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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15 is often more expensive but offers better performance for intensive engineering tasks, with a dedicated GPU and more power under the hood. It has a larger screen but is less portable due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is generally less expensive and more portable, with a lighter build and a smaller screen that's also touchscreen-enabled. It performs adequately for general use and moderate workloads, and though it lacks a dedicated GPU, it's still capable of some 3D tasks and machine learning thanks to its integrated graphics. Both have similar storage and RAM, quality keyboards, and are suitable for some gaming. Choose the XPS 15 for higher demanding tasks and the ThinkBook 13s for value and portability. 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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Dell XPS 15 is equipped with a high-performance CPU and dedicated GPU, making it suitable for demanding engineering applications and design work that requires strong graphics capabilities; additionally, it has a high-quality screen but is less portable due to its size and weight.
Content Creation
8.3
7.8
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Screen Quality
7.4
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offer crisp visuals and bright displays due to their high resolutions and quality panel types, making text and images look sharp and clear. Engineers and designers will appreciate the wide color gamuts of these laptops ensuring that colors are precisely rendered for critical tasks. However, gamers and professionals using 3D applications may find the refresh rates of these screens lacking, which can affect the smoothness of motion and responsiveness during fast-paced scenes or rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.8
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a strong balance for general use with its high-quality screen, ample RAM, and a capable CPU that handles various tasks smoothly; its larger screen and good battery life contribute to a comfortable user experience, but it's less portable due to its size and weight. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s also provides a sharp, high-resolution display and comparable RAM and CPU for everyday tasks, with added portability thanks to its lighter weight and smaller form factor, but its battery life is shorter, which may limit its use on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.4
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications because it features a dedicated Intel Arc A370M graphics card, which is significantly stronger than the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics found in the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. Both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, but a stronger GPU in the Dell will deliver a smoother and richer visual experience, which is very important for gaming and 3D tasks.
Software Development
8.1
7.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-1260P | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
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."
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chin | July 2021
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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.
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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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