Microsoft Surface Pro 9 vs Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 | digital trends

Microsoft had almost a decade to perfect the detachable Surface Pro tablet, culminating in the Surface Pro 9, which promises to claim the laptop’s place as the best 2-in-1. Dell recently unveiled the all-new XPS 13 detachable 2-in-1 tablet, a complete redesign of the previous 360-degree convertible 2-in-1 format.

It’s no small feat to challenge such an established standard with so many years of refinement in its design. Does the XPS 13 2-in-1 have what it takes to overtake the Surface Pro 9 as the best detachable 2-in-1?

specifications

price and configurations

The entry-level Surface Pro 9 Intel-based configuration costs $1,000 for a Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The most expensive model costs $2,600 for a Core i7, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. The 5G ARM-based model starts at $1,300 for a Microsoft SQ 3 CPU, 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD and goes up to $1,900 with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. You pay an additional $280 for the Surface Signature Type Cover and the Surface Slim Pen 2.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 starts at the same $1,000 for a Core i5, 8GB of RAM and quadruple the storage at 512GB. Dell’s fully configured tablet costs $1,500 for a Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The XPS Folio and XPS Stylus cost an additional $100 when configured with the system. This makes the XPS 13 2-in-1 more affordable in the entry-level configuration thanks to additional memory, and significantly cheaper in the high-end, albeit with less RAM.

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The Surface Pro 9 retains the rounded edges, aluminum construction, and smaller bezels of the previous generation, with the usual Surface build quality that makes the tablet one of the most attractive and solid ones you can buy. It is available in Platinum, Sapphire, Forest and Graphite colors in the Intel version and in Graphite in the 5G version. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is also solidly built, with square corners, even smaller bezels, and an aluminum frame around a glass back that’s optimized for wireless connectivity. It’s available in Sky and Slate, with the 5G version only available in Slate.

The biggest distinguishing feature of the convertible tablets is the integrated kickstand of the Surface Pro 9 with its wide angle range. The XPS 13 2-in-1 lacks this feature, meaning Microsoft’s tablet is much easier to use on its own. With Dell’s model, you have to attach the folio to support the tablet, and you only get three angles determined by magnets on the back of the tablet.

Additionally, the Microsoft Surface Type Cover rests at an angle for more comfortable typing, while the Dell XPS Folio’s keyboard lays flat. That’s a lot less comfortable, though the XPS Folio’s edge-to-edge keyboard with precise, snappy switches might be more comfortable than the deeper, but not as precise, versions of the Type Cover. The touchpads on both are similar in size and work well.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 has fairly typical pen support with the XPS Stylus and its 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt capability. The Surface Slim Pen 2 has these features, plus haptic feedback for a more realistic experience, and the Surface Pro 9’s 120Hz display provides smoother coloring.

Both tablets have 1080p webcams with infrared cameras for Windows 11 Hello password-less facial login, while the XPS 13 2-in-1 also has a fingerprint reader. The Surface Pro 9 specs show a 2160p rear-facing camera, while the XPS 13-in-1 has a 10-megapixel camera.

Both the XPS 13 2-in-1 and the Surface Pro 9 Intel versions have the same number of Thunderbolt 4 ports, and neither have a 3.5mm audio jack. The Surface Pro 9 5G version has USB-C 3.2 instead, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. Microsoft’s tablet also has a Surface Connect port for power, while the XPS 13 2-in-1 needs to use one of its USB-C ports for charging. The XPS 13 2-in-1 offers optional 5G WWAN connectivity, while you’ll need to purchase the ARM-based 5G Surface Pro 9 for always-on internet connectivity.

perfomance

The Surface Pro 9 uses a 15-watt 12th Gen Intel U-series CPU, specifically the 10-core/12-thread Core i5-1235U and Core i7-1255U. We tested the XPS 13 2-in-1 with 9-watt chips, the Core i5-1230U and Core i7-1250U with 10 cores and 12 threads, and the tablet with the Core i5.

Unsurprisingly, the Surface Pro 9 was faster in our benchmarks. The differences between Geekbench 5 and our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, weren’t as significant as the large discrepancy seen in Cinebench R23. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is fanless, which may have contributed to some throttling in this CPU-intensive benchmark.

Note that there’s also a 5G Surface Pro 9 running a Microsoft version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 ARM processor. This machine is likely to be considerably slower than the two Intel tablets.

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Both laptops use 3:2 2880 x 1920 IPS displays, but the XPS 13 2-in-1’s panel is slightly smaller and therefore sharper. The Dell also had significantly higher brightness and contrast, as well as better color accuracy, making it a more pleasing display for demanding productivity work. Neither laptop has wide enough colors for developers.

Where the Surface Pro 9 display wins is its 120Hz refresh rate. This makes for better coloring and an overall smoother Windows 11 experience. It’s also great for gaming with higher frame rates. Although none of these laptops are designed for that, their integrated GPUs are sufficient for very light esports games.

portability

The XPS 13 2-in-1 is slightly thinner than the Surface Pro 9 at 0.29 inches versus 0.37 inches and lighter at 1.23 pounds versus 1.97 pounds. Both are light and small enough to fit comfortably in a backpack, but the Surface Pro 9 is more comfortable to use without the bulk of its detachable keyboard.

The Surface Pro 9 was stronger in battery life thanks to its larger battery. For example, it lasted about eight hours in our web browsing test, compared to just six hours on the XPS 13 2-in-1. The 5G Surface Pro 9 would likely get significantly better battery life overall.

The Surface Pro 9 is better, but significantly more expensive

The Surface Pro 9 is the best detachable 2-in-1 in terms of color experience, performance and battery life. It’s also more expensive than the XPS 13 2-in-1, which offers 5G connectivity in its Intel version.

Overall, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9 is the better machine – just be prepared to pay a lot more for it.

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