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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is less expensive and more portable, but the Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers superior performance with a higher-end processor and more powerful graphics card, which makes it better for 3D rendering, machine learning, and intensive gaming. The Alienware also has a larger screen with higher resolution, more RAM, and bigger storage. However, the Predator Triton 300 is lighter and has a longer battery life, making it a better option for on-the-go use and general activities. Choose the Triton if you need something affordable and portable, and the Alienware if high-performance computing and gaming are your priorities. 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 Predator Triton 300
- Good portability
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 speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for general use with its higher RAM capacity, more powerful CPU, and superior screen quality, which translates to sharper visuals and more vibrant colors. However, it's less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the Acer Predator Triton 300, which still offers a solid CPU, adequate RAM, and good screen quality for general tasks but is lighter, slimmer, and capable of running longer on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
7.1
9.1
6.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and 3D because it has a superior Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165, compared to the good performance of the Acer Predator Triton 300 with its Nvidia RTX 3060 and a 144 refresh rate. The Alienware's better screen quality with a higher resolution enhances the overall experience, while both have quality CPUs which also contribute to gaming performance.
Engineering and Design
7.5
9.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
6.5/10
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 Predator Triton 300 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 surpasses the Acer Predator Triton 300 in engineering and design capabilities primarily due to its superior CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU, which all contribute to better performance in resource-intensive tasks. Furthermore, the Alienware has a larger and higher resolution screen which is vital for detailed design work, although it is less portable and produces more operating noise than the comparatively lighter and quieter Triton 300.
Content Creation
7.3
8.4
7.4/10
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 Predator Triton 300 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
7.1
8.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 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
7.3
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Triton 300 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 and Dell Alienware m18 R1, with high-resolution displays and adequate brightness, provide clear and sharp images for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, ensuring a satisfying general use and design experience. Both laptops offer wide color gamuts, crucial for precision in color-sensitive engineering and design tasks, ensuring accurate color representation. However, their lower refresh rates might not deliver the smoothest visuals needed in fast-paced 3D gaming environments, which could lead to less immersive gaming experiences.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has 5.5 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.
Portability
Good
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,150
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has a price of $1,150 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
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How the Acer Predator Triton 300 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Triton 300 | Dell Alienware m18 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,150 | $2,600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 8.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.9" | 16.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 12.59" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i9-13900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 97 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 4 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Triton 300
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | December 2020
"In our particular review configuration, the Acer Predator Triton 300 turned out to be a fairly powerful gaming notebook. Both CPU and GPU performance were at a high level, and the aluminum case turned out to be fairly robust. Only the display lid could have been a bit more robust. For customers on a budget that do not mind tinkering with the device’s fan management the Acer Predator Triton 300 can be worth a closer look."
Dell Alienware m18 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | July 2023
"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 Predator Triton 300 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.
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