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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is a budget-friendly option with satisfactory performance for general use and decent portability, suited for daily tasks and light work. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 15, while significantly more expensive, offers enhanced performance suitable for more intensive engineering, 3D work, and machine learning tasks. It also has better build quality, a higher quality display, and more advanced features such as a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader and facial recognition. However, it's heavier and less portable than the Acer. Consider the Dell XPS 15 if you need the extra performance and features and don't mind the higher cost and reduced portability. 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 3 14
- 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
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers superior general use performance over the Acer Aspire 3 14 due to a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, higher screen quality with better brightness and color coverage, and a larger battery leading to longer battery life, but with a trade-off in increased weight affecting portability. While both have the same storage capacity and non-touch IPS displays, the Dell excels in keyboard, speaker quality, and heat management, such characteristics that contribute to a better overall user experience for demanding tasks and extended use.
Gaming and AI
5.9
6.8
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
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
9.1/10
The Dell XPS 15 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Dell XPS 15 outperforms the Acer Aspire 3 14 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it has a more powerful GPU, the Intel Arc A370M, compared to the Acer's AMD Radeon 610M, which significantly influences gaming and 3D rendering performance. Additionally, the Dell XPS 15 comes with a higher-quality screen, offering better color coverage and brightness, enhancing the visual experience in games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.1
8.1
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 delivers better performance for engineering and design due to its more powerful processor, double the RAM, and a more capable dedicated graphics card compared to the Acer Aspire 3 14, which has modest specs in comparison. Additionally, the XPS 15 offers superior screen quality with higher brightness and color accuracy, enhancing the visual experience for intricate design work, although it is heavier and less portable than the lighter Acer Aspire 3 14.
Content Creation
7.2
8.3
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 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
7.1
8.1
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 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
6.1
7.4
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 3 may offer a reasonable display for everyday tasks with adequate resolution and brightness, but its color range and refresh rates aren't tailored for the precision needed in engineering or the responsiveness desired in gaming. The Dell XPS 15 provides a superior visual experience with its higher resolution and brightness, alongside wider color gamuts that are crucial for accurate engineering and design work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to the lower refresh rates that can't deliver the smooth visuals serious gamers and 3D designers often require.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has very good portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$440
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $440 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Battery
9.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 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.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | Dell XPS 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$440 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 4.21 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 13.57" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 86 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 606 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"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 Acer Aspire 3 14 or the Dell XPS 15
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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