When considering the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Dell XPS 15, keep in mind that the ASUS is designed for gaming and high-performance tasks with a focus on graphics-intensive applications, so it excels in 3D, machine learning, and gaming but is bulkier and may have shorter battery life. The Dell XPS 15, on the other hand, is known for its sleek design and portability, making it more suitable for general use and professional settings where mobility and battery life are crucial, but it may not match the ASUS in raw performance for demanding software or games. Your choice should be based on whether you prioritize power and gaming capability over portability and longer battery life when on the move. 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 Zephyrus M16
Very good for gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers superior gaming performance and 3D rendering capabilities compared to the Dell XPS 15, as evidenced by its higher-end Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and a screen refresh rate of up to 240Hz, which are both crucial for smooth gameplay and handling graphics-intensive tasks. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 15, while still capable with its Intel Arc A370M GPU, is limited by a lower refresh rate of 60Hz, making it less ideal for fast-paced gaming and demanding 3D work.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.1/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is equipped with a superior Intel i9 processor and an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, which deliver excellent performance for engineering and design tasks, along with a high-resolution, high-refresh-rate screen that enhances visual detail and smoothness. Meanwhile, the Dell XPS 15 offers a lower-tier Intel i7 processor and Intel Arc A370M GPU, which are adequate for such tasks but might not perform as well as the ASUS in the most demanding applications, although it compensates with a lighter form factor and longer battery life, improving portability.
Screen Quality
9.0/10
7.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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.
Regarding general use, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a vibrant, high-resolution display with excellent brightness, providing sharp and clear visuals, while the Dell XPS 15 also delivers a clear and bright display albeit with slightly less outstanding characteristics. For engineering and design, the M16 stands out with a wide color gamut, covering a significant portion of both DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, offering designers rich and accurate colors; the XPS 15 also offers a good color representation, but it may not be as comprehensive as the M16. When it comes to Gaming and 3D applications, despite their high resolutions and quality panels, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid motion and slower response times compared to specialized gaming laptops with higher refresh rates.
Battery
4.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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
$2,059
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.3/10
9.5/10
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 Zephyrus M16 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
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
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 Zephyrus M16 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
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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 Zephyrus M16 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"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 Zephyrus M16 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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