Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): the battle of Snapdragon against Intel

The 2024 model of the Dell XPS 13 already impressed us when we reviewed the version with the Snapdragon X Elite chip earlier this year, and now Dell has released a version with Intel’s latest mobile chips.

While a lot of aspects of the Dell XPS 13 (Intel, 2024) are the same as the Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024) the key difference is found within the laptop due to the differences in hardware, and that means there are some subtle contrasts that can add up to quite a distinct experience.

If you’re looking to buy a new Dell XPS 13 (and you should, it’s one of the best laptops of 2024), you might be confused by the different models, especially as on the outside they look identical.

Dell XPS 13 (Intel, 2024) vs Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024): specs

Before we dive into the comparison, here's the specs of the base model of both versions of the Dell XPS 13:

Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): price and availability

The price of the two different models is our first clue that the two Dell XPS 13 laptops differ in some subtle yet significant ways.

The Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024) – also called the Dell XPS 13 (9345) – was the first model to be released, and was one of the first ‘Copilot+ PC’ devices. These are Windows 11 laptops that feature AI-capable chips, allowing them to run artificial intelligence tools on the device itself, rather than using cloud-based services.

Currently, there’s only one model of the Snapdragon XPS 13 available in the UK and Australia, and it comes with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD and a 13.4-inch 1920 x 1200 screen for £1,249 / AU$2,898.50, and you can configure it with 32GB or 64GB RAM, 1TB or 2TB SSD and up to a 3K touchscreen display, though this adds quite a bit to the price.

In the US, you have a few more options. The base model comes with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD for $1,099.99, though this model is often discounted further – it’s currently on sale at Dell for $899.99.

You can also get it with the more powerful Snapdragon X Elite chip, and 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD (same specs at the UK base model) for $1,199.99. The wider range of options in the US is certainly welcome as it means it’s more likely that there is a Snapdragon version of the Dell XPS 13 that best fits your needs and budget.

The Intel model of the Dell XPS 13 (known as the Dell XPS 13 (9350)) came out a bit later, and features Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 processors with integrated Arc graphics.

In the US you have the option of the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (which is actually $50 cheaper than the Ultra 5), Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (which is only different due to the amount of RAM, yet costs $400 more!), and Intel Core Ultra 9 288V. The default option with the Core Ultra 7 256V processor costs $1,199.99, the same price as the similarly-specced Snapdragon X Elite model, but a lot more expensive than the X Plus version.

In the UK and Australia you get the same options, though the Ultra 5 model is the cheapest, coming in at £1,249.01 / AU$3,198.80, though in the UK there is currently a deal with £120 knocked off, for a total of £1,129.01.

With prices pretty equal between the two models, it mainly comes down to the difference in performance between the Snapdragon X and Intel Ultra Series 2 chips. However, it is worth noting that Dell is running deals on certain models which can make a big difference to the value proposition of these laptops.

And, for the current price of $899.99, the Snapdragon X Plus base model in the US offers incredible value for money, giving that version the edge when it comes to price.

Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): design

The design of the two XPS 13 models is identical, though the Intel model is very slightly heavier, but you won’t notice it.

As we explain in our review of the Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon, 2024), the design itself is excellent with a thin and light body that is just 2.59 pounds and measures only 14.8 mm thin. It’s an incredibly stylish looking laptop that rivals anything Apple produces, without feeling like it’s simply copying the look of the MacBook Air.

The modern design includes a touch-based toolbar along the top of the keyboard, with lighted icons that look good, but take a bit of time to get used to compared to physical keys on a keyboard.

The rest of the keyboard is flat but feels comfortable to use, and there’s a nice subtle backlight that can be switched on to help when typing in dark locations. Both models also come with the controversial trackpad, which is made of Gorilla Glass and is included below the keyboard, but is not highlighted in any way. So you’re not sure where the touchpad ends and the rest of the wrist rest begins, which can be frustrating and is an accessibility nightmare.

Both models also come with just two USB-C ports…and that’s it. There’s no audio jack for headsets or mics.

Because they are essentially identical, we’ll call this a draw.

Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): performance and features

With similar prices and identical designs, it’s down to the performance of the two models which is incredibly important.

When testing the Dell XPS 13 (9345), we were very impressed with the performance, with Windows 11 running fast and smooth, and little in the way of compatibility problems when running apps made for Intel hardware on the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite – something that used to plague Windows on ARM devices.

In various tests, the Dell XPS 13 (9345) came out on top for many of them, including in the Geekbench 6 multicore benchmark (scoring 14,635 vs the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V model’s 11,033), though single-core performance was very close.

Some tasks such as video encoding also saw the Snapdragon model take the lead. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 chip has 12 cores with a multicore frequency (speed) of 3.5GHz.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V comes with fewer cores (eight), four of which are power-efficient cores, with frequencies of 2.2GHz. The lower core count and slower base speeds explains why the Snapdragon X Elite model scores higher in multi-core tests, and means it’s better suited to multitasking and tasks where multiple CPU cores are used. It looks like for the moment, the Snapdragon X Elite version offers up to 64GB of RAM, whereas the Intel model tops out at 32GB.

However, the Intel model has an advantage when it comes to gaming. Now, this is certainly not a gaming laptop in any way, but the integrated Arc GPU in the Intel model does a much better job at handling games, in some cases up to twice as well as the Snapdragon Elite.

Both devices are Copilot+ PCs, though confusingly at the moment some Copilot/AI features in Windows 11 are exclusive to the Snapdragon model.

Both seem to do a fine job of light AI work like generating images, but while the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) of the X Elite offers 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second), the Intel Core Ultra 7 offers 47 TOPS – the slightly higher amount should mean AI tasks are completed more quickly. If AI tools are of interest, that might sway you to go with the Intel model, though you may have to wait for certain features to be made available.

Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): battery life

Battery life is a huge concern for many people when buying a new laptop, and in this case the Dell XPS 13 (9345) is the winner, lasting between 17 and 21 hours in our tests. The Intel version, maxes out around 17 hours on a single charge, which is still very impressive, but the Snapdragon model is the one to get if you want to eke out as much use from the Dell XPS 13 while away from a power outlet.

Also, our sister site Toms Guide found that the model of Dell XPS 13 with the new Intel chip and premium OLED screen lasts 8 and a half hours on a single charge, quite a bit lower than the non-OLED model with the same chip, so that should be taken into account, as not everyone will feel the drastic increase in visual quality that OLED tech offers is worth the hit to battery life.

While the Snapdragon model has the advantage when it comes to battery life, I have to point out that I’ve been using the Intel model for a few weeks at the time of writing this feature, and I’ve been very impressed with how long the battery lasts. Especially with how well it keeps charged when not in use. Windows laptops used to be awful for running out of battery even when left alone, which could often lead to frustrating situations where you open up a laptop you last used a few days ago, only to find it is now out of battery. The new Intel chips have done an excellent job of fixing that issue.

Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350): verdict

So, which model of the Dell XPS 13 should you buy? On paper, the winner is clear, as while the Core Ultra Series 2 chips are impressive, the Snapdragon X Elite really is a game changer for laptops, and the Snapdragon model offers better performance and battery life, while also selling for either the same price, or sometimes cheaper, than the Intel model.

However, that’s not to write off the Intel model, which still offers a gorgeous design, and for some tasks, such as gaming, it offers better performance. The higher TOTS it's capable of also means that in the future, the Intel model could have better on-device AI performance – which makes Microsoft’s decision to make some of Windows 11’s AI tools exclusive to Snapdragon devices all the more odd.

There have been reports of some Windows 11 Snapdragon laptops having issues running some apps that haven’t been designed for ARM hardware, and while we’ve not encountered any, if you’re worried about that, or know for certain that a program you rely on doesn’t run on ARM hardware, then the Intel model will give you more stability and peace of mind.

Regardless of the model you get, the Dell XPS 13 remains a brilliant premium laptop that improves on previous models in many ways, from design to performance and especially battery life.