If performance during intensive engineering tasks is a priority and you prefer a better screen for color accuracy, the Asus Zenbook 13 with its AMD Ryzen processor and OLED display makes a compelling choice, but the battery life isn't as long as the Dell. The Dell XPS 13 has more RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking and could offer a slight edge in general use; it also has a higher resolution screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio that's better for productivity tasks. Both are highly portable, but the XPS may edge out slightly with its newer release and slightly better battery life. Consider the tasks you'll be performing most often to guide your decision. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 13
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a display with high resolution and brightness, plus superior panel quality, making it excel for general use and detailed work in engineering and design due to its vivid colors and sharp imagery. However, for gaming and 3D, its lower refresh rate holds it back, providing less fluid motion which is crucial for these applications. The Dell XPS 13 offers a balance with good resolution and panel quality, suited for both everyday tasks and precision required in engineering, but like the Zenbook, it lacks the high refresh rate desired for immersive gaming and smooth 3D modeling.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $1,399.
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor and OLED screen, excels in general use with excellent battery life and a highly portable design; however, users who need more RAM and appreciate a better keyboard and speaker quality might favor the Dell XPS 13, which offers an Intel i7-1250U CPU and IPS display, further enhanced by its superior screen pixel density and contrast ratio. The XPS 13, despite having a battery life slightly superior to the Zenbook, trades off a bit of portability and screen brightness in favor of a more premium build quality and heat management.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Vega 8 and the Dell XPS 13 with an Intel i7-1250U Iris Xe both offer GPUs that are suitable for light gaming and 3D tasks but may struggle with more intensive graphics workloads due to their moderate performance capabilities. Both laptops have screens with a 60Hz refresh rate, which is sufficient for casual gaming, but may not provide as smooth an experience as screens with higher refresh rates preferred for competitive gaming or fast-paced 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.2/10
5.8/10
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 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13's AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and 8GB of RAM are decent for engineering tasks, yet the Dell XPS 13's Intel i7 CPU and twice the RAM deliver better performance suitable for more demanding design software. While both have high-quality screens, the Dell's higher RAM, better graphics with Intel Iris Xe, and a slightly sharper screen give it an edge for complex visual tasks, although the ASUS counters with an OLED display which can be preferable for color accuracy.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 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
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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
Excellent
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
13.4in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 13 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Dell XPS 13 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."
"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 Zenbook 13 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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