The Razer Book 13 and Dell XPS 13 are some of the sexiest 13-inch laptops in the market at the moment, but we're not here to talk about looks. Instead, we're going to try and compare them as objectively as we can to see which system comes out on top. After all, hard numbers are hard to argue against at the end of the day.
See our individual reviews on the Dell XPS 13 9310 and Razer Book 13 for more detailed information on each. Note that this comparison deals only between the two FHD configurations listed below as other SKUs have different CPU and display options.
Case
The Dell is slightly lighter, but both are otherwise almost the same in overall dimensions. Nonetheless, the tapered chassis design of the XPS makes the system feel smaller when compared to the boxier design of the Razer.
Ports
Razer has the clear advantage in this category. The Book 13 integrates all the ports on the XPS 13 plus full-size USB-A and even HDMI.
Display
Both utilize the same Sharp LQ134N1 IPS panel and backlight for essentially the same visual experience between them. However, it's worth noting that our Book 13 display was better calibrated out of the box than our XPS display. Additionally, Razer offers a matte option whereas all XPS 13 9310 SKUs are glossy.
CPU Performance
The Book 13 handily defeats the XPS 13 in terms of raw processor performance. Clock rates are both higher and more consistent to leapfrog over the Dell in all CPU performance benchmarks by quite the margin.
Graphics Performance
The Book 13 comes out ahead again in almost all scenarios. Frame rates are also steadier on the Razer machine since clock rates do not fluctuate.
Keyboard and ClickPad
Razer has the slightly larger clickpad (11.1 x 7 cm vs. 11.2 x 6.5 cm), but clicking on its surface is softer and spongier than on the Dell. Furthermore, the keyboard on the Dell feels firmer and more satisfying to use. Keys along the edges are also larger than on the Razer since there are no speaker grilles to worry about.
A unique advantage on the Razer keyboard is its per-key RGB lighting. Nonetheless, this is wholly aesthetic.
Battery Life
The Dell system is just slightly more power efficient when under medium to heavy loads. Overall battery life, however, still favors the Razer system by almost 4 hours longer when both systems are under the same WLAN conditions.
Additionally, the AC adapter for the XPS 13 is rated for only 45 W compared to 65 W on the Razer which partly explains why the Razer system can outperform the Dell on most benchmarks.
System Noise
Both models utilize twin fans with vapor chamber cooling, but the Razer system will be the louder machine when running high loads for extended periods.
Temperature
Surface temperatures are warmer on the Dell than on the Razer. Hot spots on the top and bottom can reach 47 C and 46 C, respectively, compared to 38 C and 43 C on the Razer. The overall warmer CPU temperature of the Dell may be responsible for the higher surface temperatures.
Verdict
The Razer Book 13 comes out ahead with faster performance, cooler temperatures, and even longer battery life than the Dell XPS 13 9310. It's a tad bit heavier and larger, but the aforementioned advantages and additional port options might outweigh the minor size disadvantage for many users. It also just happens to be much more expensive than the Dell XPS 13 9310 when configured with the same CPU, display, RAM, and SSD options.
A key drawback to the Razer is its spongier keyboard keys and clickpad. If you're already used to typing on Ultrabooks with shallow or light keys, however, then this should shouldn't be a huge issue.
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