ASUS ROG Ally vs Dell XPS 15 (2023)
The Verdict
Comparing these two Windows 11 laptops reveals fundamentally different purposes and audiences. ASUS ROG Ally is a handheld gaming device with a 7-inch IPS LCD display, 120Hz refresh rate, and AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor optimized for portable gaming, though battery life ranges unpredictably from 1.5 to 7 hours depending on workload. Dell XPS 15 serves as a premium productivity laptop featuring a stunning 15.6-inch OLED display with 3456x2160 resolution, Intel Core i7-13700H processor, and impressive 13-hour battery life, making it ideal for professionals and creative work. Performance-wise, the ROG Ally excels at gaming, while the XPS 15 dominates productivity and multitasking with superior processing power and RAM speed. Build quality strongly favors Dell's machined aluminum chassis over ASUS's plastic design. At $699 versus $1499, ROG Ally offers exceptional value for portable gaming enthusiasts, whereas XPS 15 justifies its premium price through professional-grade build, display quality, and versatility. Choose ROG Ally for gaming portability, XPS 15 for comprehensive laptop performance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG Ally if…
- →Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3 GPU outperforms Steam Deck in raw power
- →Full 1080p IPS display at 120Hz for sharper and smoother gaming
- →Windows 11 gives access to all PC game stores and launchers
Buy the Dell XPS 15 (2023) if…
- →Gorgeous 3.5K OLED display with perfect blacks and vivid colors
- →86 Wh battery provides solid all-day battery life
- →13th-gen H-series processor with strong sustained performance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
ASUS ROG Ally
Pros
- Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3 GPU outperforms Steam Deck in raw power
- Full 1080p IPS display at 120Hz for sharper and smoother gaming
- Windows 11 gives access to all PC game stores and launchers
- Lighter at 608 g compared to the Steam Deck
- MicroSD expansion for extra game storage
Cons
- 40 Wh battery provides very poor endurance — as low as 1.5 hours
- Windows 11 is not optimized for handheld — requires workarounds
- Only one USB-C port limits simultaneous charging and peripherals
- No OLED — IPS LCD has weaker contrast and no true blacks
- Fan noise is loud under heavy gaming loads
Dell XPS 15 (2023)
Pros
- Gorgeous 3.5K OLED display with perfect blacks and vivid colors
- 86 Wh battery provides solid all-day battery life
- 13th-gen H-series processor with strong sustained performance
- SD card reader is a welcome inclusion for photographers
- Compact footprint for a 15.6-inch laptop
Cons
- No USB-A or HDMI ports — USB-C/Thunderbolt only
- Discrete GPU (RTX 4050/4060) models are significantly more expensive
- 4.23 lbs is heavier than many 15-inch competitors
- OLED display limited to 60Hz — no high-refresh option
- Palmrest can get warm during extended CPU-heavy tasks
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS ROG Ally | Dell XPS 15 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 608 g | 4.23 lbs (1.92 kg) |
| Material | Plastic chassis | CNC machined aluminum |
| Dimensions | 280.0 x 111.4 x 32.4 mm | 13.56 x 9.06 x 0.73 inches |
| Ports | ||
| USB-C ports | 1 | 2 |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| HDMI | — | |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 2 |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD | — |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 1.5-7 hours (game dependent) | Up to 13 hours |
| Capacity | 40 Wh | 86 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 7 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED anti-reflective |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3456 x 2160 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s) | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU | 14 cores (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) | Intel Core i7-13700H (13th Gen) |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | — |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | — | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
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.
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