If saving money is a priority and you don't mind sacrificing a bit of top-end performance and screen size, the ASUS could serve you well for general use and moderate gaming. On the other hand, if you're focused on high performance for demanding tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or advanced gaming, and you're okay with a higher price and less portability due to the larger size and weight, the Alienware would be a better fit, offering more power which could be worth the investment, despite potentially shorter battery life and increased bulk. 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 (2024)
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
9.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
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 (2024) is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with its robust GPU, caters excellently to the demands of gaming and 3D applications, complemented by a high screen refresh rate for smoother visuals, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1, with a similarly powerful GPU and even higher refresh rate, provides a slight edge in visual fluidity. Both laptops offer strong CPUs and high-quality screens, but the Alienware tends to offer a bit more in terms of raw graphical performance, making it particularly suited for the most demanding gaming scenarios.
Screen Quality
8.8/10
7.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
459.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 boasts a panel with high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for vivid and detailed visuals in everyday tasks and precision work like engineering. It excels in displaying accurate colors necessary for design work, thanks to its wide color gamuts. However, its lower refresh rate limits the smoothness in fast-paced gaming scenarios and might not appeal to gamers for whom fluid motion is key.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 8 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 (2024) 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 (2024) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,590
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) has a price of $1,590 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 offers a powerful CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth performance for daily tasks, while its high-quality screen enhances the viewing experience; however, it's less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. The Dell Alienware m18 R1, while similarly equipped with a robust CPU and plenty of RAM, is also designed for stationary use due to its size and weight, although it matches the ASUS with a superior screen but may also fall short in terms of battery longevity.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
9.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its more powerful CPU, greater RAM, and superior GPU, delivers enhanced performance for demanding engineering tasks and offers a high-quality screen, which is crucial for design accuracy. While the ASUS ROG Strix G16 also offers reliable performance and a good screen for such tasks, it may not match the Alienware's raw power; however, it is typically more portable and quieter, making it a better option for those who need to move around or work in quieter environments.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) 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
8.0/10
8.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) 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 ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) 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 (2024) 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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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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