Acer Aspire 5 (2024) vs Dell XPS 14 (2023)
The Verdict
Acer's Aspire 5 delivers solid everyday performance at an accessible $549 price point, featuring a 15.6-inch 1080p display, Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. Battery life reaches 9 hours with a 50Wh capacity. Dell's XPS 14 commands a premium at $1499 with superior engineering: lighter aluminum-carbon fiber chassis, sharper 2560x1600 OLED display at 120Hz, faster Core i7-13620H, and 13-hour battery life via 69.5Wh capacity. Dell also includes Thunderbolt ports and Windows 11 Pro. For budget-conscious users handling office work and streaming, the Aspire 5 is competent and excellent value. Creative professionals and power users benefit from XPS 14's superior display, processor performance, and portability despite the steeper investment. Recommendation depends entirely on budget constraints and workload demands.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Aspire 5 (2024) if…
- →Excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 GB RAM
- →Intel Core i5 handles everyday productivity and light creative work
- →Expandable storage for future SSD upgrades
Buy the Dell XPS 14 (2023) if…
- →120Hz display is smooth and responsive for everyday work
- →Thunderbolt 4 ports support fast external displays and storage
- →Solid build quality with premium aluminum and carbon fiber
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Aspire 5 (2024)
Pros
- Excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 GB RAM
- Intel Core i5 handles everyday productivity and light creative work
- Expandable storage for future SSD upgrades
- Full-size HDMI and USB-A ports for hassle-free connectivity
- 9-hour battery life is solid for a budget laptop
Cons
- 60Hz FHD display — no high refresh rate or high resolution
- 300-nit brightness is dim for outdoor or bright-room use
- Plastic body feels less premium than aluminum competitors
- No Thunderbolt — USB-C is data/display only
Dell XPS 14 (2023)
Pros
- 120Hz display is smooth and responsive for everyday work
- Thunderbolt 4 ports support fast external displays and storage
- Solid build quality with premium aluminum and carbon fiber
- Good 69.5 Wh battery capacity for the form factor
- Optional OLED display upgrade for creative professionals
Cons
- Fan noise is noticeable under sustained workloads
- No USB-A ports may require dongles
- 1.68 kg is heavier than ultrabook competitors
- Webcam quality is average for the price
- Soldered RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Aspire 5 (2024) | Dell XPS 14 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.9 lbs (1.76 kg) | 1.68 kg |
| Material | Aluminum lid, plastic body | Aluminum and carbon fiber |
| Dimensions | 14.09 x 9.5 x 0.72 inches | 319 x 226 x 18.0 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-A ports | 2 | — |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours | Up to 13 hours |
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 69.5 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6 inches | 14.5 inches |
| Type | IPS | IPS LCD (OLED optional) |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 300 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 512 GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 | 16 GB LPDDR5 |
| Cores | 10 cores (2P + 8E) | 10-core (6P + 4E) |
| Chipset | Intel Core i5-1335U | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Acer products or all Dell products. View full details for the Acer Aspire 5 (2024) or the Dell XPS 14 (2023).