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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize performance for tasks like 3D rendering or engineering work, and gaming capabilities, the Acer Nitro 17 with its dedicated RTX graphics, larger screen, and more RAM will serve you better despite its heft and lower battery life. However, if you prefer something more portable, the ASUS Zenbook 13, being lighter with a higher battery life, is ideal for general use and offers an OLED screen with better color accuracy and sharpness, but might struggle with intensive tasks due to its integrated graphics and less RAM. 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 Nitro 17
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 13
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4
6.2
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Acer Nitro 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is only fair.
The Acer Nitro 17 is good for gaming and 3D use because it has a powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a high screen refresh rate of 165Hz, essential for smooth visuals in fast-paced games. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook 13 uses integrated graphics with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Vega 8 and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is sufficient for general use but may not provide as immersive an experience in gaming or 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.9
7.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Nitro 17 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for engineering and design, though the Acer Nitro 17 is somewhat better.
The Acer Nitro 17 is better for engineering and design due to its higher performance CPU and GPU, more RAM, and larger screen, making it suitable for intensive tasks, although it's less portable due to its size and weight. The ASUS Zenbook 13 offers an excellent OLED screen with higher portability, but its lower performance hardware makes it less ideal for demanding engineering tasks.
Screen Quality
7.4
7.8
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 17 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for gaming and AI, and content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
When considering a laptop for general use, the ASUS Zenbook 13's higher resolution and brighter display make it superior, providing sharper visuals and better visibility in various lighting conditions compared to the Acer Nitro 17. For engineering and design tasks, the Zenbook's wider color gamut ensures more accurate color representation, a crucial aspect for professionals who require precision in their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and potentially a less immersive user experience.
Portability
Poor
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Acer Nitro 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$970
$890
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Nitro 17 has a price of $970 and the ASUS Zenbook 13 costs $890.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
280.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Acer Nitro 17 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 17, with a larger screen and higher performance CPU and GPU, suits users looking for a mix of productivity and gaming, but its bulkier form and shorter battery life limit portability compared to the ASUS Zenbook 13, which offers a compact, lightweight design and superior battery life, making it ideal for users prioritizing portability and all-day use, although its integrated graphics may not handle intensive tasks as well. Both models come with high-quality screens and sufficient storage, but the Nitro's additional RAM capacity could make it a better fit for more demanding general use cases.
Content Creation
7.8
7.6
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Acer Nitro 17 and ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.4
7.3
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Nitro 17 and ASUS Zenbook 13 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 17 has 8 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Acer Nitro 17 and ASUS Zenbook 13 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Nitro 17 and the ASUS Zenbook 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 17 | ASUS Zenbook 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$970 | $890 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 11.6'' x 1.1'' | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.83 lbs | 2.55 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.77" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.59" | 7.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 67 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 280 nits | 378 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 17
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | October 2023
"The Acer Nitro 17 isn't an exceptional gaming laptop; it's kind of chunky even among 17.3-inch notebooks, with a lackluster keyboard, and it doesn't outperform comparably priced machines. But there's a lot to like about it, including a good array of ports, a screen that's sharp and bright for work and play alike, and battery life that soundly beats the competition. All this comes at an affordable price. If size and weight aren't big concerns, you'll find the Nitro 17 a dependable big-screen gaming rig. If you crave higher quality, consider a slight step down or up in screen size with the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 or Alienware m18 respectively."
ASUS Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 17 or the ASUS Zenbook 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 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.
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