The Dell XPS 13 Plus will be the better option for most people since it has cutting-edge CPUs, DDR5 memory, a better camera layout, a new overall design, and most likely, better battery life. However, folks who need something with more GPU horsepower or up to 64GB of RAM should look to the Dell XPS 15.
Pros
- Better CPU options
- Better memory
- Improved camera layout
- New design
- Battery life likely better
Cons
- Some may dislike capacitive touch buttons
- Less storage
- Less memory
- Worse GPU
The classic Dell XPS 15 is a superb alternative for people who need the power of NVIDIA RTX GPUs, and it also comes with options for more memory and storage as well. It also comes with traditional function keys, which some will prefer. It has a worse CPU and older DDR4 memory, though, and the overall battery life is expected to be worse.
Pros
- Better GPU options
- More memory
- More storage
- Function keys
Cons
- Worse CPU options
- Less performant memory
- Old camera layout
- Battery life likely worse
Both of these laptops are impressive, but we believe that the Dell XPS 13 Plus will be the best option for most users. Its top-notch CPUs, DDR5 memory, dual RGB/IR cameras, and modernized design all come together to make it an exemplary device for general computing and productivity. With that said, the Dell XPS 15 is as performant and reliable as ever, and we highly recommend it if you’re a specialist or enthusiast in need of NVIDIA RTX GPUs and up to 64GB of memory.
Dell XPS 13 Plus vs. 15: Design and specs
Source: Dell
Both the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Dell XPS 15 are powerful laptops, but the two devices have very different strengths. The Dell XPS 13 Plus has more advanced 12th Gen Intel CPUs and faster DDR5 memory, while the Dell XPS 15 can be outfitted with a powerful NVIDIA RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti GPU, up to 64GB of memory, and up to 8TB of SSD space. Therefore, the XPS 13 Plus will be better for general computing and light productivity work, while the XPS 15 is ideal for more intensive activities that require a hefty amount of GPU power, memory capacity, and storage, such as video editing or 3D rendering.
Note that battery life for the XPS 13 Plus is anticipated to be better since the standard Dell XPS 13 can last for up to 14 hours while the NVIDIA GPU-equipped versions of the XPS 15 only reaches 7-9 hours. Additionally, it’s also worth pointing out that the XPS 13 Plus uses a new dual RGB/IR camera layout that features sharper visuals and more effective Windows Hello facial recognition compared to the XPS 15’s traditional single RGB/IR combo camera. Depending on how often you make video calls, this change may be very beneficial to your workflow.
| Dell XPS 13 Plus | Dell XPS 15 (9510) | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-1240P Intel Core i7-1260P Intel Core i7-1270P Intel Core i7-1280P |
Intel Core i5-11400H Intel Core i7-11800H Intel Core i9-11900H |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics NVIDIA RTX 3050 NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti |
| Memory | 8GB DDR5 16GB DDR5 32GB DDR5 |
8GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 32GB DDR4 64GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD |
256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD 4TB SSD 2x 4TB SSD (8TB) |
| Display | 13.4 inches 16:10 aspect ratio 1920×1200/3456×2160/3840×2400 Touch/non-touch LCD/OLED |
15.6 inches 16:10 aspect ratio 1920×1200/3456×2160 Touch/non-touch LCD/OLED |
| Ports | 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 | 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 1x USB-C |
| Audio | 4x stereo speakers | 2x stereo speakers 2x tweeters |
| Front camera | 720p RGB camera 720p IR camera (Windows Hello) |
720p RGB/IR camera (Windows Hello) |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint reader | Fingerprint reader |
| Connectivity | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) Bluetooth 5.2 |
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2) Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Battery | 55WHr | 56WHr 86WHr (with NVIDIA GPUs) |
| Weight | 2.73 pounds (1.24kg) | Non-touch: 3.99 pounds (1.8kg) Touch: 4.31 pounds (1.96kg) |
| Price | Unknown | Starts at $1,150 |
The Dell XPS 13 Plus also comes with a completely refreshed design that includes a wider keyboard, wider keycaps, a haptic trackpad, and capacitive touch buttons that replace traditional function keys. The typing experience on the XPS 13 Plus is expected to be even better than it is on Dell’s standard XPS design (on the Dell XPS 15), but capacitive touch buttons are tricky and there’s a chance they’ll be less reliable than normal function keys. We won’t know for sure until we actually get our hands on a Dell XPS 13 Plus once it launches in spring 2022.
Dell XPS 13 Plus vs. 15: Which should you buy?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
While both the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the Dell XPS 15 are sure to satisfy, we believe that the Dell XPS 13 Plus is ultimately going to be the better option for the majority of people. Its top-of-the-line 12th Gen Intel processors, DDR5 RAM, improved camera layout, new design, and (expected) longer battery life all make it a fantastic device for the average user that needs something effective for general computing and standard productivity.
With that said, don’t count the Dell XPS 15 out — especially if you need a device that has a powerful GPU and lots of RAM and storage. With up to an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 8TB of SSD storage available, the Dell XPS 15 is perfect for specialists who need to tackle intensive workloads.
If neither of these laptops appeals to you, make sure to review our roundup of the best Windows laptops for more options.
Best overall
Dell XPS 13 Plus
The ultimate Ultrabook
The Dell XPS 13 Plus will be the better option for most people since it has cutting-edge CPUs, DDR5 memory, a better camera layout, a new overall design, and most likely, better battery life. However, folks who need something with more GPU horsepower or up to 64GB of RAM should look to the Dell XPS 15.
Best GPU
Dell XPS 15 (9510)
Heavy duty
The classic Dell XPS 15 is a superb alternative for people who need the power of NVIDIA RTX GPUs, and it also comes with options for more memory and storage as well. It also comes with traditional function keys, which some will prefer. It has a worse CPU and older DDR4 memory, though, and the overall battery life is expected to be worse.
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