When choosing between the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, consider that the Dell often offers higher performance suitable for demanding applications, which may justify its higher price if you need the extra power. On the other hand, the Lenovo is typically more budget-friendly, lighter, and may offer longer battery life, making it a better choice for those who prioritize savings and portability for everyday tasks without needing top-tier performance. If gaming, 3D work, or intensive multitasking are your focus, leaning toward the Dell could pay off in smoothness of experience. 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 for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13 Plus.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.4/10
8.2/10
13.4in
SIZE
13.5in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
374.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus excels in screen resolution and brightness, making it a great choice for general use and engineering where these aspects contribute to a clear and vivid display. For engineering and design tasks, its superior color accuracy covers a wide range of the color spectrum, ensuring precise visual details. However, gamers might find its lower refresh rate less ideal for the fast-paced visuals required in gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has 8 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
7.6/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,849
$1,399
$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 ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, with its powerful CPU and RAM, provides snappy performance for demanding tasks and multitasking, complemented by a high-quality screen, long battery life, and its lightweight design enhances portability; however, for more extended periods of use, its heat management and potential operational noise could be a concern. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offers good performance for everyday tasks with satisfactory screen quality and battery life, in a portable design, but its keyboard and speaker quality aren't as impressive, which may affect the overall user experience for some.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus, with its higher-end GPU, provides smoother gameplay and better 3D rendering, which is a significant advantage for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while offering decent performance due to its capable CPU, falls behind in these tasks due to a less powerful GPU and a standard screen refresh rate. The screen quality on both laptops ensures sharp and clear visuals, but for intensive gaming and 3D work, the superior GPU and refresh rate on the Dell are more critical.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus typically offers a more powerful CPU, more RAM for multitasking, and a higher quality GPU for rendering tasks, which benefits engineering and design work that demands top-tier performance and visual clarity. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while slightly less powerful, is known for its balance between performance and portability, providing a good keyboard and quieter operation which can be favorable for extended work sessions.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.0/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
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.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
13.4in
SIZE
13.5in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Dell XPS 13 Plus both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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