The Dell XPS 15, with a midrange price, is often slightly more expensive than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5. While both have similar storage and RAM, the XPS 15 with an Intel i7 processor and Intel Arc GPU is well suited for general use and engineering tasks, offering a decent battery life and high-quality display. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, making it a better choice for gaming and 3D/machine learning, though with reduced battery life and portability. The Lenovo also includes a 144Hz screen refresh rate for smoother visuals, which is advantageous for fast-paced gaming. 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 software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a balance of a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen which makes it a solid performer for everyday tasks while also being light and having a long battery life for portability. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5, while also good for general use due to its efficient CPU and sufficient RAM, leans more towards users needing extra performance for gaming with its robust thermal management, but it sacrifices some portability and battery life in comparison.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.7/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a blend of performance and aesthetics with its Intel Arc A370M GPU making it suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, although its screen refresh rate is standard at 60Hz which may not be as smooth for certain fast-paced games.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
8.1/10
7.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 offer screens with sufficient resolution and brightness, providing clear and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks like web browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, both laptops deliver accurate color representation with their respective color gamuts, ensuring that professionals can work with a high degree of precision on visual projects. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and potentially less immersive experience compared to laptops specifically designed for these purposes with higher refresh rates.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Cost
$1,000
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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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
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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.