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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're looking for value and don't mind a heavier laptop with less premium materials, the Acer Nitro 5 could serve you well, especially for general use and casual gaming. However, if you want a laptop with higher performance for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming, and you're willing to invest more, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers that, along with a sleeker design and potentially better battery life. But remember, the Alienware will be more expensive and might also be heavier, which could affect its portability. 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 5 15
- The Acer Nitro 5 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.9
8.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Nitro 5 15 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 15, with a capable CPU, ample RAM, and a decent GPU, offers solid performance for engineering tasks but with a lower screen quality compared to the Dell Alienware m16 R2, which boasts a higher-end CPU, more powerful GPU, and superior screen, making it excellent for demanding engineering and design work. While both have quality keyboards and acceptable speaker systems, the Alienware's higher performance makes it less portable and potentially louder due to its more robust cooling needs to manage operating heat.
Screen Quality
6.9
8.2
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 5 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Nitro 5 15, while offering a display suitable for everyday tasks thanks to its decent resolution and brightness, may fall short for engineering and design due to limited color range, and its lower refresh rate detracts from the smooth visuals desired for gaming and 3D applications. On the flip side, the Dell Alienware m16 R2's higher resolution and brightness enhance the viewing experience for general use, and its wide color gamut makes it an excellent choice for color-sensitive work in engineering and design, though like the Acer, its lower refresh rate can be a setback for gaming and 3D scenarios where fluid motion is crucial.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Acer Nitro 5 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$780
$1,650
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 5 15 has a price of $780 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 5 15, with its sufficient CPU and RAM, offers a reliable performance for everyday tasks, and its good screen quality enhances the user experience, but it falls short in portability and battery life compared to lighter options. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 stands out with superior CPU and RAM for more demanding applications and a high-quality screen, perfect for intensive use, though it comes with a higher price and less portability due to its gaming-oriented design.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.9
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Nitro 5 15, with its capable GPU and high screen refresh rate, offers solid gaming and 3D performance, ensuring smooth visuals and detailed graphics. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, known for its premium GPU and even higher screen refresh rate, provides a more immersive experience for gaming and 3D tasks, complemented by a powerful CPU and superior screen quality for stronger overall performance.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 15 are both good for content creation.
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
7.6
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 15 has 5.5 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
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 15 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 15 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 5 15 | Dell Alienware m16 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$780 | $1,650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.7'' x 1.06'' | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 5.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.19" | 14.33" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.67" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-12500H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 262 nits | 302 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 5 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | June 2022
"The Acer Nitro 5 is a fast QHD gaming notebook. The Nitro 5 is a well-balanced gaming laptop for just under US$ 2400. A Core i7-12700H CPU and a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU enable QHD gaming at high to maximum settings, accompanied by fast PCIe-4-SSD (1 TB) and 16 GB of RAM. Acer delivers a solid QHD gaming notebook with the Nitro 5 AN515-58. However, the laptop is not completely free of shortcomings. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The laptop heats up noticeably under load, but not excessively. Noise development is on the usual class level. Once again, however, Acer needs to improve the fan control."
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 Nitro 5 15 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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