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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15, being less expensive than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, offers strong general use performance, a slightly larger screen, and longer battery life, which may appeal to those looking for a mix of value and capability for everyday tasks. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Studio boasts a higher resolution touchscreen with a higher refresh rate that can be beneficial for design and editing work, as well as stronger graphics performance that is favorable for 3D rendering and intensive gaming, despite its higher price point. Additionally, while both laptops are quite portable and offer a premium feel, the Surface Laptop Studio might have a slight edge in portability due to its unique design and lighter power brick, making it a bit easier to carry around. 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 battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a higher resolution and brighter display for crisp and vibrant visuals, coupled with a larger battery for longer use away from power, which are very important for general use; its larger screen and higher portability score also make it great for everyday tasks. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, while also good for general use, stands out with a more versatile touchscreen capable of doubling as a drawing tablet, a higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals, and its premium build quality, but it has a smaller battery which may require more frequent charging.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.3
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
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.
Content Creation
8.3
7.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
8.0
15.6in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15 provides a combination of resolution and brightness that meets everyday needs, but the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio edges ahead with a higher resolution and greater brightness, creating a more vibrant and detailed viewing experience. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops offer screens with wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation, but the Surface Laptop Studio may offer a slightly broader color range, which is crucial for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal due to lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and slower response times compared to laptops specifically designed for these purposes.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.6
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 is generally better suited for gaming and 3D tasks, with a dedicated Intel Arc A370M GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which supports most games well. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, while having a stronger Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, offers a higher screen refresh rate of 120Hz that can deliver smoother visuals, and its flexible hinge design allows for versatile use as a drawing tablet, which can be an advantage for certain creative 3D tasks.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.4in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell XPS 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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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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