The ASUS Zenbook 14X is often somewhat less expensive and offers an OLED screen with higher resolution and portable design, but its performance may be better suited for general use and lighter tasks. In contrast, the Dell XPS 15, while more expensive, provides a more powerful processor and graphics suitable for intensive engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks, with better battery life, though it is heavier and consequently less portable. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14X
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The Dell XPS 15 edges out the ASUS Zenbook 14X for general use due to its superior screen brightness, longer battery life, and more powerful CPU, which translates to smoother performance for everyday tasks. While both have solid build quality and decent RAM for multitasking, the XPS 15's additional portability despite a larger screen size makes it a better all-rounder for those needing a blend of performance and mobility.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.4/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a high-resolution display with good brightness and excellent color coverage, making it ideal for general use and visually-intensive engineering tasks. However, its lower refresh rate may hinder the gaming and 3D experience where fast motion is less smoothly displayed. The Dell XPS 15, while offering a similarly quality display for general tasks and creative work, also lacks the high refresh rate desired for fluid motion in gaming and 3D applications.
Battery
5.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$777
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a decent GPU that allows for gaming and 3D tasks, but its screen refresh rate is not as high as gaming-oriented laptops, which limits its gaming performance. The Dell XPS 15, on the other hand, includes a stronger GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother visuals and better handling of demanding games and 3D applications, though this typically comes at a higher price and may have less battery life due to the increased power consumption.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is equipped with an OLED screen and dedicated Nvidia graphics, making it well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-quality visuals and competent GPU. In contrast, the Dell XPS 15 offers a slightly larger IPS screen and an Intel Arc GPU, potentially providing excellent visual fidelity and strong graphics performance, with the added benefit of a longer battery life, enhancing its suitability for extended engineering and design sessions.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the Dell XPS 15
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
141,495
Recommendations made
30,658
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.