The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is less expensive and offers solid performance, good for gaming and general use with a midrange graphics card and processor, and it has a longer battery life which makes it somewhat more portable. However, if you require top-tier performance for engineering tasks or advanced 3D rendering and machine learning, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 is more suitable with its high-end graphics card, faster processor, and more RAM. The Alienware also boasts a larger screen, higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals in fast-paced games, and superior build quality, but it's heavier and has a significantly shorter battery life, making it less ideal for frequent travel. 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 X17 R2
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
8.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with its RTX 4060 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 165Hz, provides solid gaming and 3D performance, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 ups the ante with a more powerful RTX 3080 Ti GPU and a significantly higher refresh rate of 480Hz, resulting in smoother visuals and potentially better gaming and 3D rendering experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
9.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is well-equipped for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU, GPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen with good color accuracy and resolution, which is essential for detail-oriented tasks. In comparison, the Dell Alienware X17 R2, with its even more robust CPU and GPU and a larger amount of RAM, offers superior performance for the most demanding engineering applications and design work, albeit with a potentially lower degree of portability.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
8.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
291.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, a laptop like the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with a high resolution and bright display will offer crisp and vivid visuals, making it easier on the eyes when reading text or viewing media. The Dell Alienware X17 R2, with similar traits and enhanced color gamuts, provides an equally sharp and color-accurate screen which is especially beneficial for professionals in engineering and design who require precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal as their screens don't have the high refresh rates necessary for smooth motion and fast-paced action, despite their resolution and panel type being adequate.
Battery
9.0 Hours
2.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 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
$2,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a price of $1,374 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 costs $2,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is superior for general use because it offers more RAM, more storage, and a more powerful CPU, which enhances multitasking and heavier workloads; however, it's heavier and less portable compared to the ASUS ROG Strix G16, which may suit those who prefer a lighter device with adequate performance for everyday tasks. Additionally, while both feature good screen quality, the Alienware's higher brightness and color coverage give it a slight edge for visuals, though this comes at the cost of shorter battery life compared to the ASUS model.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 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
7.8/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 and Dell Alienware X17 R2 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G16 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 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."
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G16 or the Dell Alienware X17 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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