Dell XPS 13 9350 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 8.0 for the Dell XPS 13 9350, 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 13 9350 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Dell XPS 13 9350 (Geekbench multi 14,100 vs 13,200).
- Longer battery: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (16h vs 15.2h web).
- Lighter: Dell XPS 13 9350 (1.19 kg vs 1.34 kg).
- Display: IPS (Dell XPS 13 9350) vs IPS (PixelSense) (Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)).
- Cheaper: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (saves about $50 CAD).
XPS 13 9350 vs Surface Laptop 7 (13.8): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Dell XPS 13 9350 is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,100 against 13,200 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) — roughly 7% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Dell XPS 13 9350 averaged 18 FPS versus 16 FPS. The Dell XPS 13 9350 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 15.2 hours. The Dell XPS 13 9350 is also easier to carry at 1.19 kg versus 1.34 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Dell XPS 13 9350 uses a 13.4-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1200, 60Hz), while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) has a 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel (2304 x 1536, 120Hz). 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 $50 less than the Dell XPS 13 9350. Weighed against our test scores (8.0 vs 8.3 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 Dell XPS 13 9350 review and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the XPS 13 9350 and the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | XPS 13 9350 | Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.0 | 8.3 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $1,499 | $1,449 ✓ |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 16GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 13.4" IPS | 13.8" IPS (PixelSense) |
| Brightness | 478 nits | 596 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 15.2 h | 16 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.19 kg ✓ | 1.34 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 14,100 ✓ | 13,200 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 18 fps ✓ | 16 fps |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (onsite available) | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 8.0 for the Dell XPS 13 9350, 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 13 9350 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the XPS 13 9350 or the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 8.0 for the Dell XPS 13 9350, 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 13 9350 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Dell XPS 13 9350 is the better choice for travel.
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