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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Dell XPS 15, consider your priorities. The Acer is more budget-friendly and lighter, making it more portable, but it has less storage, a less powerful processor, and a lower-quality GPU, making it suitable for general tasks but not high-end gaming or intensive engineering work. The Dell XPS 15 offers a higher resolution screen with a better aspect ratio for productivity, significantly increased storage capacity, more RAM, and a more powerful CPU and GPU combo, with a larger battery capacity. It's ideal for demanding tasks, such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software, but this comes with a higher price and slightly more weight. Both have IPS displays and are not capable of touch input or high refresh rates, and while the Acer may have a quieter fan, the Dell has superior keyboard quality and performance scores. 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 15
- The Acer Aspire 3 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
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
6.6
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 offers superior performance with a more powerful CPU and additional RAM, enhancing multitasking and demanding applications, along with a higher quality screen, making it ideal for those requiring top-notch visuals and power. Meanwhile, the Acer Aspire 3 15, while more budget-friendly, compromises with less processing power and lower screen resolution, better suited for casual use, but it's lighter and easier to carry, with admirable battery life for on-the-go tasks.
Gaming and AI
5.8
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 15 is poor.
The Dell XPS 15 offers better gaming and 3D capabilities partly because it comes with a more powerful Intel Arc A370M graphics card when compared to the Acer Aspire 3 15's AMD Radeon 610M, and it also has a screen with higher pixel density for sharper images although both laptops have the same screen refresh rate. Additionally, the higher-quality CPU in the Dell XPS 15 supports more demanding games and 3D applications than the Acer Aspire 3 15's CPU, which may not handle intensive tasks as effectively.
Engineering and Design
5.9
8.1
4.1/10
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 15 is poor.
The Dell XPS 15 outperforms the Acer Aspire 3 15 in engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, and a higher-end GPU, which are very important for these tasks. Additionally, it boasts better screen quality with a higher brightness and wider color coverage, beneficial for detail-oriented design work, while both products maintain similar portability and build quality, with the XPS 15 having a slight edge in keyboard and speaker quality.
Content Creation
7.0
8.3
4.1/10
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 15 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
7.0
8.1
4.1/10
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 15 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
6.2
7.4
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15's higher resolution and brighter display enhance visibility and clarity, making it superior to the Acer Aspire 3. With engineering and design work in mind, the Dell's wider color gamut offers more accurate color representation which is crucial for detailed work. However, for Gaming and 3D tasks, both the Dell and the Acer fall short due to lower refresh rates which are key for smooth motion and responsiveness.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$330
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 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 15 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and Acer Aspire 3 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 15 | Dell XPS 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$330 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.74'' | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.21 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.29" | 13.57" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | 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 | 128 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 | 15.6" | 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 | 244 nits | 606 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | 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 | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 3 15
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Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | March 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and it's easy to carry around. The display looks decently sharp and provides plenty of space for multitasking, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare. Its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU and integrated graphics can only handle simple tasks, like text processing, web browsing, and video playback, so it isn't ideal for students in more technical fields like 3D graphics. Unfortunately, the battery lasts only around six to seven hours of light use."
Dell XPS 15
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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 15 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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