If you prioritize portability and battery life for everyday tasks, the ASUS Zenbook with its lightweight design is likely a better fit. However, if you need high performance for gaming, 3D work, or engineering software, the Dell Alienware, while more expensive and heavier, offers superior processing power and graphics capabilities, essential for such demanding applications. Keep in mind, the tradeoff for the Alienware's performance is its bulkier build and shorter battery life compared to the Zenbook. 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 ASUS Zenbook S 13
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
7.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a balance of power and portability with a high-quality screen and good battery life, making it ideal for everyday tasks on the go, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provides stronger performance suited for intensive tasks and gaming at the cost of reduced battery life and portability. Both laptops have ample RAM and storage for typical usage, but the Zenbook emphasizes longer usage away from power outlets, and the Alienware focuses on delivering a high-performance experience for demanding applications.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its moderate graphics card and average screen refresh rate, provides a satisfactory experience for casual gaming and basic 3D applications, but it may not handle more demanding tasks smoothly. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, equipped with a more powerful graphics card and higher screen refresh rate, is designed to offer a superior gaming and 3D rendering experience, delivering smoother visuals and better performance for intensive applications.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 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
8.3/10
7.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 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
8.1/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering a laptop for general use, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 both have high-resolution displays with good brightness and premium panel types, offering clear and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks like web browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design professionals who require precise color representation, both laptops deliver on wide color gamuts, ensuring that colors in design work are accurate and true to life. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal as both have screens with lower refresh rates which can lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced games and animations.
Battery
11.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 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
Best in Class
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU, high-quality GPU, and ample RAM, excels in handling complex engineering tasks and intricate designs, while its superior screen quality enhances visual work. However, the ASUS Zenbook S 13, although less potent for demanding tasks, offers greater portability and a quieter operating experience, making it suitable for more mobile users who still require a solid performance for engineering and general use.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
"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 ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the Dell Alienware m16 R2
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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