Choose the ASUS ROG Flow X16 if you prioritize high refresh rate screens for fast-motion content and you require strong performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming, but its battery life is shorter than the Dell XPS 15. The XPS 15 offers exceptional speaker quality, a generally superior build, more efficient heat management, and a longer battery life, making it more suitable for general use and portability; however, it may not handle demanding engineering software as effectively as the ASUS. Neither laptop includes a full number pad but they do have backlit keyboards and multiple USB-C ports, with the XPS 15 providing an additional Thunderbolt connection. 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 ASUS ROG Flow X16
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for software development
Very good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.8/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is geared towards gaming and 3D applications thanks to its higher screen refresh rate and dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics unit, making it suitable for smooth, visually intensive tasks. The Dell XPS 15, while also suitable for gaming and 3D, offers a more modest refresh rate on its display and an Intel Arc A370M GPU, which may not match the performance of the ASUS when dealing with very high frame rates or complex 3D scenarios.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 likely excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, alongside wide color gamuts that ensure accurate and vivid colors which are essential for design work. However, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for gaming and 3D tasks where smooth motion is crucial. The Dell XPS 15 provides a balanced good quality screen for general use and design tasks with sufficient resolution and color accuracy, but like the ASUS, its refresh rate may fall short for gaming and 3D applications.
Battery
5.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 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.
Cost
$1,300
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 offers a versatile 2-in-1 design with a high refresh rate screen and solid gaming capabilities, likely trading off some battery life due to its gaming-oriented components. The Dell XPS 15, on the other hand, provides excellent keyboard quality and superior battery life, along with a lighter design, making it well-suited for on-the-go general use where typing and long hours away from a power source are common.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
8.1/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 outshines the Dell XPS 15 for engineering and design due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and NVIDIA RTX GPU, enhancing performance in computation and graphics-intensive tasks, alongside a superior screen with higher brightness and refresh rate. While the Dell XPS 15 offers a newer Intel CPU and its GPU can handle design software, its portability and longer battery life make it more appealing for on-the-go users needing sufficient power for their engineering applications.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.3/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 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
7.7/10
8.1/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 and Dell XPS 15 both have very 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 ASUS ROG Flow X16 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
"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 ROG Flow X16 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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