If you need a laptop with high performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming and can manage a higher price tag and a heavier, less portable device, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 with more storage, more memory, a stronger processor and more advanced graphics might be more suitable. On the other hand, if you prefer something more affordable, still powerful but considerably more portable with good battery life, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 could be the better choice. Keep in mind, the Dell has a slightly larger and higher-resolution display that could also be beneficial for detailed engineering or creative tasks. 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 ROG Strix G16
Good battery life
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 keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
9.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and has a refresh rate of 165Hz, which is very good for gaming and 3D applications, but the Dell Alienware m18 R1 includes an even stronger Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and the same refresh rate with a higher screen pixel density, hence considered excellent for such tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
9.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
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 ASUS ROG Strix G16 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with a mid-range processor, substantial RAM, and a very good GPU, caters well to engineering tasks, plus it boasts a quality screen and a decent balance of portability and usability. However, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels with a top-tier processor, double the RAM, a superior GPU, a larger and higher-resolution screen for detailed work, but it is less portable and heavier, trading off ease of movement for raw performance and a better visual experience.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
7.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
291.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS ROG Strix G16 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 offer displays with sufficient resolution and brightness, making text and images sharp and easily viewable in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design, their color accuracy and wide color gamuts ensure that professionals can trust the color fidelity for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is critical, their lower refresh rates may lead to less fluid visuals compared to models with faster screens.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 9 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
Fair
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has only fair portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,374
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a price of $1,374 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 offers a respectable general use experience with adequate RAM, a high-quality IPS screen, and better portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life; however, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out with a superior CPU, double the RAM for multitasking, a larger and higher resolution screen for sharper images, albeit it is much heavier and has a significantly shorter battery life, making it less portable.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.4/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
7.7/10
8.0/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G16 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G16 or the Dell Alienware m18 R1
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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