The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell XPS 13 are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
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 14X has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a high-resolution display with bright, vivid colors that appeal to everyday users and professionals needing accuracy for design work, but its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications that benefit from smoother visuals. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13 provides a quality viewing experience for both daily tasks and technical work with good color representation, though it too falls short for gaming due to a refresh rate not suited for fast-paced action. Both laptops are less than optimal for gaming or 3D modeling, where higher refresh rates are crucial for fluid motion.
Battery
5.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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 14X 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 14X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$777
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $1,399.
The Dell XPS 13 and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is well-suited for general use due to its high-quality OLED screen, dedicated graphics, and robust CPU, making it good for tasks that benefit from better visual and processing performance. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 stands out for its superior portability and longer battery life, making it a better fit for users needing a lightweight laptop with the stamina to last all day without charging.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell XPS 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is equipped with a discrete Nvidia MX550 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz, which can handle gaming and 3D tasks more effectively than the Dell XPS 13, which uses the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and has a standard refresh rate of 60Hz. However, while the ASUS offers better gaming performance, the Dell XPS 13 may have superior screen quality with higher brightness and potentially longer battery life due to its efficient integrated graphics.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 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
7.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 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 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 XPS 13 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."
"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 14X 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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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
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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.