Dell XPS 13 Plus vs MSI GF65 Thin

The Dell XPS 13 Plus excels in general use due to its high-resolution OLED screen, substantial RAM and CPU power for smooth multitasking, and better portability with longer battery life, making it suitable for a variety of tasks on the go. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin, despite having a dedicated graphics card for gaming and other GPU-intensive activities, offers a lower screen quality and smaller RAM, which means slower performance in general use, and it is less portable with a heavier build and shorter battery life.

The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a more powerful CPU and significantly more RAM, making it a solid choice for complex engineering and design tasks; its OLED screen also delivers superior quality for detailed visuals. Compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which sports a capable yet less robust CPU and less RAM, the Dell is more portable, has higher-quality speakers and keyboard but may produce more operating noise; the MSI, while heavier and with a simpler screen, includes a discrete GPU beneficial for certain graphics-intensive applications..

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.

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.

For general use, the Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a high-resolution screen with superior brightness and vivid colors, which makes it stand out, while the MSI GF65 Thin provides an adequate display that doesn't quite match the Dell's clarity or brightness. When it comes to engineering and design, the Dell XPS 13 Plus excels with its wide color gamut coverage, offering accurate color representation for professional work, but the MSI GF65 doesn't offer as wide a color range, making it less suitable for these tasks. However, in gaming and 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, both the Dell XPS 13 Plus and MSI GF65 Thin fall short, lacking the rapid screen refresh capabilities that gamers and 3D designers look for to ensure smooth motion rendering.

Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.

PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.

The Dell XPS 13 Plus is better for gaming and 3D applications because it features a capable integrated GPU and a high-resolution OLED screen, although its refresh rate is standard. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin includes a more powerful dedicated gaming GPU and a higher refresh rate screen which is better for fast-paced gaming, despite its lower resolution and IPS technology.