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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the Dell XPS 15, consider that the ASUS offers a larger screen and more storage out of the box, as well as higher computing power, making it well-suited for intensive tasks like engineering and certain types of gaming. However, it is also heavier and less portable than the Dell. Conversely, the Dell XPS 15 provides a higher resolution and brighter screen, which might be better for graphic design or video editing. Additionally, the Dell model is lighter and has a longer battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize mobility and on-the-go use. If budget is a concern, the Dell tends to be somewhat less expensive and also offers a better keyboard, webcam, and speakers, which might enhance your daily user experience, especially in communications and media consumption. 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 Pro 17
- The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2
7.4
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 for general use, and content creation.
If you prioritize a vivid, bright display for daily tasks and professional work, both the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Dell XPS 15 offer high-resolution panels with excellent brightness, making them suitable for general use and detailed engineering and design work due to their wide color gamut coverage. However, for hardcore gamers and those into 3D modeling, the lower refresh rates on these laptops may not provide the most fluid visual experience, despite their sufficient resolution and panel quality. Keep in mind, while both laptops excel in visual clarity and color accuracy, they may not satisfy users looking for the best gaming or 3D rendering performance.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 both have good portability, though the Dell XPS 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a price of $1,500 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.3
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.9
6.8
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Dell XPS 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a high-quality GPU and fast screen refresh rate, making it an excellent option for gaming and 3D work where graphics and smooth visuals are key. The Dell XPS 15, while also having a capable GPU, emphasizes a balance of performance with a strong CPU and exceptional screen quality for both gaming and professional creative tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, along with a larger screen, making it ideal for demanding engineering and design tasks; however, its greater weight and size limit its portability compared to the lighter and more compact Dell XPS 15, which offers a high-quality Intel CPU and Intel Arc GPU, and a higher screen resolution and brightness, enhancing visual clarity for detailed work. Both laptops feature high RAM capacity for multitasking and complex operations, but the tradeoff between size and portability versus screen quality and brightness could influence your choice depending on whether you prioritize a larger workspace or the need for mobility and clearer visuals.
Content Creation
8.2
8.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very 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
7.9
8.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is good.
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 Pro 17 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 | Dell XPS 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,500 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 10.2'' x 0.74'' | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.18 lbs | 4.21 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 13.57" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.18" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 86 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 606 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 or the Dell XPS 15
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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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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