When considering the Dell XPS 13 Plus versus the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, remember that the XPS often offers superior performance and a sleeker design, making it better for demanding tasks and a good fit for those who prioritize high-end features and aesthetics despite its higher price. The ThinkPad typically has more ports, a more durable build, and a better keyboard, which is valuable for business users who need a rugged laptop for typing and connectivity. The ThinkPad may also have better battery life, which is crucial if you're frequently on the move without access to power outlets. Choose the XPS for performance and style or the ThinkPad for durability, battery life, and value. 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
Very good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13 Plus.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.9/10
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
374.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus shines in general use and engineering design thanks to its high resolution and brightness, delivering clear and vibrant visuals, while its wide color gamut supports precise color work essential for designers and engineers. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, with good resolution and brightness, suits everyday tasks well and offers adequate color accuracy for professional design work, but like the XPS, falls short for gaming due to its modest refresh rate.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,849
$1,241
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a price of $1,849 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, with its strong CPU and ample RAM, delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks and multitasking, coupled with a high-quality screen and lightweight design that enhance portability and viewing experience. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers robust CPU performance and plenty of memory as well, but it stands out with its durable build, comfortable keyboard, and longer battery life, making it a solid choice for professionals who need to work on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.7/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have integrated graphics units that handle casual gaming and basic 3D tasks, but they may struggle with higher-end games and complex 3D modeling due to limited GPU capabilities. Although both laptops have decent processors and screen quality, their screen refresh rates are not optimized for high-speed gaming, which makes them less suitable for demanding gaming experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.0/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a high-quality screen and powerful CPU, RAM, and GPU, which makes it suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while also capable for engineering with strong CPU and RAM, boasts a durable keyboard and is known for better portability, making it a good choice for professionals on the move.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
8.3/10
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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 Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 compare to other laptops
"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."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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
132,195
Recommendations made
28,643
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.