Dell XPS 16 (9640) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The Verdict
Dell XPS 16 delivers professional-grade performance with its 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and spacious 16.3-inch display at 1920x1200 resolution with 500 nits brightness. Storage expands via microSD and comes with 512GB NVMe standard. Battery reaches 13 hours in mixed use. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 emphasizes portability at just 1.27kg with exceptional 18-hour battery life, though its 12th-gen Core i5/i7 processors and 13.5-inch 2256x1504 display feel dated against newer architecture. Surface offers removable storage and superior display pixel density, but base models come with only 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. XPS 16 suits content creators and power users needing performance and screen real estate. Surface Laptop 5 appeals to mobile professionals prioritizing battery life and lightweight design. Choose XPS 16 for capability and value at this price point.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Dell XPS 16 (9640) if…
- →Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- →Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- →Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 if…
- →Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- →Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- →Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Pros
- Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
- Large 99.5 Wh battery
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- No USB-A, HDMI, or SD card slot
- Capacitive touch function row is divisive
- Invisible haptic trackpad takes adjustment
- Heavy and runs hot under load
- Mediocre battery life with discrete GPU
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Pros
- Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
- Up to 18 hours claimed battery life
- Removable SSD for easier data recovery
Cons
- Only one USB-C port and one USB-A port — very limited
- 60Hz display lacks the smoothness of 120Hz competitors
- No Thunderbolt 4 — USB-C is USB 4.0 with limited bandwidth
- Surface Connect charger is proprietary
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for multitasking
Full Specifications
| Spec | Dell XPS 16 (9640) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.13 kg | 1.27 kg |
| Material | CNC aluminum and carbon fiber | Aluminum and Alcantara |
| Dimensions | 358.1 x 240.1 x 18.7 mm | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | — |
| USB-A ports | — | 1 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Surface Connect | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 13 hours mixed use | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 99.5 Wh | 47.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.3 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch | PixelSense IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2256 x 1504 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 256 GB / 512 GB (removable SSD) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Cores | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) | 10-core (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U / i7-1255U |
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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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