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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If budget is a primary concern and you're looking for a laptop mainly for general use, the Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a balance between cost and functionality with good portability. However, if you require top-end performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio justifies its higher price with stronger capabilities in these areas, though it sacrifices some battery life and portability due to its powerful hardware. Choose the Dell for everyday tasks and travel convenience, or the MSI if your work demands high-spec performance and you're less concerned about carrying a heavier laptop with a shorter battery span. 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
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
8.9
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 Plus is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, while a competent machine for general use, has limitations in gaming and 3D applications due to its less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, which offers a high-end GPU and a faster refresh rate, making it much more suitable for demanding graphics tasks. Although both laptops may have high-quality screens and capable CPUs, the MSI's superior graphical processing power makes it the better choice for users needing top performance in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.2
9.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a balance of portability and performance with a high-quality screen and a comfortable keyboard, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its more powerful CPU, better GPU, and larger RAM capacity, outshines it in handling demanding engineering software at the cost of being less portable and potentially noisier. While both have excellent screen quality, the MSI's focus on performance makes it more suitable for intense design tasks, though it may result in a heavier device with a bulkier feel.
Screen Quality
8.4
8.4
13.4in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
374.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Dell XPS 13 Plus offers crisp visuals and vibrant displays due to its high resolution and panel quality, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio matches this appeal, making them both excellent for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption. In engineering and design work where color accuracy is critical, both laptops provide wide color gamuts ensuring precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lack of high refresh rates means that fast-moving images won't appear as smooth, making them less ideal for those specific activities.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has 6 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
Fair
13.4in
SIZE
18.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,849
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a price of $1,849 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.4
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
374.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a strong combination of CPU power, RAM, and high-quality screen while being lightweight and portable with decent battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize mobility and everyday tasks. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, while still good for general use, leans more towards intensive tasks with its robust processing capabilities and larger screen, but this comes with a tradeoff in terms of heavier weight and potentially shorter battery life.
Content Creation
8.3
8.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Dell XPS 13 Plus 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
8.2
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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 MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,849 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.8'' x 0.6'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.71 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.84" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1280P | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 55 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 374 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.2/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the MSI Stealth 18 AI 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.
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