Laptops · Tool Face-Off

Dell XPS 15 vs ASUS ZenBook Pro 15

Quick answer

Both are premium 15-inch powerhouses, but the Dell XPS 15 edges ahead with superior build quality and display, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 fights back with better value and a handy ScreenPad.

Our pick

Dell XPS 15

The gold standard of Windows laptops

4.1★

ASUS ZenBook Pro 15

Smart features at a smarter price

4.1★

Starting Price

~$1,299

~$999–$1,199

Display

15.6" OLED or IPS, up to 3.5K OLED

15.6" OLED, 2.8K 120Hz

Processor Options

Intel Core i5–i9 (13th/14th gen)

Intel Core i9 / AMD Ryzen 9

GPU Options

NVIDIA RTX 4050–4070

NVIDIA RTX 4060

RAM (max)

Up to 64GB DDR5

Up to 32GB DDR5

Storage (max)

Up to 4TB SSD

Up to 2TB SSD

Battery Capacity

86Wh

96Wh

Weight

~1.86 kg (4.1 lbs)

~1.8 kg (3.97 lbs)

Unique Feature

Infinity Edge near-bezel-free display

ScreenPad 2.0 (secondary touchpad display)

Ports

2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, SD card, headphone jack

2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, SD card

Webcam

720p (base) / 1080p (upgraded)

1080p IR camera standard

Build Material

Machined aluminum + carbon fiber

Aluminum alloy (Ceraluminum on some models)

Dell XPS 15

Performance★★★★½

Portability★★★½☆

Battery Life★★★½☆

Build Quality★★★★★

Display Quality★★★★★

Value for Money★★★½☆

Keyboard & Trackpad★★★★☆

ASUS ZenBook Pro 15

Performance★★★★½

Portability★★★½☆

Battery Life★★★★☆

Build Quality★★★★☆

Display Quality★★★★☆

Value for Money★★★★½

Keyboard & Trackpad★★★★☆

Worth knowing

The XPS 15's OLED panel covers 100% DCI-P3 — photographers and video editors genuinely drool over it.
ZenBook's ScreenPad acts as a secondary display right in your trackpad — gimmick or genius, you decide.
The XPS 15 has been refreshed annually since 2008, making it one of the longest-running laptop lines.
ZenBook Pro 15 includes HDMI 2.1 out of the box — no dongle needed for 4K@120Hz TV output.
Dell's XPS line is famously repairable compared to many ultrabooks, scoring relatively well on iFixit.

The ASUS ScreenPad was inspired partly by a dual-screen concept from 2003 — it just took the world 15 years to actually want it.

If you want

You want the best display and prestige build

The XPS 15 OLED is class-leading and the carbon fiber deck feels like holding a spaceship.

→ Pick Dell XPS 15

If you want

You want more ports and better battery out of the box

ZenBook Pro 15 includes HDMI 2.1 and a bigger battery without needing a dongle bag.

→ Pick ASUS ZenBook Pro 15

If you want

You're on a tighter budget but want premium performance

The ZenBook undercuts the XPS by $100–$300 at comparable specs — hard to ignore.

→ Pick ASUS ZenBook Pro 15

If you want

You need maximum RAM for heavy multitasking or VMs

The XPS 15 supports up to 64GB DDR5 vs. ZenBook's 32GB ceiling.

→ Pick Dell XPS 15

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