We pit the Surface Pro 8 against the legendary Dell XPS 13

Best overall

Dell XPS 13 (9310)

From $951 at Dell

Pros

• Excellent specs
• Plenty of RAM and storage options
• 4K display option
• Less expensive
• No separate keyboard purchase

Cons

• Less flexible overall
• Worse battery life
• No 120Hz display option

The Dell XPS 13 will be the better choice for most people since it has a lower price and more display options. However, the clamshell design makes the Dell XPS 13 less flexible than the Surface Pro 8, and it also has worse (albeit good) battery life.

Best convertible

Surface Pro 8

From $1,100 at Microsoft

Pros

• Excellent specs
• Plenty of RAM and storage
• More flexible overall
• Better battery life
• 120Hz display

Cons

• More expensive
• No 4K display option
• Type Cover sold separately

The Surface Pro 8 is one of the Dell XPS 13's closest competitors due to its equally superb specs and its convertible design, but it's more expensive. Also, the Type Cover is sold separately, meaning you have to spend even more.

Overall, the Dell XPS 13 will be the better choice for most people due to the fact that it's more affordable across the board and doesn't require purchasing the keyboard separately. With that said, the Surface Pro 8 is a phenomenal device that goes toe-to-toe with the Dell XPS 13's specs, and also offers additional flexibility thanks to its convertible nature and slightly better battery life.

Dell XPS 13 vs. Surface Pro 8: Clamshell or convertible?

In several ways, the Dell XPS 13 and the Surface Pro 8 are very similar. Both devices feature near-identical CPU and GPU specs, and both also have tons of options for lots of RAM and storage (the Dell XPS 13 has an additional option for a 2TB SSD as well as a microSD slot). Both also have fantastic displays; the Dell XPS 13 even has a 4K variant available, though the Surface Pro 8 has the edge in terms of refresh rate as its display is 120Hz. The devices both also support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, though the Surface Pro 8 can also be configured with LTE connectivity if you want internet connectivity on the go and don't mind the increased cost or the impact on battery life.

	Dell XPS 13	Surface Pro 8
CPU	Intel i3-1115G4 Intel i5-1135G7 i7-1185G7	Intel i3-1115G4 Intel i5-1135G7 Intel i5-1145G7 Intel i7-1185G7
GPU	Intel UHD Graphics Intel Xe Graphics	Intel Iris Graphics Intel Xe Graphics
Memory	8GB 16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Storage	256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD	128GB SSD 256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD
Display	13.4-inch FHD+ 1920x1200 60Hz InfinityEdge non-touch anti-glare display (500 nits) 13.4-inch FHD+ 1920x1200 60Hz InfinityEdge touch anti-glare display (500 nits) 13.4-inch OLED 3.5K 3456x2160 60Hz InfinityEdge touch anti-reflective display (400 nits) 13.4-inch UHD 4K 3840x2400 60Hz InfinityEdge touch anti-reflective display (500 nits)	13-inch 2880x1920 (267 PPI) 120Hz PixelSense Flow touch display
Biometrics	Windows Hello-compatible camera	Windows Hello-compatible camera
Ports	2x Thunderbolt 4 1x microSD card slot 1x 3.5mm headphone/mic combo	2x Thunderbolt 4 1x Surface Connect 1x 3.5mm headphone/mic combo
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 LTE (optional)
Battery	10-14 hours	Up to 16 hours
Dimensions	0.58 x 11.64 x 7.82 inches	11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches
Weight	Up to 2.8 pounds	1.96 pounds
Price	Starts at $1,000	Starts at $1,100

The primary things that separate the Dell XPS 13 and the Surface Pro 8 are pricing and form factor. Every single configuration of the Dell XPS 13 is more affordable than their Surface Pro 8 equivalent, which makes the XPS 13 more affordable and accessible overall — especially since the Surface Pro 8's Type Cover keyboard is sold separately. That being said, the convertible design of the Pro 8 does make it more flexible, and its Type Cover even comes with a handy slot for charging and storing a Surface Slim Pen 2.

Dell XPS 13 vs. Surface Pro 8: Which should you buy?

While both the Dell XPS 13 and Surface Pro 8 are fantastic, we ultimately feel that the Dell XPS 13 will be better for most people since it delivers the same top-notch performance as the Surface Pro 8 for a lower cost. There's also an option for a 4K display, a 2TB SSD, and a slot for additional microSD storage that you can take advantage of.

If you want the versatility of a convertible, slightly better battery life, LTE connectivity, or a 120Hz display, the Surface Pro 8 is a superb alternative. It may be more expensive than the Dell XPS 13, but it's one of the best Microsoft Surface PCs yet, and we definitely recommend getting it if its advantages appeal to you.

For more high-quality options to consider, don't miss our roundup of the best Windows laptops available.

Best overall

Dell XPS 13 (9310)

The king holds onto its crown

From $951 at Dell $1,693 at Amazon

The Dell XPS 13 will be the better choice for most people since it has a lower price and more display options. However, the clamshell design makes the Dell XPS 13 less flexible than the Surface Pro 8, and it also has worse (albeit good) battery life.

Best convertible

Surface Pro 8

Arguably the best Surface yet

From $1,100 at Microsoft

The Surface Pro 8 is one of the Dell XPS 13's closest competitors due to its equally superb specs and its convertible design, but it's more expensive. Also, the Type Cover is sold separately, meaning you have to spend even more.