The ASUS Zenbook 13 offers a balance between performance and portability with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and lightweight design, making it suitable for general use and even some more demanding tasks like photo editing or casual gaming. Its OLED screen provides vibrant visuals, although this might be less of an advantage if you're not focused on graphics. On the other hand, the Dell Latitude 14 7490, being less expensive, offers a larger screen and more RAM, which is advantageous for multitasking and business applications. However, its Intel i7 processor is less powerful than the ASUS's AMD Ryzen and it's somewhat heavier, which could be a downside if you travel often. The Dell's IPS screen is good for general tasks but doesn't offer the same color quality as the ASUS's OLED. When considering your budget, the Dell offers a more cost-effective solution with decent performance, particularly if your tasks are more business-oriented rather than performance-intensive. 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 Zenbook 13
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 14 7490
Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a solid CPU and an OLED screen which offers excellent color coverage and contrast for design work but comes with less RAM that might limit performance in complex engineering tasks compared to the Dell Latitude 14 7490, which has more RAM and a larger screen, beneficial for multitasking and detailed work, but with slightly inferior color coverage and lower contrast ratio. Both have adequate CPUs for engineering, yet their integrated GPUs are more suited to less graphically intensive tasks, and while the ASUS is lighter and thus more portable, the Dell has a slightly better build quality and keyboard which might appeal to heavy users.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.7/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 13's superior resolution and brightness make it appealing for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, offering crisp visuals and good visibility in various lighting conditions. Engineering and design professionals will appreciate the Zenbook's wider color gamuts, enabling more accurate color work for tasks such as photo editing or CAD software. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Zenbook falls short due to its lower refresh rate, which is a critical feature for smooth motion and gameplay, making it less suited for these high-intensity visual tasks.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$890
$300
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $300.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
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.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
5.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook 13 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 offers modest gaming and 3D capabilities primarily due to its integrated AMD Ryzen Vega GPU, which is adequate for light gaming and graphics work, but its standard 60Hz refresh rate could limit the smoothness in fast-paced games. In comparison, the Dell Latitude 14 7490 also has modest gaming performance, hindered by its Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is less suited for demanding games and 3D applications, and it similarly has a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 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
7.3/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 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
9.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the Dell Latitude 14 7490
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
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