Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
The Verdict
Dell's XPS 13 Plus prioritizes ultraportability with its 1.24 kg aluminum frame and seamless design aesthetic, featuring Intel's newer Core Ultra 7 155H processor with 16 cores and a bright 500-nit IPS display. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 delivers more versatility: it's slightly lighter at 1.12 kg, includes legacy ports (HDMI, dual USB-A, headphone jack), and offers superior display options with an OLED variant reaching 2880x1800 resolution and 90Hz refresh rates. Battery life favors Lenovo at up to 15 hours versus Dell's 12 hours. Both carry 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, but Lenovo includes Windows 11 Pro and provides 32GB/1TB upgrade paths. ThinkPad's proven keyboard and better port selection suit productivity users, while XPS 13 Plus appeals to those prioritizing extreme portability and modern aesthetics. For most professionals, Lenovo's combination of connectivity, display flexibility, and software justifies the $150 premium.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) if…
- →Remarkably thin and light at 1.24 kg
- →Striking futuristic design with zero-lattice keyboard
- →Strong Intel Core Ultra performance
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 if…
- →Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- →Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- →Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
Pros
- Remarkably thin and light at 1.24 kg
- Striking futuristic design with zero-lattice keyboard
- Strong Intel Core Ultra performance
- Excellent build quality with premium aluminum finish
- Optional 4K OLED upgrade available
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — no USB-A, HDMI, or SD card
- Capacitive function row lacks tactile feedback
- Soldered RAM and SSD cannot be upgraded
- Battery life is merely average for an ultrabook
- Haptic touchpad has invisible borders
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Pros
- Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
- MIL-STD 810H tested for ruggedness and durability
- Good port selection includes USB-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- OLED option significantly reduces battery life to around 10 hours
- 60Hz IPS panel feels behind the times
- Starting price of $1449 is expensive for the base config
- Soldered RAM limits upgradeability
- Integrated graphics only — not suitable for GPU-heavy workloads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.12 kg |
| Material | CNC aluminum | Carbon fiber and magnesium alloy |
| Dimensions | 295.3 x 199.0 x 15.3 mm | 315.6 x 222.5 x 15.36 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 0 | 1 |
| USB-C ports | 0 | — |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours mixed use | Up to 15 hours (IPS) / 10 hours (OLED) |
| Capacity | 55 Wh | 57 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.4 inches | 14 inches |
| Type | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch | OLED (IPS optional) |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz (90Hz OLED) |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 512 GB / 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x | 16 GB / 32 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) | 10-core (2P + 8E) / 14-core (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U / i7-1370P |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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