated GPU, offering better performance for 3D tasks, along with a similarly high-quality screen, but it may sacrifice some portability and may have more noticeable operating noise compared to the Dell.
Content Creation
8.3
8.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very 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
8.3
8.0
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very 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.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has 10 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 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
8.0
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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 Plus and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus | Framework Laptop 16 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,849 | $1,699 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | July 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.8'' x 0.6'' | 14'' x 10.6'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.71 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 14.04" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.84" | 10.63" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1280P | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 55 Wh | 85 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 374 nits | 490 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
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 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 13 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"The XPS 13 Plus is powerful, but has its drawbacks. Dell did not only update the processor generation, but also decided to offer two completely different models from now on. The XPS 13 Plus gets the faster Intel Alder Lake-P chips, and the Core i7-1260P in our review unit offers good performance figures. However, the device once again shows the problems of the current Intel CPUs, because the high performance requires a lot of power. This affects the battery runtime as well as temperatures, so the new model (even with the Optimized power profile) is louder than the older model."
Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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