The ASUS Zenbook 14X is often less expensive with an OLED screen, better for general use with more vibrant colors and higher pixel density, but its lower capacity battery and less powerful GPU make it less suitable for intensive gaming or 3D rendering. The Dell Alienware x14 R1, while more expensive, packs a more robust processor and a higher-end gaming GPU, making it ideal for engineering, gaming, and other performance-heavy tasks, despite its lower resolution IPS screen. Both laptops offer similar portability but the Dell has a longer battery life, making it more appealing for extended use away from power outlets. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14X
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Dell Alienware x14 R1 for general use, and engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14X's high-resolution and bright display offers crisp and vivid visuals, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1, although providing a good viewing experience, isn't as bright or sharp. In engineering and design, the Zenbook excels with its wider color gamuts, ensuring more accurate color representation, which is essential for precision work, whereas the Alienware, while still capable, offers a narrower color range. For gaming and 3D tasks, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can limit the smoothness of motion and responsiveness in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
5.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Alienware x14 R1 both have very good portability, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$777
$1,201
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 costs $1,201.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers portability and a high-quality OLED screen, which is great for general use like watching videos and browsing, but its battery life is shorter than the Dell Alienware x14 R1, which although heavier, offers longer battery life and superior heat management, making it more suitable for prolonged sessions and performance-demanding tasks. Both laptops have powerful CPUs and ample RAM, making them capable for various tasks, but the Alienware's advanced cooling and additional weight might be a tradeoff for users needing portability with less intensive requirements.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware x14 R1 to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is considered very good for engineering and design use because it boasts a higher performance CPU and GPU, which are crucial for demanding software used in these fields, compared to the ASUS Zenbook 14X, which offers moderate performance with components better suited for general use or less-intensive design tasks. Additionally, while the Zenbook's OLED screen provides excellent color quality, the Alienware's higher refresh rate, paired with its superior thermal management and quieter operation, are significant advantages during extended, performance-intensive sessions.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and ASUS Zenbook 14X 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 compare to other laptops
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"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 Zenbook 14X 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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