If performance in tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning or engineering is a priority and you want a system with a high refresh rate display and a dedicated GPU, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is the more suitable option. It also has a higher build quality and better heat management but is slightly more expensive and has less storage capacity than the ASUS Vivobook S 15. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers a more budget-friendly price and greater storage space, which can be an advantage for general use and multimedia, but it has integrated graphics which are less powerful than a dedicated GPU for intensive tasks. Both laptops have similar battery life and weight, making them comparably portable. 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 Vivobook S 15
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware x14 R1.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers smoother gameplay and better 3D rendering capabilities thanks to its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, as opposed to the ASUS Vivobook S 15, which is equipped with an integrated AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Vega 8 GPU and a standard 60 Hz screen refresh rate. While both laptops have decent CPUs and good screen quality, the superior GPU and refresh rate of the Alienware make it better suited for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is favored for engineering and design because of its powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, which outperform the AMD Ryzen 7 in the ASUS Vivobook S 15; additionally, its higher refresh rate screen offers smoother visuals which is beneficial in design applications.
Screen Quality
6.3/10
7.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook S 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 provides an adequate display with sufficient resolution and brightness for daily tasks like browsing and watching videos, but the Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers a superior experience with higher brightness and sharper resolution, which makes for crisper text and more vibrant images. When it comes to engineering and design, the Vivobook's color accuracy is acceptable, but the Alienware stands out with its wider color gamuts, ensuring more precise color reproduction for professional work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which may result in less fluid motion and responsiveness during fast-paced visuals.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$908
$1,201
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 costs $1,201.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers ample screen size and storage for general tasks, balanced by a solid CPU and RAM combo, making it a reliable performer, while its lighter weight and reasonable portability suit everyday carry. In contrast, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, with a higher-spec CPU and dedicated graphics, excels in more demanding applications but also features premium build quality, alongside exceptional keyboard and heat management, although with a smaller screen and less storage.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 are both 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
7.4/10
7.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 are both 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware x14 R1 to have very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 compare to other laptops
"Internals make Asus VivoBook S15 laptop a compelling option. The Asus multimedia laptop may look rather below-average with its modest black chassis, lack of a dedicated GPU, limited RAM and meagre port selection without Thunderbolt support. But your impression of the device will start changing once you set your eyes on its high-contrast OLED capable of producing deep blacks and highly accurate colours. And your opinion will change completely when the VivoBook is switched on. The AMD CPU can effortlessly keep up with powerful rivals from Intel. The integrated Radeon graphics blows away Intel's iGPU when it comes to graphics workloads such as rendering and simpler games."
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook S 15 or the Dell Alienware x14 R1
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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