If you prioritize performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming tasks and are okay with a higher price, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 with its more powerful graphics and processor is the better choice, but it is heavier, which reduces its portability, and has shorter battery life compared to the Acer Nitro 17. However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers good general use and gaming performance, the Acer Nitro 17 will not disappoint, and it also brings longer battery life and slightly better portability thanks to its lower weight. 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 Nitro 17
Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
9.1/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 17 is equipped with a lower-tier Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a full HD screen, making it good for gaming and 3D tasks, whereas the Dell Alienware m18 R1 boasts a higher-tier Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics card and a higher resolution screen, rendering it excellent for those same applications.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
9.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
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
7.4/10
8.0/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for software development, while the Acer Nitro 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.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
7.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Nitro 17 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 offer pleasing visuals with their high-resolution screens and sufficient brightness, providing a clear and vibrant display for everyday tasks. In the realm of engineering and design, their wide color gamuts ensure accurate color depiction, indispensable for tasks requiring precise color work. However, they lack the high refresh rates favored for 3D gaming, which can limit the smoothness of motion and responsiveness in fast-paced gaming environments.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 17 has 8 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the Acer Nitro 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$970
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Acer Nitro 17 has a price of $970 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for general use with its superior CPU and double the RAM of the Acer Nitro 17, offering better multitasking and more demanding application performance. Additionally, the Alienware features a higher resolution screen which improves visual clarity, although it is less portable and has a shorter battery life than the Acer Nitro 17, which could still be a suitable choice for less intensive tasks and users who prioritize longer unplugged usage and easier transportation.
Portability
Poor
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Nitro 17 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 both have poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Nitro 17 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Nitro 17 isn't an exceptional gaming laptop; it's kind of chunky even among 17.3-inch notebooks, with a lackluster keyboard, and it doesn't outperform comparably priced machines. But there's a lot to like about it, including a good array of ports, a screen that's sharp and bright for work and play alike, and battery life that soundly beats the competition. All this comes at an affordable price. If size and weight aren't big concerns, you'll find the Nitro 17 a dependable big-screen gaming rig. If you crave higher quality, consider a slight step down or up in screen size with the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 or Alienware m18 respectively."
"Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 17 or the Dell Alienware m18 R1
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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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