When choosing between the Dell XPS 15 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, consider that the XPS 15 offers a balance of performance and portability at a lower cost, suitable for general use and light creative tasks. The MSI Stealth, while pricier, offers higher performance for demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, but it's less portable and could have a shorter battery life. Your decision should reflect your primary needs: everyday functionality and value with the Dell, or advanced capabilities for specialized, resource-intensive tasks with the MSI. 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
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15, while offering decent graphics performance, falls short for high-end gaming and intensive 3D tasks compared to the MSI Stealth 15M due to a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate. The Stealth 15M, on the other hand, excels in these areas with a superior GPU and higher refresh rate, providing smoother visuals which are crucial for these applications, although both have capable CPUs and high-quality screens.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
9.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 is very good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers robust performance with a quality CPU, GPU, and ample RAM that suit engineering and design tasks, plus it has a high-quality screen, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio outshines it with even more powerful components, making it excellent for more demanding engineering and design work. However, the XPS 15 is more portable and has a quieter operating noise, which could be a consideration for users who prioritize mobility and a quieter work environment over the highest possible performance.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15 offers a balance of resolution and brightness that makes it pleasant for typical tasks, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio provides an even better visual experience due to its higher resolution and brightness, making images and text sharp and vivid. In engineering and design work, both laptops have screens that can display a wide range of colors, but the MSI's superior coverage of color gamuts such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB ensures more accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for professional photo editing and graphic design. However, when it comes to 3D work and gaming, the lower refresh rates on both models might not deliver the smoothness that fast-paced visuals require, despite their competent resolutions and panel technologies.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has 6 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
18.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$2,900
$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 MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a balance of powerful CPU and ample RAM, a high-quality screen, and good battery life which makes it ideal for daily tasks as well as media consumption while being easier to carry around. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio provides similar CPU and RAM advantages with a focus on screen precision for creative work, although with a tradeoff in battery life and portability due to its larger size and power needs.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.1/10
8.2/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI Stealth 18 AI 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 MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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