A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15, being less expensive, is a solid choice for general use and moderate engineering tasks with its midrange features, including a decent battery life and lightweight design which makes it quite portable. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 9i is pricier but offers top-tier performance for intensive engineering, 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming thanks to its more powerful processor and GPU, larger storage, and more RAM. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which affects its portability. Both have high-quality displays but the Legion's screen is superior, especially for fast motion and color-sensitive work. Consider the Legion 9i if high performance and display quality are priorities, and the XPS 15 for a balance of price, performance, and portability. 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
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 9i
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Best in class overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8
9.2
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 9i outshines the Dell XPS 15 in gaming and 3D due to its superior Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics and higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, compared to the Dell's Intel Arc A370M GPU and 60Hz refresh rate. Although the Dell offers a good display and a capable Intel i7 processor, the Lenovo packs a more powerful Intel i9 CPU and Mini LED screen, contributing to its excellence in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1
9.6
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i surpasses the Dell XPS 15 in performance for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a significantly better GPU, providing smoother and faster processing for resource-intensive tasks. While the Dell XPS 15 offers an IPS screen with decent color accuracy, the Legion 9i steps up with a Mini LED display, higher resolution, and superior color coverage, ensuring more detailed and vibrant visuals crucial for design work. However, the XPS 15 is lighter and has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for users who value portability and longer unplugged usage.
Screen Quality
7.4
9.7
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vibrant and sharp display for everyday tasks and professional design work, the Lenovo Legion 9i stands out with its superior panel quality and color accuracy, delivering an excellent visual experience in both resolution and color range. The Dell XPS 15, while offering a good display, doesn't match the Lenovo's color spectrum, making it less ideal for precision in design work but still very capable for general use. However, for gaming and 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, neither laptop excels, as they're more tuned for visual fidelity over the smoother motion clarity provided by higher refresh rates.
Battery
10.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$3,420
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 15, with a more portable design and longer battery life, is excellent for general use as it provides solid performance with good screen quality, and a comfortable keyboard. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 9i, while less portable and with shorter battery life, offers a more powerful CPU and GPU, larger storage and RAM, along with a higher-resolution screen, which makes it ideal for more demanding tasks beyond general use.
Content Creation
8.3
8.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Dell XPS 15 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
8.1
8.3
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Dell XPS 15 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
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo Legion 9i both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo Legion 9i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | Lenovo Legion 9i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $3,420 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 5.64 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 14.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 10.93" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3200 x 2000 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 682 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.8/10 | |
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 | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 15
See more
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 Legion 9i
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | December 2023
"The Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Lenovo Legion 9i
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell XPS 15 vs. LG Ultra 16
VS
Compare Dell XPS 15 vs. ASUS Vivobook 16X
VS
Compare Dell XPS 15 vs. ASUS TUF Gaming F17
VS
Compare Lenovo Legion 9i vs. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
VS
Compare Lenovo Legion 9i vs. Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D
VS
Compare Lenovo Legion 9i vs. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
132,495
Recommendations made
28,708
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
