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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is less expensive and more suitable for gaming, with hardware like a higher refresh rate screen which makes fast motion smoother, and it includes a gaming-centric GPU. However, it is heavier and slightly bulkier than the Dell XPS 15, which offers a more premium build and is more portable. The XPS 15 has a higher quality screen in terms of color accuracy and contrast, making it ideal for creative professionals. Both have similar central processors and memory capacities, which are adequate for general use and engineering tasks. 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 TUF Gaming A16
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.2
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a higher screen brightness and color coverage, making for a more vibrant display, and superior heat management and speaker quality, enhancing user comfort and multimedia experience, while being lighter and thinner for greater portability. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 delivers a marginally larger screen and higher refresh rate beneficial for gaming and smoother visuals but has a slightly bulkier build and lesser battery life, which may affect mobility and usage duration away from power sources.
Gaming and AI
7.4
6.8
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 stands out for gaming and 3D with its combination of a high screen refresh rate and powerful AMD GPU, making it ideal for fast-paced, visually demanding tasks. In contrast, while the Dell XPS 15 also offers a capable GPU for gaming and strong screen quality, its lower refresh rate means it may not handle high-frame-rate scenarios as smoothly as the ASUS model.
Content Creation
7.6
8.3
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
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
8.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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.
Screen Quality
7.5
7.4
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Dell XPS 15 both offer displays with high resolution and brightness, which provide clear and vivid visuals suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, where color accuracy is crucial. Their color gamut coverage ensures designers and engineers can trust the display for color-sensitive tasks. However, their lower refresh rates may not be ideal for 3D gaming, where smoother motion representation is key for an immersive experience.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability, though the Dell XPS 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
7.7
8.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Cost
$940
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $940 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A16 | Dell XPS 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$940 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.97'' | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.85 lbs | 4.21 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 13.57" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.92" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 86 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 606 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Dominic Bayley | May 2023
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"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 TUF Gaming A16 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.
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