If you prioritize portability and battery life, the ASUS Zenbook S 13, being lighter and more compact, may be preferable. However, if you require high performance for tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, the Dell XPS 15, with its larger screen and more powerful hardware, may be better suited, although it may be less portable and have a shorter battery life. The Dell XPS 15 also tends to come with a higher price tag, so if budget is a concern, the ASUS Zenbook could be the more economical choice. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
Very good overall display quality
Best in class portability
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.1/10
7.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13's superior screen resolution and panel type provide sharp, vivid images, making it excellent for general use and detailed engineering tasks that require color accuracy such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. However, its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for 3D applications and gaming which demand smoother motion. The Dell XPS 15 strikes a balance with good resolution and color gamut support for general tasks and engineering work but, like the ASUS, falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a refresh rate not geared towards those high-motion activities.
Battery
11.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 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
Best in Class
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers superb portability and a high-quality OLED screen, along with ample memory, making it ideal for typical use on the go, while its efficient processor provides good performance without compromising battery life. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 15, with its larger screen and more powerful graphics, also provides excellent performance suitable for general use, in addition to a larger battery capacity and high screen brightness, although it is less portable and heavier than the Zenbook.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is equipped with an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which might limit its gaming and 3D capabilities compared to the Dell XPS 15 that comes with a dedicated Intel Arc A370M GPU, offering superior gaming performance. However, both have the same screen refresh rate, which is a crucial factor for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications; the ASUS offers an OLED screen with higher color accuracy, benefiting 3D designers, while the XPS 15's larger screen size may be preferred by gamers for an immersive experience.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13's OLED screen with higher color accuracy, combined with more RAM, makes it very suitable for tasks requiring precision in engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 offers a larger screen and a dedicated GPU, which is beneficial for engineering applications that need better graphics processing, though it has less RAM and lower screen resolution compared to the ASUS. Portability is better with the ASUS due to its lighter weight and smaller size, whereas the Dell provides a superior keyboard and potentially less operating noise, contributing to its user experience during extended engineering work.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Dell XPS 15 are both very 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
8.3/10
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Dell XPS 15 are both very 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 ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
"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 ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the Dell XPS 15
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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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