If you require high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, investing in the Acer Nitro 5 17 could be justified despite its higher cost. However, if portability and battery life are crucial for you, and you use your laptop for more general purposes, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 may be the more sensible, cost-effective choice. Keep in mind that the larger screen and potentially superior specs of the Acer might not compensate for the convenience of carrying a lighter laptop with longer battery life. Consider your most frequent activities and whether they justify the additional expense. 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 17
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2/10
8.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 5 17 for engineering and design, and content creation.
The Acer Nitro 5 17's panel type, high resolution, and brightness make it well-suited for general use, displaying crisp images and bright colors, but its lower refresh rate hampers gaming experiences where fast-paced visuals can become blurry. The Dell Alienware m16 R2 similarly offers a sharp and bright screen conducive to general use and provides a wide color gamut which is essential for accurate color representation in engineering and design, yet, like the Acer, it's less ideal for 3D gaming due to a refresh rate that doesn't match the demands of fast-moving graphics. Both laptops are less than optimal for gamers who prioritize swift screen response and fluid motion representation and should look for models with higher refresh rates.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 17 both have only fair portability, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$1,650
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a price of $830 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 5 17, with its ample CPU and RAM, ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks and entertainment, while its large screen provides a clear and vibrant display for general use; however, its size may affect portability, and it typically offers modest battery life. The Dell Alienware m16 R2 also delivers fast performance with its high-quality CPU and ample memory, and presents an excellent screen, though it is geared more towards gamers and professionals, comes at a higher price point, and is less portable, which may make it less ideal for someone needing a laptop primarily for on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 are esteemed for gaming and 3D applications due to their robust GPUs which deliver swift graphics rendering, crucial for a smooth visual experience, and high screen refresh rates that minimize motion blur and input lag. While both models benefit from solid CPUs and good screen quality, their standout GPUs and refresh rates are the key factors that enhance gaming and 3D performance, setting them apart in these areas.
Engineering and Design
8.0/10
8.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are equipped with powerful CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality screens, making them well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks that require robust processing and graphics rendering capabilities. The Acer is larger and may offer slight advantages in cooling and screen size for detailed work, while the Alienware is expected to deliver a more portable form factor, better keyboard experience, and potentially lower operating noise, which may benefit users frequently on the move.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
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 17 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
7.4/10
7.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Acer Nitro 5 17 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
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has 6 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.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Nitro 5 17 is a solid mid-range gamer. The Nitro 5 does not belong to the top group of RTX 3070 notebooks: Compared with the RTX 3070 notebooks tested so far, the computer delivers below-average frame rates - this is due to the 100-watt TGP. The GPU performance can be increased a bit with a firmware update. The device scores with a high level of CPU performance. Throttling is not a concern. CPU and GPU can produce their performance constantly. The laptop heats up moderately under load. The noise development is on the usual class level."
"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 17 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.
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
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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