Choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 depends on your priorities. If you value a more portable, lighter machine with better battery life for general use, go for the MacBook Pro; it also has a higher-quality display. However, if your work involves intensive engineering, 3D rendering, machine learning, or you’re serious about gaming, the Alienware, with its more powerful processor and graphics, ample storage, and larger RAM, will handle these tasks much better, although it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. The MacBook Pro is generally less costly, while the Alienware comes at a higher price point but offers higher performance for demanding applications. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
9.1/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's dedicated GPU and high screen refresh rate are suitable for 3D applications, but the Dell Alienware m18's superior GPU and even higher refresh rate provide a top-notch gaming and 3D experience, accommodating the most demanding games. However, it's important to consider that many popular games are not compatible with the MacBook, while the Alienware supports a vast majority of games due to its Windows operating system.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
9.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its efficient Apple M3 processor and Mini LED screen provides strong performance and excellent screen quality for engineering and design, while still being relatively portable and quiet. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers superior performance thanks to its Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, along with a larger screen and substantially more RAM, making it an exceptional choice for demanding engineering tasks, albeit with reduced portability and increased operating noise.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display provides outstanding resolution, brightness, and a wide range of colors, making it ideal for tasks that require visual accuracy and detail, such as engineering and design projects. However, its refresh rate isn't high enough to be optimal for 3D applications, where a smoother visual flow is crucial. Conversely, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers good visuals for everyday tasks and sufficient color range for engineering, but its lower refresh rate and panel properties may not deliver the best experience for fast-paced 3D environments and gaming.
Battery
17.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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
Very Good
Poor
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,399 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers excellent portability, screen quality, and battery life, with solid performance and good general build and design for day-to-day tasks, suitable for users needing a balanced combination of mobility and capability. The Dell Alienware m18 R1, on the other hand, while heavier and with shorter battery life, provides a very powerful CPU and abundant RAM for more intensive tasks, a larger screen, and high-quality speakers and keyboard, geared towards users who prioritize performance over portability and are likely engaging in gaming or demanding applications.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very 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
8.2/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very 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 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the Dell Alienware m18 R1
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 Golden, Ph.D
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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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