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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use, the Acer Aspire 1 is more affordable with a larger screen but offers less power and lower build quality, which may impact multitasking and demanding applications. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13, while more expensive, provides a significant increase in performance with a higher-quality display, making it suitable for more intensive tasks like engineering and creative work. The XPS 13 also boasts a longer battery life, portable design, and enhanced features such as a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader, aligning well with frequent travelers or professionals who need a reliable and high-performing machine. 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 Acer Aspire 1
- The Acer Aspire 1 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell XPS 13 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a weaker CPU, less RAM, and a lower-quality TN screen, contributing to poor performance for general use, whereas the Dell XPS 13 offers a powerful CPU, more RAM, a higher-quality IPS screen with better resolution, and longer battery life, making it well-equipped for a good general use experience. Additionally, the XPS 13 is lighter and more portable, which adds to its suitability for everyday tasks when on the go.
Gaming and AI
5.6
6.2
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell XPS 13 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a less capable GPU with the Intel Celeron UHD Graphics, which is not suited for gaming and 3D tasks, whereas the Dell XPS 13 comes with a more powerful Intel i7 Iris Xe GPU, providing fair performance for such applications despite both having similar screen refresh rates. Additionally, the Acer Aspire 1 features a standard quality TN panel and the Dell XPS 13 boasts a higher-quality IPS display, enhancing the overall gaming and 3D experience on the Dell.
Engineering and Design
5.5
7.2
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 falls short for engineering and design due to its basic Intel Celeron N4500 processor, limited 4GB of RAM, and basic UHD Graphics, lacking the power for demanding tasks and complex visuals. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 shines with its more powerful Intel i7-1250U processor, a generous 16GB of RAM, and superior Iris Xe graphics, ensuring smoother performance and better detail handling necessary for such specialized applications.
Content Creation
5.9
7.7
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 is good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
6.1
7.5
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 is good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
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
5.2
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell XPS 13 offers a superior display with higher clarity and brightness, making it ideal for everyday tasks where image and text sharpness are appreciated, unlike the Acer Aspire 1 which has a lower quality display. When it comes to engineering and design, the Dell XPS 13 also has a wider color gamut, providing more accurate colors which are crucial for professional graphic work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Acer Aspire 1 and Dell XPS 13 both fall short due to their lower refresh rates, despite the XPS's better resolution and panel type.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 13 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
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.4in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 1 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5
8.5
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$244
$850
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $850.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Dell XPS 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Dell XPS 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$244 | $850 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | August 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 2.59 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 11.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 7.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Intel i7-1250U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 442 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 1
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | May 2020
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
Dell XPS 13
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chen | April 2023
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Dell XPS 13
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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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.
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