If you prioritize affordability and are satisfied with solid performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, working on documents, and media consumption, the ASUS Zenbook 14 stands out as a cost-effective option. On the other hand, if you prefer a laptop with a more premium build, potentially better display, and you intend to use it for more intensive tasks like video editing or software development, the Dell XPS 13 could justify the higher expense. Be mindful that a higher price doesn't necessarily mean better battery life or portability. If mobility and battery duration are critical for you, check the specifications carefully, as some premium models sacrifice these for a sleek design and powerful components. 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 14
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.2/10
7.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use, though the Dell XPS 13 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 offers a high-resolution OLED screen and ample battery capacity but is slightly heavier and has inferior CPU performance and RAM compared to the Dell XPS 13, which is lighter, has a more powerful CPU, and double the RAM, making it better for multitasking and prolonged mobile use despite a lower-quality IPS screen. While the Zenbook could be preferred for its display and battery life during less demanding tasks, the XPS 13 excels in overall performance and portability for a variety of general usage scenarios.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vivid display with crisp detail for everyday tasks or work in engineering and design, the ASUS Zenbook 14, with its superior screen sharpness and color range, may be the optimal choice; however, if you favor a balanced approach with good screen characteristics across various tasks without specializing, the Dell XPS 13 will serve you well. Neither is ideal for gaming or 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, but for less demanding visual tasks or professional work that relies on color accuracy, both can be very suitable. The ASUS stands out for those requiring the most accurate colors and sharpest images for design purposes but may come at a higher cost, whereas the Dell offers a good balance between quality and value.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 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
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $1,399.
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a higher screen refresh rate, which is very important for smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, compared to the Dell XPS 13 which offers a standard refresh rate that may not be as fluid for fast-moving images.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.2/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its OLED screen and higher refresh rate, provides a superior visual experience for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 offers increased portability and longer battery life, making it advantageous for users who need to work while on the move. The ASUS has a good processor and sufficient RAM for technical tasks, but the Dell steps ahead with an even more powerful processor and double the RAM, making it better for more demanding engineering software and multitasking.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.7/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 14 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
7.2/10
7.5/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 14 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the Dell XPS 13 compare to other laptops
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
"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 14 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.