The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers a balance of portability and performance for general use; it's more portable and has a high-resolution touch OLED display, suitable for tasks that benefit from vibrant colors and sharp details. However, if your work involves intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Stealth GS77, with its more powerful GPU, high refresh rate display, and hardware ray tracing, is better equipped despite being heavier and less portable. The MSI also generally costs more but offers double the storage space and advanced features like RGB keyboard lighting and more display outputs. 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 GS77
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.9/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 Plus is only fair.
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for gaming and 3D because of its powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and very high screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gameplay and fast-paced scenes. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 Plus, while still good for gaming, is limited by its integrated graphics and lower refresh rate, which may not be as efficient in handling the most demanding games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both very good for engineering and design, though the MSI Stealth GS77 is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, with its high-resolution OLED screen and Intel i7 processor with integrated graphics, delivers a sharp display and solid performance suitable for engineering and design, packed in a smaller, lighter form factor enhancing portability. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77 boasts a powerful Intel i7 CPU and dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, making it ideal for more graphically intensive engineering work, at the cost of reduced portability due to its larger screen size and heftier build.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
8.3/10
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
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 GS77 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering the Dell XPS 13 Plus, the screen stands out for general use due to its high resolution and brightness, making for clear and vibrant visuals. For engineering and design tasks, this screen excels with its wide color gamut, displaying accurate colors that are essential for precise work. However, its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion and rapid refresh are crucial.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 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
17.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,849
$2,499
$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 GS77 costs $2,499.
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, with its significantly lighter weight and compact form, is ideal for portability and offers excellent battery life for everyday tasks, while its high-quality OLED screen provides vibrant colors and sharp details for general use. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS77, although less portable due to its larger size and weight, caters to power users with its high-performance CPU and dedicated graphics, superior cooling, and higher RAM capacity, making it well-suited for more demanding applications beyond general use.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS77 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
8.3/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and MSI Stealth GS77 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
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and MSI Stealth GS77 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 GS77 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."
"The MSI Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the MSI Stealth GS77
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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