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Dell XPS 14 (9440) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Dell's XPS 14 delivers superior processing power with its Intel Core Ultra 7 155H featuring 16 cores versus Snapdragon's 12-core architecture, making it stronger for demanding workloads. Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 counters with exceptional battery longevity (20 hours vs 12), a brighter 600-nit display with 120Hz refresh rate, and remarkable portability at just 1.34kg. Storage proves contentious: Dell includes 512GB while Microsoft starts at 256GB. XPS 14 offers better port flexibility with Thunderbolt 3 and SD card support; Surface Laptop 7 lacks these essentials. Display quality slightly favors Microsoft's higher resolution (2304×1536) and refresh rate, though Dell's 500-nit panel remains adequate. For professionals needing raw computing power and expandability, Dell XPS 14 justifies its $700 premium. However, students and travelers prioritizing battery life and ultraportability should seriously consider Surface Laptop 7's exceptional efficiency and lower cost.

Dell XPS 14 (9440)
Dell
Dell XPS 14 (9440)
$1,699
8.4/10
Winner
VS
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Microsoft
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
$1,000
8.1/10

Full Specifications

SpecDell XPS 14 (9440)Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
SoftwareWindows 11 HomeWindows 11 Home
Body
Weight1.74 kg1.34 kg
MaterialCNC aluminum and carbon fiberAluminum
Dimensions320.0 x 215.5 x 18.0 mm301 x 220 x 17.5 mm
Ports
SD card
Thunderbolt ports30
HDMI0
USB-A ports1
USB-C ports2
Battery
Battery lifeUp to 12 hours mixed useUp to 20 hours
Capacity69.5 Wh54 Wh
Display
Size14.5 inches13.8 inches
TypeInfinityEdge IPS non-touchPixelSense touchscreen, IPS
Resolution1920 x 12002304 x 1536
Refresh rate60Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)500600
Storage
SSD512 GB NVMe256 GB
Expandable storage
Keyboard
Backlit
Processor
RAM16 GB LPDDR5x16 GB LPDDR5X
Cores16-core (6P+8E+2LPE)12 cores
ChipsetIntel Core Ultra 7 155HQualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100

Category Scores

Dell XPS 14 (9440)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Value
0
0
Battery
0
0
Display
0
0
Performance
0
0
portability
0
0

Pros & Cons

Dell XPS 14 (9440)

Pros

  • Striking minimalist CNC aluminum design
  • Optional 3.2K OLED touch display
  • Optional discrete RTX 4050 GPU
  • Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus microSD
  • Excellent quad speaker setup

Cons

  • No USB-A or HDMI ports
  • Capacitive function row lacks tactile feedback
  • Seamless haptic touchpad has no visible borders
  • Battery life below class-leading ultrabooks
  • Premium price for the base configuration

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Pros

  • Outstanding battery life on Snapdragon X Elite
  • Bright 600-nit 120Hz touch display
  • Cool, near-silent operation under typical load
  • Premium aluminum build with great trackpad

Cons

  • ARM architecture causes some app compatibility issues
  • No Thunderbolt support on USB-C ports
  • Limited gaming due to GPU and emulation overhead
  • Replaceable SSD but no other internal upgrades

Explore more in laptops, see all Dell products or all Microsoft products. View full details for the Dell XPS 14 (9440) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.