Best overall
Dell XPS 13
Pros
- Excellent hardware
- 4K display is available
- Better overall port selection
- More available storage
- More affordable base model
Cons
- Lower battery life
- Less available RAM
- No AMD option
The Dell XPS 13 continues to be a superb offering from Dell, as it offers excellent performance, plenty of awesome displays to choose from, a suite of top-notch ports, and up to 2TB of storage available. However, it has lower battery life than the Surface Laptop 4 and has a lower maximum RAM. There are no AMD versions of the device as well.
Best battery
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5
Pros
- Excellent hardware
- Great display
- Better battery life
- Options for AMD and Intel
Cons
- No 4K option
- Worse port selection
- Less available storage
- Less affordable base model
The Surface Laptop 4 matches the Dell XPS 13 when it comes to performance and its quality display, and surpasses it when it comes to battery life. However, the device's weaker port selection and the lack of 4K as an option are disappointing. The laptop also comes with lower maximum storage options, which will disappoint some.
Overall, the Dell XPS 13 is the better option between these two devices due to the availability of 4K, better port selection, more available storage, and a more affordable base model. However, the Surface Laptop 4 is an awesome laptop, and we recommend it if you need something with the best possible battery life or you need AMD's overall superior multi-core performance.
XPS 13 vs. Surface Laptop 4: Comparison and specs
The Surface Laptop 4.
In many ways, the Dell XPS 13 and the Surface Laptop 4 13.5 are surprisingly similar. Both devices have excellent performance, as they both can be outfitted with a variety of 11th Gen Intel CPUs and Intel's advanced new Xe graphics. Notably, the Surface Laptop 4 can also be configured with the AMD Ryzen 4680U, which will deliver better performance than Intel's processors in multi-core applications but worse performance in single-core ones.
Both devices can also be configured with plenty of RAM and storage — the Dell XPS 13 can have up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, while the Surface Laptop 4 is available with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. Both devices are Windows Hello compatible, and both are also compatible with Wi-Fi 6.
| Dell XPS 13 (9310) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel i3-1115G4 Intel i5-1135G7 i7-1185G7 |
Intel i5-1135G7 Intel i5-1145G7 (Commercial only) Intel i7-1185G7 AMD Ryzen 5 4680U |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics Intel Iris Xe |
Intel Iris Xe Radeon RX Graphics |
| Memory | 8GB 16GB |
8GB 16GB 32GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD |
128GB SSD 256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD |
| Display | 13.4" FHD+ (1920x1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare Display (500 nits) 13.4" OLED 4K (3456x2160) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective Display (400 nits) |
13.5-inch PixelSense 2256x1504 (201 PPI) display (touch) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 3:2 |
| Ports | 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 1x microSD card slot 3.5mm audio |
1x USB-C 1x USB-A Surface Connect 3.5mm audio |
| Biometrics | Windows Hello-enabled 720p camera Fingerprint reader |
Windows Hello-enabled 720p camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | 10-14 hours | 17-19 hours |
| Weight | 2.64-2.80 pounds | 2.79-2.84 pounds |
| Price | Starts at $931 | Starts at $1,000 |
The differences between the laptops become clearer when you look at the specifics, however. The Dell XPS 13 can be configured with a gorgeous 4K display and also comes with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports. These features give it a huge edge over the Surface Laptop 4 when it comes to display quality at the high end of things as well as peripheral connectivity.
Additionally, the base model of the Dell XPS 13 is also more affordable than the Surface Laptop 4 equivalent, making the Dell XPS 13 a better device for people buying on a budget. However, according to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop 4 does boast a better battery life, which comes in at 17-19 hours. This beats out the 10-14-hour battery life of the Dell XPS 13.
XPS 13 vs. Surface Laptop 4: Which should you buy?
The Dell XPS 13.
Ultimately, we think that the Dell XPS 13 is the better option between these two devices because it matches the Surface Laptop 4's performance while also offering excellent advantages such as 4K availability, better ports, and a more affordable base model. It's a close call, but we feel that these benefits give the Dell XPS 13 the edge at the end of the day.
With that said, the Surface Laptop 4 is still an awesome device, and it will serve you well if you opt for it. The improved battery life and the availability of AMD Ryzen will both benefit the people who want or need these advantages immensely. Since the Surface Laptop 4's hardware matches that of what's available in the Dell XPS 13, you'll still be getting top-notch performance.
If neither of these laptops appeals to you, make sure you check out our list of the best Windows laptops for more options.
Best overall
New Dell XPS 13 (9310)
The king holds onto the crown
From $931 at Dell From $1,262 at Amazon
The Dell XPS 13 continues to be a superb offering from Dell, as it offers excellent performance, plenty of awesome displays to choose from, a suite of top-notch ports, and up to 2TB of storage available. However, it has lower battery life than the Surface Laptop 4 and has a lower maximum RAM. There are no AMD versions of the device as well.
Best battery
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5
A superb alternative
From $1,000 at Microsoft From $1,000 at Best Buy
The Surface Laptop 4 matches the Dell XPS 13 when it comes to performance and its quality display and surpasses it when it comes to battery life. However, the device's weaker port selection and the lack of 4K as an option are disappointing. The laptop also comes with lower maximum storage options, which will disappoint some.
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