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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell XPS 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, consider how you'll use the laptop. The Dell XPS 15 is ideal for intensive engineering tasks, thanks to its high-performance processor and dedicated graphics card; however, it's less portable than the Surface Laptop due to its larger size and weight. The Surface Laptop 5 offers greater portability and a high-resolution touchscreen in a smaller package but falls short in demanding performance scenarios. Both have ample storage and memory for general use, but the Dell's superior hardware makes it better suited for 3D, machine learning, and gaming at the expense of battery life and ease of transport. If these tradeoffs align with your needs and you're comfortable with a higher price, the Dell XPS 15 may be the better option. Otherwise, for everyday tasks and ease of mobility, the Surface Laptop 5 is a compelling and usually less expensive choice. 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
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a superior CPU and a dedicated GPU, making it very good for general use including more demanding applications, while its larger screen with higher brightness provides an enhanced viewing experience. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is lighter and thinner for better portability and has a higher resolution touchscreen, but it has an integrated GPU and shorter battery life, which suits general use with an emphasis on portability over high-performance tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.1
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell XPS 15 is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 15 boasts a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", making it more suitable for gaming and 3D applications where these factors are crucial for smooth visuals and performance. The Surface Laptop, while offering decent screen quality and CPU, falls short for intense gaming due to its less capable graphics hardware and lower refresh rate, affecting how fluidly it can render fast-moving images.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Dell XPS 15, with its high-performance CPU and dedicated GPU, is well-suited for demanding engineering and design applications which require substantial processing and graphics power. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a balance of CPU and integrated graphics capabilities, making it a more portable choice for engineering and design tasks without the need for intensive graphics processing.
Content Creation
8.3
7.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, software development, and content creation.
The Dell XPS 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 both offer vibrant displays with high resolution and brightness suited for general tasks like browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design, their wide color coverage can help professionals accurately visualize their projects. However, due to their standard refresh rates, these laptops are less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, which benefit from higher refresh rates for smoother visuals.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,224
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,224.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,224 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-1255U | |
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 | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 9/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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