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Updated March 21, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell XPS 15 and the MSI Titan 18 HX, consider that the Dell offers a balance of affordability, performance, and portability, making it suitable for everyday tasks and some professional applications. The MSI, on the other hand, is tailored for high-end gaming and demanding software, offering superior performance but at a higher cost and with less emphasis on portability due to its size and shorter battery life. If your work involves resource-intensive tasks or you're an avid gamer, the MSI might justify the extra expense; otherwise, the Dell could meet your needs efficiently. 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
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.2
8.8
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a balance of performance with its CPU and ample RAM, a high-quality screen, and greater portability with longer battery life, making it well-suited for everyday tasks and on-the-go use. The MSI Titan 18 HX, while also having a powerful CPU and plenty of RAM, focuses on delivering top-notch performance for demanding applications but sacrifices portability and battery life due to its larger size and focus on high-end components.
Gaming and AI
6.8
9.4
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 comes with a less powerful GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, making it adequate for casual gaming and 3D tasks. The MSI Titan 18 HX, on the other hand, includes a top-tier gaming GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which provides a superior experience for high-end gaming and intensive 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1
9.9
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 is very good.
The Dell XPS 15, with its high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and premium screen, is well-suited for engineering tasks, striking a balance between performance and portability. The MSI Titan 18 HX, on the other hand, offers an even more powerful CPU, larger RAM capacity, and a superior GPU, making it excellent for the most demanding engineering and design work, albeit with a tradeoff in portability and potential for higher operating noise.
Content Creation
8.3
9.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Dell XPS 15 is very 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
8.9
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for software development, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
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
9.2
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell XPS 15's display provides sharp images and vivid colors thanks to its high resolution and brightness, making it well-suited for everyday tasks and professional design work where color accuracy is crucial. The MSI Titan 18 HX's superior display covers a wider range of colors, enhancing visual work in engineering and design by offering greater fidelity in color reproduction, which is critical for precise work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where a fluid visual experience is key, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, meaning they won't provide the smoothest gameplay or 3D visualization.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$4,949
$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 Titan 18 HX costs $4,949.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI Titan 18 HX 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 Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $4,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.1/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
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 | 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."
MSI Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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.
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