Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): the battle of Snapdragon in direction of Intel
The Snapdragon-powered Dell XPS 13 presents cutting-edge mobile tech that may revolutionize laptops, with unbelievable battery life, sturdy effectivity and a great deal of AI smarts.
For
- Great effectivity
- Distinctive battery life
- Engaging design
In opposition to
- The worst port selection conceivable
- Pricey
The Dell XPS 13 (9350) comes with Intel’s latest mobile CPUs and presents great effectivity and battery life. Nonetheless, it is not pretty as spectacular as a result of the Snapdragon model.
For
- Good complete picture prime quality
- Wonderful gaming choices
- Unbelievable value
In opposition to
- Picture requires adjustment
- Some backlight blooming
- Restricted sound prime quality
The 2024 model of the Dell XPS 13 already impressed us as soon as we reviewed the mannequin with the Snapdragon X Elite chip earlier this 12 months, and now Dell has launched a mannequin with Intel’s latest mobile chips.
Whereas quite a few factors of the Dell XPS 13 (Intel, 2024) are the an identical as a result of the Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024) the essential factor distinction is found contained in the laptop computer pc because of variations in {{hardware}}, and which means there are some delicate contrasts that will add as a lot as pretty a particular experience.
Whenever you’re searching for to buy a model new Dell XPS 13 (and it’s best to, it’s in all probability the best laptops of 2024), you could be confused by the completely totally different fashions, significantly as on the floor they seem related.
Dell XPS 13 (Intel, 2024) vs Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024): specs
Sooner than we dive into the comparability, right here is the specs of the underside model of every variations of the Dell XPS 13:
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Dell XPS 13 (9345) | Dell XPS 13 (9350) |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | Starting at $1,299 / £1,099 along with VAT / AU$2,098.80 | Starting at $1,199.99 / £1,249.01 / AU$3,198.80 |
| Present | 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 60Hz HDR | 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 60Hz HDR |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite | Intel Core Extraordinarily 5 – 9 Sequence 2 |
| Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Intel Arc Graphics |
| NPU | Qualcom Hexagon, 45 TOPS | Intel AI Improve, 47 TOPS |
| RAM | As a lot as 64GB LPDDR5x | As a lot as 32GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | As a lot as 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD | As a lot as 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD |
| Ports | 2x USB 4 Type C | 2x USB 4 Type C |
| Connectivity | WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Battery | 55WHr | 55WHr |
| Weight | 2.6lbs (1.19kg) | 2.6lbs (1.19kg) |
| Dimensions | 11.62 x 7.84 x 0.58 ins (295.3 x 199.1 x 14.8 mm) | 11.62 x 7.84 x 0.58 ins (295.3 x 199.1 x 14.8 mm) |
Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): value and availability
The value of the two completely totally different fashions is our first clue that the two Dell XPS 13 laptops differ in some delicate however essential strategies.
The Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024) – moreover often known as the Dell XPS 13 (9345) – was the first model to be launched, and was one in every of many first ‘Copilot+ PC’ items. These are Residence home windows 11 laptops that attribute AI-capable chips, allowing them to run artificial intelligence devices on the machine itself, comparatively than using cloud-based corporations.
Presently, there’s only one model of the Snapdragon XPS 13 on the market inside the UK and Australia, and it comes with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD and a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 show for £1,249 / AU$2,898.50, and you may configure it with 32GB or 64GB RAM, 1TB or 2TB SSD and as a lot as a 3K touchscreen present, though this supplies pretty a bit to the worth.
Inside the US, you have quite a few additional decisions. The underside model comes with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD for $1,099.99, though this model is normally discounted further – it’s presently on sale at Dell for $899.99.
It is also attainable to get it with the additional extremely efficient Snapdragon X Elite chip, and 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD (an identical specs on the UK base model) for $1,199.99. The broader range of decisions inside the US is definitely welcome as a result of it means it’s additional in all probability that there is a Snapdragon mannequin of the Dell XPS 13 that most nearly fits your needs and funds.
The Intel model of the Dell XPS 13 (generally called the Dell XPS 13 (9350)) acquired right here out a bit later, and choices Intel’s latest Core Extraordinarily Sequence 2 processors with built-in Arc graphics.
Inside the US you have the selection of the Intel Core Extraordinarily 5 226V, the Intel Core Extraordinarily 7 256V (which is unquestionably $50 cheaper than the Extraordinarily 5), Intel Core Extraordinarily 7 258V (which is just completely totally different because of amount of RAM, however costs $400 additional!), and Intel Core Extraordinarily 9 288V. The default selection with the Core Extraordinarily 7 256V processor costs $1,199.99, the an identical value as a result of the similarly-specced Snapdragon X Elite model, nevertheless way more expensive than the X Plus mannequin.
Inside the UK and Australia you get the an identical decisions, though the Extraordinarily 5 model is probably the most value efficient, coming in at £1,249.01 / AU$3,198.80, though inside the UK there’s presently a address £120 knocked off, for a whole of £1,129.01.
With prices pretty equal between the two fashions, it primarily comes proper right down to the excellence in effectivity between the Snapdragon X and Intel Extraordinarily Sequence 2 chips. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that Dell is working affords on positive fashions which can make an enormous distinction to the value proposition of these laptops.
And, for the current value of $899.99, the Snapdragon X Plus base model inside the US presents unbelievable value for money, giving that mannequin the sting by way of value.
Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): design
The design of the two XPS 13 fashions is comparable, though the Intel model could possibly be very barely heavier, nevertheless you gained’t uncover it.
As we make clear in our analysis of the Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024), the design itself is nice with a thin and light-weight physique that is merely 2.59 kilos and measures solely 14.8 mm skinny. It’s a particularly stylish wanting laptop computer pc that rivals one thing Apple produces, with out feeling favor it’s merely copying the look of the MacBook Air.
The fashionable design contains a touch-based toolbar alongside the very best of the keyboard, with lighted icons that look good, nevertheless take somewhat little bit of time to get used to compared with bodily keys on a keyboard.
The rest of the keyboard is flat nevertheless feels cosy to utilize, and there’s a nice delicate backlight which may be switched on to help when typing in darkish areas. Every fashions moreover embrace the controversial trackpad, which is created from Gorilla Glass and is included beneath the keyboard, nevertheless is not highlighted in any technique. So that you simply’re undecided the place the touchpad ends and the rest of the wrist leisure begins, which might be irritating and is an accessibility nightmare.
Every fashions moreover embrace merely two USB-C ports…and that’s it. There’s no audio jack for headsets or mics.
Because of they’re primarily related, we’ll identify this a draw.
Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): effectivity and choices
With comparable prices and related designs, it’s proper right down to the effectivity of the two fashions which is extraordinarily important.
When testing the Dell XPS 13 (9345), we had been very impressed with the effectivity, with Residence home windows 11 working fast and simple, and little in one of the best ways of compatibility points when working apps made for Intel {{hardware}} on the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite – one factor that used to plague Residence home windows on ARM items.
In quite a few checks, the Dell XPS 13 (9345) acquired right here out on prime for lots of of them, along with inside the Geekbench 6 multicore benchmark (scoring 14,635 vs the Intel Core Extraordinarily 7 258V model’s 11,033), though single-core effectivity was very shut.
Some duties harking back to video encoding moreover seen the Snapdragon model take the lead. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 chip has 12 cores with a multicore frequency (velocity) of three.5GHz.
The Intel Core Extraordinarily 7 258V comes with fewer cores (eight), 4 of which can be power-efficient cores, with frequencies of two.2GHz. The lower core rely and slower base speeds explains why the Snapdragon X Elite model scores bigger in multi-core checks, and means it’s greater suited to multitasking and duties the place quite a few CPU cores are used. It seems to be like like for the second, the Snapdragon X Elite mannequin presents as a lot as 64GB of RAM, whereas the Intel model tops out at 32GB.
Nonetheless, the Intel model has a bonus by way of gaming. Now, that’s really not a gaming laptop computer pc in any technique, nevertheless the built-in Arc GPU inside the Intel model does a lots higher job at coping with video video games, in some situations as a lot as twice along with the Snapdragon Elite.
Every items are Copilot+ PCs, though confusingly for the time being some Copilot/AI choices in Residence home windows 11 are distinctive to the Snapdragon model.
Every seem to do a high-quality job of sunshine AI work like producing photographs, nevertheless whereas the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) of the X Elite presents 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second), the Intel Core Extraordinarily 7 presents 47 TOPS – the marginally bigger amount should indicate AI duties are completed additional shortly. If AI devices are of curiosity, which can sway you to associate with the Intel model, though you may must attend for positive choices to be made on the market.
Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): battery life
Battery life is a giant concern for a lot of people when searching for a model new laptop computer pc, and on this case the Dell XPS 13 (9345) is the winner, lasting between 17 and 21 hours in our checks. The Intel mannequin, maxes out spherical 17 hours on a single value, which stays to be very spectacular, nevertheless the Snapdragon model is the one to get in case you want to eke out as lots use from the Dell XPS 13 whereas away from an affect outlet.
Moreover, our sister web site Toms Info found that the model of Dell XPS 13 with the model new Intel chip and premium OLED show lasts 8 and a half hours on a single value, pretty a bit lower than the non-OLED model with the an identical chip, so that should be considered, as not everyone will actually really feel the drastic enhance in seen prime quality that OLED tech presents is properly well worth the hit to battery life.
Whereas the Snapdragon model has the profit by way of battery life, I’ve to degree out that I’ve been using the Intel model for quite a few weeks on the time of penning this attribute, and I’ve been very impressed with how prolonged the battery lasts. Significantly with how successfully it retains charged when not in use. Residence home windows laptops was horrible for figuring out of battery even when left alone, which can normally end in irritating situations the place you open up a laptop computer pc you remaining used quite a few days prior to now, solely to hunt out it is now out of battery. The model new Intel chips have carried out a beautiful job of fixing that problem.
Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): verdict
So, which model of the Dell XPS 13 should you buy? On paper, the winner is clear, as whereas the Core Extraordinarily Sequence 2 chips are spectacular, the Snapdragon X Elite really is a recreation changer for laptops, and the Snapdragon model presents greater effectivity and battery life, whereas moreover selling for each the an identical value, or typically cheaper, than the Intel model.
Nonetheless, that’s to not write off the Intel model, which nonetheless presents a shocking design, and for some duties, harking back to gaming, it presents greater effectivity. The higher TOTS it is ready to moreover implies that ultimately, the Intel model could have greater on-device AI effectivity – which makes Microsoft’s option to make a number of of Residence home windows 11’s AI devices distinctive to Snapdragon items the entire extra uncommon.
There have been experiences of some Residence home windows 11 Snapdragon laptops having factors working some apps that haven’t been designed for ARM {{hardware}}, and whereas we’ve not encountered any, within the occasion you’re apprehensive about that, or know for positive {{that a}} program you rely on doesn’t run on ARM {{hardware}}, then the Intel model supplies you with additional stability and peace of ideas.
Regardless of the model you get, the Dell XPS 13 stays an outstanding premium laptop computer pc that improves on earlier fashions in some methods, from design to effectivity and significantly battery life.
