When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, consider that the MacBook Pro focuses on a balance of performance and portability with long battery life, making it ideal for professionals needing reliability and macOS-specific software. On the other hand, the Alienware leans towards high gaming and 3D performance due to its robust graphics hardware, but with the trade-off of reduced battery life and increased weight. If your priority is gaming or graphics-intensive tasks, Alienware offers superior capability, while the MacBook is better suited for professional work with a need for portability. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a powerful CPU and ample RAM that ensure smooth multitasking and high performance for a wide range of applications, complemented by its high-quality screen; it also provides better portability and longer battery life, making it ideal for users on the go who still require a robust machine. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also delivering strong CPU and memory capabilities, leans more towards gaming and higher-end graphics tasks, trading off some battery life and portability due to its gaming-centric design, but offers additional storage options and is equipped to effectively manage heat and operating noise.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
7.9/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) boasts a high-quality GPU and screen, making it suitable for 3D work, but its lower refresh rate and limited gaming library may dissuade gamers. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 excels with a higher refresh rate and robust GPU, catering better to gamers while still offering strong 3D capabilities.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
8.9/10
7.6/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
9.4/10
8.2/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro 16's high-resolution display and exceptional brightness make it ideal for general tasks, offering crisp visuals and good readability in various lighting conditions. Its wide color gamut and accurate color representation are crucial for engineering and design work, allowing precise color work. However, for 3D applications, its standard refresh rate is a disadvantage compared to displays with higher refresh rates, which provide smoother motion and a better experience in fast-paced visuals.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
Good
Fair
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has 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 16 (2021) 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
$1,949
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and a stellar GPU, which coupled with its excellent screen quality, makes it an ideal choice for demanding engineering and design tasks, while its keyboard and speakers are top-notch as well. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provides similar high-level specs geared towards performance, with a focus on gaming that also translates well to engineering use, but it is less portable and might generate more noise under heavy loads.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"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 16 (2021) 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 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
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Laptops Expert
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