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 March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider that the XPS 15 usually offers superior performance suitable for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, but it comes at a higher cost and may be heavier, impacting portability. The ThinkPad X13 is more budget-friendly, highly portable, and has a reputation for durability, making it ideal for business professionals who prioritize mobility and reliability over high-end performance. If your work involves travel and less intensive applications, the ThinkPad may serve you well; for power users in need of strong performance, the XPS 15 is a better fit despite being less portable and more expensive. 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 overall display quality
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
- Very good portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.4
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offer high-resolution displays with bright panels that enhance visibility and clarity, making web browsing, document editing, and video streaming vivid and comfortable for the eyes. In engineering and design, their wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation crucial for tasks like photo editing or CAD work, but they lack the high refresh rates that are essential for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications, where on-screen action can be fast-paced and demanding. Both models may not satisfy serious gamers or professionals who work extensively with 3D graphics due to the moderate importance of resolution and panel type.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$1,459
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,459.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a high-quality screen with powerful CPU and RAM, making it suitable for demanding tasks and multimedia enjoyment, but its larger size affects portability and battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while also providing good CPU and RAM, shines in portability and battery life because of its smaller form factor, which, alongside a respected keyboard and durable design, makes it ideal for on-the-go professionals who prioritize those factors over screen real estate.
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.7
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
Both the Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 come equipped with GPUs that can handle gaming and 3D tasks adequately, but they are not top-of-the-line, which limits their performance in very demanding games and applications. While they offer decent screen quality and competent CPUs for a range of activities, their screen refresh rates are not as high as dedicated gaming laptops, which means they won't provide as smooth an experience in fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 15 often features high-performance CPUs, ample RAM, and dedicated GPUs with excellent screen quality, making it ideal for demanding engineering and design tasks that require significant processing power and clear visuals. Whereas the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while slightly less powerful, offers a balance of performance with portability and is known for its robust keyboard quality, making it a practical choice for professionals who prioritize mobility without compromising considerably on computation and display capabilities.
Content Creation
8.3
8.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 ThinkPad X13 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 ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,459 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 2.87 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 11.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 8.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.1/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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 ThinkPad X13
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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
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
