A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers portability and a high-resolution touchscreen suitable for general usage and business applications; it is also lightweight and has a longer battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 is designed for intensive gaming and engineering with a more powerful processor and graphics card, more RAM, and a higher refresh-rate display for smooth visuals, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life. Choose the Zenbook Flip S13 if mobility and touchscreen are priorities, or the Alienware X17 R2 for top-tier performance in gaming and specialized computational tasks at the expense of portability and battery life. 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 Flip S13
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware X17 R2
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7
8.2
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
10.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
2.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is lighter and more portable, weighing less and having a higher portability score, making it good for general use that requires frequent movement or use on the go. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware X17 R2, while having a stronger CPU and more RAM, which can handle more intensive tasks, is much heavier and has only a fair portability score, possibly making it less suitable for users who prioritize mobility.
Gaming and AI
6.3
8.9
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13's less powerful Intel graphics and standard 60Hz screen refresh rate result in fair gaming and 3D capabilities, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2's far superior Nvidia graphics and much higher refresh rate enable very good gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
7.4
9.1
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, with its high-resolution touchscreen and more portable design, is suitable for design work on the go, but it doesn't match the Dell Alienware X17 R2, which boasts a more powerful CPU and GPU combo, and double the RAM, making it the better choice for the most demanding engineering tasks despite being less portable.
Screen Quality
7.9
8.5
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware X17 R2 for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and Dell Alienware X17 R2 have screens that provide clear images and vibrant colors due to their high resolution and brightness, which make them suitable for everyday tasks like web browsing and watching videos. In the context of engineering and design, these laptops offer wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals who require precise color representation for their work, such as in graphic design or video editing, are well-served. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on both models may lead to less fluid visuals, making them less ideal for fast-paced gaming where smoother motion is key.
Battery
10.5 Hours
2.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 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
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$2,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a price of $1,400 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 costs $2,000.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
7.8
8.3
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
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
7.6
7.8
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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 Flip S13 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 | Dell Alienware X17 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $2,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | December 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.3'' x 0.51'' | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 6.82 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.01" | 15.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.31" | 11.79" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1165G7 | Intel i9-12900HK | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 67 Wh | 87 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 480Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 367 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 6.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jefferies | January 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
Dell Alienware X17 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 or the Dell Alienware X17 R2
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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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