Updated January 12, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
When deciding between the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the Dell XPS 13, consider how you value performance, battery life, portability, and display quality. The Dell XPS 13 offers stronger performance, which could benefit tasks that demand more computing power, such as intensive applications or multitasking. It is also more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, making it a good option if you need to carry your laptop regularly. The display on the XPS 13 has a higher resolution and a more favorable aspect ratio for productivity tasks, which could be advantageous if screen quality is important to you. On the other hand, the Acer Aspire 5 15 is less expensive and offers a larger screen, which might be preferable for watching movies or working with larger spreadsheets. However, it is heavier and larger, which can be a drawback for mobility. The choice will depend on whether you prioritize performance and portability over screen size and cost savings. 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 5 15
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its larger screen and satisfactory color space coverage, is suitable for design tasks, yet its thicker and heavier build makes it less portable compared to the lighter and sleeker Dell XPS 13, which offers superior screen quality with higher brightness and more accurate colors that benefit engineering visual work. Both laptops have comparable central processing units and graphics processing units, sufficient memory for multitasking, and high-quality IPS panels, making them competent for engineering applications.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a display that provides adequate brightness and resolution for tasks like browsing and video streaming, which are typical in general use, but it lacks the extensive color coverage and high refresh rates required for high-end engineering applications and smooth gaming experiences. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 offers a higher-quality display that presents vivid colors and sharp images suitable for professional engineering and design work due to better color accuracy; however, it too falls short for gaming or 3D work as it doesn't feature the high refresh rates essential for those activities. Neither laptop is ideal for gaming or animation because they don't prioritize the refresh rates that are critical for fluid motion and fast-paced visuals important in those fields.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 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
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$479
$850
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $479 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $850.
The Dell XPS 13 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 offers a balance with its ample screen and satisfactory performance for everyday tasks, but its battery life and portability are outshone by the Dell XPS 13, which though smaller, packs a superior processor, longer battery, and a higher screen quality in a more compact frame, making it ideal for on-the-go productivity. While both laptops provide ample storage and RAM, the XPS 13's higher resolution and color accuracy may offer a better visual experience, especially for media consumption, but the Aspire 5 includes a number pad and an equally competent keyboard and touchpad, appealing to those preferring a larger, traditional laptop layout with modest portability requirements.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.2/10
2.4/10
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
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Dell XPS 13 are considered fair for gaming and 3D due to their integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which deliver modest gaming performance, and screens with a 60Hz refresh rate which is standard for casual gaming but not optimal for high-frame-rate experiences. While both devices have quality IPS displays, neither stands out in the gaming segment due to the absence of dedicated GPUs and higher-refresh-rate panels more suitable for intensive gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for content creation.
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
7.3/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for software development.
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.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the Dell XPS 13 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
"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."
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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.
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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