Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) vs Dell XPS 16 9640: Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 7.8 for the Dell XPS 16 9640, making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) leads overall, while the XPS 16 9640 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Dell XPS 16 9640 (Geekbench multi 13,400 vs 13,200).
- Longer battery: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (16h vs 9h web).
- Lighter: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (1.34 kg vs 2.1 kg).
- Display: IPS (PixelSense) (Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)) vs OLED (Dell XPS 16 9640).
- Cheaper: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (saves about $1,750 CAD).
Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) vs XPS 16 9640: Full Breakdown
Performance: the Dell XPS 16 9640 is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 13,400 against 13,200 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) — roughly 2% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Dell XPS 16 9640 averaged 78 FPS versus 16 FPS. The Dell XPS 16 9640 is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) lasts longer away from a charger, running 16 hours in our web-browsing test versus 9 hours. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is also easier to carry at 1.34 kg versus 2.1 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) uses a 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel (2304 x 1536, 120Hz), while the Dell XPS 16 9640 has a 16.3-inch OLED panel (3840 x 2400, 90Hz). The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) measured brighter at 596 nits, and covered 82% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,750 less than the Dell XPS 16 9640. Weighed against our test scores (8.3 vs 7.8 overall), the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) offers the better value for the money, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review and Dell XPS 16 9640 review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) and the XPS 16 9640 feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) | XPS 16 9640 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.3 ✓ | 7.8 |
| Price (CAD) | $1,449 ✓ | $3,199 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (60W) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 32GB LPDDR5x ✓ |
| Storage | 512GB | 1000GB ✓ |
| Display | 13.8" IPS (PixelSense) | 16.3" OLED |
| Brightness | 596 nits ✓ | 408 nits |
| Battery (web) | 16 h ✓ | 9 h |
| Weight | 1.34 kg ✓ | 2.1 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 13,200 | 13,400 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 16 fps | 78 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited (onsite available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 7.8 for the Dell XPS 16 9640, making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) leads overall, while the XPS 16 9640 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) or the XPS 16 9640?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 7.8 for the Dell XPS 16 9640, making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) leads overall, while the XPS 16 9640 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Dell XPS 16 9640 is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Dell XPS 16 9640 is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Dell XPS 16 9640 is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for travel.
Real tests. Smarter laptop decisions.
Get top-tested laptop picks, Canadian deal alerts, and buying advice.