When choosing between the ASUS Vivobook 17 and the Dell XPS 13, it is essential to consider your specific needs. The ASUS Vivobook 17 is pronounced as a budget-friendly option and features a larger 17.3-inch screen, which may be preferable for productivity and multimedia experiences but is less portable due to its size and weight. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 comes at a higher price, offers a more compact and lightweight design with a smaller 13.4-inch screen, making it highly portable, and boasts a higher quality build. It also has a more powerful processor, more RAM, and larger storage, which translates into better performance, especially for intensive tasks like engineering and 3D work. Furthermore, the Dell XPS 13 offers better battery life, making it a suitable choice for those who need to work on the go. Therefore, if portability, build quality, and high performance are top priorities and you're willing to invest more, the Dell XPS 13 is the superior choice. In contrast, if budget considerations and a larger screen size are more important, the ASUS Vivobook 17 will suffice. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook 17
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
263.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both good for general use, though the Dell XPS 13 is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 13 outperforms the ASUS Vivobook 17 for general use primarily because the XPS 13 offers a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, contributing to faster and smoother performance. Furthermore, the XPS 13 boasts a higher quality screen in terms of resolution and color accuracy, coupled with better portability due to its smaller size and longer battery life, making it more convenient for everyday tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13, with a more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, and a higher-quality display, including brighter and more accurate color coverage, offers better performance for engineering and design tasks. The ASUS Vivobook 17, while having a larger screen, is less equipped for intensive tasks due to its less powerful Intel i3 processor, half the RAM, and a display that's not as color-accurate or bright, but it could be preferred for its larger display, despite the trade-offs in performance and screen quality.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both good for content creation, though the Dell XPS 13 is somewhat better.
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
6.9/10
7.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 is only fair.
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
6.2/10
7.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
13.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
263.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook 17, with a larger screen, benefits daily computing and design applications by providing more workspace, coupled with decent resolution and brightness that makes it usable across general tasks and some engineering work; however, its modest refresh rate is a limitation for fast-paced 3D rendering or gaming. The Dell XPS 13, though smaller, boasts superior resolution, brightness, and a panel that delivers vibrant colors, making it an attractive option for both general users and professionals in engineering and design fields who need accurate color representation but, like the ASUS, falls short for gaming or 3D due to the refresh rate. The importance of color gamut for engineering/design and the emphasis on refresh rate for gaming delineate why both laptops, while offering good quality for general and professional usage, aren't optimal for gaming or 3D-intensive tasks.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 13 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
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.4in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$429
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a price of $429 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $1,399.
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell XPS 13 are both fair for gaming and 3D applications primarily due to their moderate graphics capabilities, with the Vivobook having an Intel UHD Graphics and the XPS 13 boasting Intel Iris Xe; both are integrated GPUs which are generally less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs. Additionally, both have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for casual gaming but isn't as smooth as higher refresh rates preferred in competitive gaming scenarios.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 17 and the Dell XPS 13 compare to other laptops
"The ASUS Vivobook 17 is an affordable 17-inch laptop with passive cooling. On one hand, you get a really quiet and cool work device with a good system performance, many connections, good maintenance options, speakers acceptable for multimedia enjoyment, and a sharp and clear matte FHD IPS display with the Asus VivoBook 17 (F712JA). On the other hand, the USB-C port lacks Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the display, a higher brightness and better color space coverage."
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 17 or the Dell XPS 13
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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