If you're focused on general use with a need for portability and long battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 offers a sleek design, and ease of use, especially if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. For intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provides superior performance but is heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for frequent travel. Consider the Dell if your work demands high power and you’re less concerned about carrying a bulkier laptop. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13, while offering strong CPU performance and high-quality display, is limited by its integrated GPU and standard refresh rate, which restrict its ability for high-end gaming and complex 3D work, and its macOS may not support many popular games. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a dedicated, high-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate that greatly enhances gaming and 3D rendering performance, making it a superior choice for these specific tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13, with its high-quality screen and efficient CPU, is tailored for on-the-go productivity with excellent battery life, making it suitable for engineering tasks that don't require intense graphics processing. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a more powerful GPU and extra RAM, enhancing its capability for demanding engineering software and graphics-intensive design work, while it is heavier and not as quiet, which may limit its portability.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for software development, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) boasts a high-resolution, bright display with a wide color gamut, ensuring sharp, vivid images for general use and precise color representation critical for engineering and design tasks. However, its standard refresh rate limits the smoothness of motion, impacting the experience for 3D applications. Conversely, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers similar benefits in resolution and color accuracy for general use and professional design work, its focus on gaming capabilities does not prioritize the ultra-high refresh rates needed for the best 3D and gaming performance, affecting motion fluidity in those contexts.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
Very Good
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 is lauded for its powerful CPU, high RAM capacity, and excellent screen quality, all packed in a sleek design that promotes portability and long battery life, making it ideal for everyday tasks and on-the-go use. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a robust CPU and ample RAM to handle demanding applications, coupled with a superior screen and dedicated graphics for gaming or creative work, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, thus less suitable for frequent travel.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.8/10
7.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Dell Alienware m16 R2 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the Dell Alienware m16 R2
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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