The Surface Laptop 3 Vs Dell Xps 13 are two devices that have been around for a while and provide similar features. Comparing the Surface Laptop 3 and the Dell XPS 13 laptop may seem like an unfair fight, but it’s one that needs to be considered.
The Surface Laptop 3 is Microsoft’s newest line of laptops, while the Dell XPS 13 is a model that has been on the market for years.
What are the differences between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and the Dell XPS 13? Let’s explore!
Comparing Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 Vs Dell Xps 13
Specs and functionality
Specifications for Dell XPS 13:
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 (8MB cache and up to 3.9 GHz).
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Weight: 2.8 lbs.
- Thickness: 0.58 in.
- Battery: 52Wh.
- Display: 13.4 inch touchscreen (1920×1200).
- Camera: 720p
Surface Laptop 3 specifications:
- Processor: Intel Core i7 (10th Generation) 1065G7 / 1.3 GHz (8MB cache, up to 3.9 GHz).
- RAM: 16GB SDRAM LDDR4X RAM
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Weight: 2.84 lbs.
- Battery life: Up to 11.5 hours
- Display: 13.5-inch touchscreen (2256×1504)
The laptops come with the same dual-core Core Core i5 and i7 processors. These laptops also have high-speed PCIe SSDs and 16GB of memory. However, the Foundation Surface Laptop model only has 4GB of memory. For this high-end device, we recommend at least 8GB RAM.
The current specifications for the Dell XPS 13 in the USA include 640 images and slightly superior processors. We will upgrade the piece if they arrive in the UK.
Design
Both laptop brands have adequate-sized precision touchpads. This model, like all Microsoft models, has a touch-enabled screen. You can also use the surface pen to draw on the screen. XPS13 also comes with a touch and non-touch display.
However, XPS 13 weighs less and offers Full HD options. Keys Travel keyboard is 1.3mm wide and very easy to use. This makes it an ideal model for those who spend a lot of time on the keyboard. You can enjoy 3-stage backlighting on all models of the keyboard. This backlighting feature isn’t available for the Sandstone model. It has lower contrast than other models.
The XPS 13 keyboard is more difficult on the fingers than its Surface counterpart. The Surface keyboard is more suitable for prolonged use if you work for a long time.
Both the Microsoft Surface 3 laptops and the XPS 13 laptops have excellent build quality. Surface Laptop 3 is available in an all-around aluminum except for the Alcantara fabric model. Black and gold models have aluminum keyboard decks and skip Alcantara fabric which was the trademark of the laptop.
The XPS 13 uses carbon fabrics and metal. Both types of laptops can be trusted due to the high quality of their built materials.
Microsoft even did a minor upgrade to the Surface laptop. Users have complained that the Surface 2 (previous versions) was difficult to repair or upgrade. It’s now possible to have service centers access your laptop’s components by taking out the keyboard tray. The XPS 13 has a similar feature that allows users to repair or upgrade their system whenever they wish.
Surface Laptop 3 has received a major upgrade from the previous model. It now features sculpted keys with a 19mm pitch between keys and 13mm travel. The XPS 13 laptop has a fast keyboard, precise mechanism, and enough travel, just like its predecessor model.
Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 are included in the XPS 13, along with a microSD reader and 3.5mm audio jack. Surface Laptop 3 finally adds a USB 3.1 port to the laptop, but it doesn’t support Thunderbolt. It also has a USB A 3.1 port and Surface Connect port for charging. Microsoft didn’t include an SD card reader.
Both laptops are compatible with the latest Wi-Fi 6, but Surface Laptop 3 supports Bluetooth 5.0, while the XPS 13 upgrade to Bluetooth 5.1.
These features make the Surface 3 and XPS 13 laptops portable and stylish, with exceptional performance. These ultrabooks are among the most popular on the market. This is how form and function can be combined in a perfect balance.
Read also Surface Laptop vs Surface Book comparison to see which laptop is better.
Display
Both machines have displays that are at least 1080p. This is a great starting point since this is an essential feature for any 2020 ultrabook. There are two models available for the Dell XPS 13 13. It’s average for the price Dell charges on these laptops.
The Surface’s display is much better than the 1080p model, which comes in at more than 1440p at 2256 x 1504.
The Dell XPS 13 offers a 4K display option. It looks amazing. It is vibrant and sharp. Although the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3’s display isn’t as sharp as the 4K XPS’, it does have a standard touchscreen that the XPS doesn’t. The XPS 13 wins this category, even if.
Performance
There are two sub-categories of performance: CPU and GPU. Both computers have solid CPUs, with quad-core processors in both models. Both laptops come with the Intel 10th Gen i5 processor as their base model. You can also upgrade to an i7 if desired.
The XPS 13 lags a lot on the graphics side. Intel Iris Plus graphics would make a decent graphics chip for these laptops. It’s what you see across the entire Surface and MacBook line-up.
However, Dell decided that the lower-end XPS models did not require Iris Plus, so they installed Intel’s UHD Graphics. These are much worse. The minimum price for the Iris Plus GPU in the Dell XPS is $1400. This compares to $100 for the Surface Laptop.
Portability
The XPS 13 measures 0.46 inches thick, 2.7 pounds, and the Surface Laptop 3 is 0.57 inches thick and weighs 2.84 pounds. The XPS 13 is lighter and smaller than the Surface Laptop 3, but it is still easy to transport.
The XPS 13 is the clear winner in terms of battery life. The Surface Laptop was able to last us seven to eight hours. We found that the 2020 XPS 13 laptop model had a battery life of over 11 hours for casual browsing and more than eight hours for local video playback.
This is one of the most impressive battery performances we have seen for a laptop this small. It is a close contest if the XPS 13’s latest version maintains this level of quality.
Resolution
HDR video is supported by the 4k high-resolution display on XPS 13. This gives it a brighter outlook. The good news is that the resolution supports Dolby Vision. This vision is usually only available on TVs. However, it’s a great development that Dell now makes this possible on laptops that have the XPS13 laptop model.
Surface Laptop 3 features a 13.5-inch screen with a higher resolution of 2,256 x 1,504. Surface laptops have always had excellent contrast and standard color support. This model is no exception.
Two camera options are available on the XPS 13 laptop. The Infrared camera is 340×340 and can be used for Windows Hello authentication. You can also get the Top-mount version, which measures 1280×720 pixels (0.9 pixels), and has a fixed-focused lens.
Microsoft Surface 3 features a 720HD front-face cam with Windows Face Authentication. Surface 3 has more security protection than the two-camera options.
See Dell XPS 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Comparison, click here.
Keyboard/Trackpad
The XPS 13’s keyboard is the same as its previous versions. It has enough travel and a precise mechanism. Surface Laptop 3’s keyboard has been updated to include 13mm travel, 19mm pitch between keys, and sculpted keycaps.
Both laptops have a solid trackpad and keyboard. Both keyboards are great. They have enough key travel and feel great. It is also bigger than the trackpads on the previous models, which is an added benefit.
Although I didn’t like the trackpads in the past, the extra space and windows precision drivers make them a great choice. However, the MacBooks trackpads work miles better.
Connections
Because it supports Thunderbolt 3, XPS 13 is the best choice for connecting ports. Surface Laptop 3 now features a USB-C 3.1 port. It has a connection port to charge smartphones and other rechargeable devices. It does not support Thunderbolt 3 or an SD card reader. This is where XPs13 has an advantage. Both laptops support Bluetooth 5 and WiFi 6.
Graphics
Both Surface laptop 3 and XPS 13 have graphics that are quite powerful for almost all tasks. You can also choose from different versions depending on your needs. XPS 13 features 8th-generation processors with three core options: i7-8565U and i5-8565U. These processors feature Intel UHD graphics at 300 MHZ, which can reach as high as 1.15GHz.
On the other hand, Microsoft’s Surface 3 laptop has both the Intel Core processor and AMD Ryzen processors. The Intel core processor is the 10th generation with 300 MHz of processing power. It can also reach 1.10GHz. There are two versions of the Ryzen processors: the 73780U and 5 3580U. Both come with 1400 MHz and 11 GPU cores.
MD Ryzen is the only AMD processor capable of beating Intel. Intel is still the best standard due to its solid built for speed. There is good news if you are looking for a Microsoft product that has an Intel processor. You will need to purchase the Intel version of the Surface 3 laptop, which comes with both AMD Ryzen or Intel i5 versions.
Battery Life
Only the 1080p version of the Dell XPS 13 has good battery life. The battery life drops dramatically when you switch to the 4K display. The Surface Laptop 3 is impressive at 10-12 hours for the 1080p XPS 13.
The 4K Dell XPS 13 gets only 5-7 hours of battery time, which significantly decreases compared with the lower-resolution display.
You can choose which XPS display you prefer. The Surface Laptop 3 is a better battery than the 4K XPS 13, but it’s not a great one.
Price/Value
Both machines have similar pricing and fall within the price range of premium ultrabooks. You have to pay more for the Surface features that Dell offers. You will need to spend an additional $100 if you want a touchscreen. You can also choose the white color option for $50 more. These are the standard features of the Surface Laptop 3.
You will need to purchase the exact specifications to get Iris Plus Graphics for the XPS 13. It comes with an i7 processor and 16GB RAM. It also has 256GB SSD and Iris Plus Graphics.
It becomes $1550 after adding $150 worth of upgrades. This is almost the $1600 Microsoft will charge for the exact specification. This category is close because the prices are very similar.
FAQs
Is the Surface Laptop 3 available in different colors?
The Surface Laptop 3 is available in many different colors including Cobalt Blue, Platinum, Burgundy, and more. The Dell XPS 13 is only available in black, silver, and gold.
Does the Surface Laptop 3 have a USB Type-C port?
No, the Surface Laptop 3 only has a USB 3.1 Type-A port. The Dell XPS 13 has a USB 3.1 Type-C port. It also has two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The Dell XPS 13 is compatible with the Surface Connect to charge the device, but it doesn’t have a port for using the dongle or standard USB Type-A port.
Why does the Surface Laptop 3 not come with a USB Type-C?
The Surface Laptop 3 does not come with a USB Type-C port because the port has been replaced by a new hinge design. The hinge design is supposed to enable smoother transitions between the laptop and tablet modes.
The new hinge design also allows you to fold the Surface Laptop 3 flat for more space.
Is the Surface Laptop 3 faster than the Dell XPS 13?
The Dell XPS 13 is much faster than the Surface Laptop 3. The Dell XPS 13 offers a much faster i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and double the hard drive space. The Dell XPS 13 also has USB-C ports for connecting to new technologies like Thunderbolt 3.
Conclusion
The Surface Laptop 3 is probably the best laptop out there for its purpose. However, it does lack some features that the Dell XPS 13 has.
Overall, if you are looking for a sleek laptop to use primarily for browsing the internet and checking email, the Surface Laptop 3 is the way to go. If you are looking for something with more processing power and better graphics, the Dell XPS 13 is the one for you.
Thanks for reading MedCPU’s Surface Laptop 3 vs Dell XPS 13 comparison. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments section below.
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Eyal Ephrat serves as the co-founder and CEO of medCPU.com, where technology is making significant strides in the field of medicine. Through his experience in purchasing PC and laptop equipment and various other tech products, Eyal Ephrat contributes valuable insights to medCPU’s mission.
