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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, consider how you'll use the laptop. The Acer is more budget-friendly and suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and office applications, with the added benefit of being lighter and thus more portable. However, if you're into gaming, 3D rendering, or require a machine for demanding engineering software, the Alienware's higher cost brings you significantly enhanced performance and a better graphics card, although it will be heavier and may have a shorter battery life due to its powerful components. 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 Acer Aspire 3 14
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 14, with sufficient CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, offers a quality screen and portability with its smaller size, making it ideal for general usage; additionally, its longer battery life allows for extended use without needing a power source. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also suitable for general use, is tailored more towards high-performance needs with its robust CPU and RAM, yet it sacrifices some portability and battery life due to its larger size and more power-intensive components.
Gaming and AI
5.9
7.9
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gaming and 3D performance, making this laptop more suited for those tasks. While the Acer Aspire 3 14 can handle some gaming and 3D applications, its GPU and screen refresh rate are not as advanced, resulting in less optimal performance in these areas.
Engineering and Design
6.1
8.4
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a more powerful CPU, higher RAM, and a superior GPU which are crucial for demanding engineering applications, and it also offers a higher screen quality for detailed designs, making it very good for engineering and design. On the other side, the Acer Aspire 3 14, while still capable, has less powerful components and a lower quality screen, but it gains an edge in portability and could have a quieter operating noise, which might be more comfortable for extended use.
Content Creation
7.2
7.9
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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
7.1
7.6
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for software development, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.1
8.2
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a screen that is adequate for everyday tasks due to its resolution and brightness, but lacks the expansive color range and higher resolution that professionals need for engineering and design work. The Dell Alienware m16 R2's display, with its high resolution and wide color gamuts, makes it well-suited for detailed engineering and design projects, offering clarity and color accuracy that are essential in these fields. However, both models fall short for gaming and 3D applications, as they do not offer the high refresh rates that are crucial for smooth motion and a responsive experience in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
9.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 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
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$440
$1,650
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $440 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | Dell Alienware m16 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$440 | $1,650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 5.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 14.33" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 302 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m16 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Momo Tabari | January 2024
"Alienware’s m16 R2 is a solid gaming laptop that leaves much to be desired, particularly in its quest to fulfill your needs as a product for productivity. Battery life under eight hours and a dim display are both vital issues for something that will accompany you through school projects or a workday. However, the Alienware m16 R2 is an exceedingly powerful gaming laptop, consistently being one of the best in our performance tests when compared against similar products. Even then, its display is lacking color, its fans get pretty darn loud, and its speakers aren’t punchy enough to rise above that noise."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 or the Dell Alienware m16 R2
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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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