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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15 is often more expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, but it offers a better overall build quality, heat management, and slightly higher performance for general use and engineering tasks due to its newer processor and Arc A370M graphics. While both laptops have similar storage and RAM, the IdeaPad 5 Pro, costing less, comes with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU which may offer better gaming performance. It also has a higher resolution display with a faster refresh rate, great for crisp visuals and faster on-screen movements. However, the XPS 15 has superior color accuracy and brightness levels, making it favorable for tasks that require color precision. Each laptop weighs over four pounds, so portability is similar. Both offer long battery life and various connectivity options including USB-C, while the IdeaPad has slightly better screen features for fast motion and is better configured for gaming but not as much for other intensive tasks. Choose the Dell XPS 15 if you prioritize higher build quality, and general and engineering performance; consider the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro for its better value, gaming performance, and higher refresh rate display. 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 15
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a high-quality screen and strong CPU and RAM capabilities that excel in intensive tasks, coupled with good battery life and portability, suiting diverse daily needs. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, while offering solid performance with good CPU and ample RAM, is more budget-friendly, but may trade off some screen quality and battery life compared to the Dell, making it a practical choice for cost-conscious users seeking reliable general performance.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good.
The Dell XPS 15 suits engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, dedicated Intel Arc GPU, and high-quality IPS display, which handles complex tasks and delivers crisp visuals. Contrarily, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro offers an AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, providing robust performance and better graphic capabilities which are essential for engineering software and design rendering, but with a display that trades off a bit on color accuracy compared to the XPS. Both laptops prioritize CPU, RAM, and GPU specs for demanding tasks, while the XPS 15 edges out in screen quality. Portability and keyboard quality are competitive, though the IdeaPad may offer a higher refresh rate screen, preferred by users prioritizing smoother visuals.
Content Creation
8.3
7.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good.
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
8.1
7.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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.
Screen Quality
7.4
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro for software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro both feature panels with high resolution and brightness, offering crisp and clear visuals for general tasks and detailed work in engineering and design. Their screens cover a wide range of colors, meeting the demands for accuracy in professional creative tasks where precise color representation is essential. However, for gaming and 3D work, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, which results in less fluid motion and can be a disadvantage when smooth rendering of fast-paced visuals is crucial.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$860
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro costs $860.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.5
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15, with its Intel Arc A370M GPU and a 60Hz screen refresh rate, is good for gaming and 3D applications because the GPU is capable of handling complex graphics, though the refresh rate may limit the smoothness in fast-paced games.
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has 10 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $860 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 4.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 409 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.1/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
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 | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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.
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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 is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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