Dell XPS 13 vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 7: Which should you buy?

There's no better time to shop and save money on a new laptop. Be sure to check out our continuously updated article on the best Dell XPS 13 Black Friday deals.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 is essentially an Ultrabook like the XPS 13 but without a fixed keyboard. It's much more versatile than Dell's flagship notebook and can be used as a tablet or laptop, but if you're after a notebook experience alone, you may want the XPS 13 instead. It's about as good a laptop you can buy right now and is included in our best Windows laptop collection.

The Dell XPS 13 was refreshed recently, and so we don't expect it to go on sale, but you will be able to find deals on plenty of Windows PCs for Black Friday. Be sure to keep an eye out for discounts on both of these notebooks, though even at full price, the XPS 13 really is class-leading.

Dell XPS 13 (9310) vs Surface Pro 7 tech specs

Impressive portable performance

There aren't many differences between the Surface Pro 7 and Dell XPS 13, especially when comparing specifications. Both options come with the possibility of choosing an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, but Microsoft can undercut Dell by around $200, which is a considerable sum of change.

This is largely due to Dell using Intel's more recent 11th Gen processors. But the company also achieves this is by offering less RAM on the base model (4GB vs. 8GB in the XPS 13) and less storage (128GB vs. 256GB in the XPS 13). These won't matter too much in the great scheme of things, but if you plan on doing anything other than checking email, browsing websites, and chatting to friends and family on instant messengers, you'll want to consider at least 8GB of RAM.

The Surface Pro 7 and XPS 13 have plenty of options to choose from, including Intel CPU SKUs, up to 16GB of RAM, and 512GB storage for the XPS 13 or 1TB storage for the Surface Pro 7. There is a slight downside to the Surface Pro 7 in that it doesn't technically come with a keyboard ... at least not a physical one. You'll need to shell out some more for the fancy Type Cover, but it's well worth it.

Dell has Thunderbolt 4 only, while Microsoft has more ports (and Thunderbolt 3) in the Surface Pro.

Laptop or tablet?

There's no real wrong answer here. Specifications are close, as is pricing when you consider optional accessories you really cannot live without on the Surface Pro 7. However, it comes down to whether you need a laptop or tablet. If you want something more like a tablet experience that you can use without a keyboard with your feet up on the sofa or relax reading a book on, the Surface Pro 7 is the winner.

The XPS 13 is about the best Ultrabook money can buy, and it's perfect for anyone who wants a great laptop. You can't ink on it, and the keyboard is always attached, but it's a machine. Whether you need to hit the road for the day, treat it like your desktop workstation, or unwind with some top-notch PC gaming, the XPS 13 has the ability to handle everything you throw at it. It's just a shame about the lack of any 4G option.

Dell XPS 13 for laptop lovers

If you want the best Ultrabook, look no further than the XPS 13. It houses the latest Intel processors and can be kitted out with plenty of RAM and storage to let you get on with the day.

Go with the Surface Pro 7 for something a little different

There are plenty of laptops out there to choose from, and the XPS 13 really is the best of the best. However, if you fancy trying something new, the Surface Pro 7 gives you both a notebook and tablet experience wrapped up in a gorgeous form factor.