If you need a laptop with more RAM and slightly superior graphics capabilities, which can enhance performance in engineering and 3D workloads, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 is suitable, though it is heavier and has a shorter battery life making it less portable. Conversely, the ASUS ROG Strix G18, while less expensive and offering good performance across the board, may fall short for more demanding engineering applications, but it is lighter with longer battery life, therefore more suited for people on the go who also engage in general use and gaming. 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 G18
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.7/10
7.8/10
18.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18's impressive resolution and brightness, along with its panel type, offer excellent visual clarity and detail, making it ideal for everyday tasks and professional design work where color accuracy and vivid imagery are key. However, its lower refresh rate compromises its suitability for gaming and 3D applications, which demand smooth motion and quick screen updates for an optimal experience. The Dell Alienware m18 R1, while offering great resolution and panel quality for general activities and sufficient color coverage for engineering and design, similarly falls short for gaming and 3D content due to a refresh rate that doesn't meet the high standards required for the fast-paced visuals in those fields.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
Poor
Poor
18.0in
SIZE
17.3in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 both have poor portability, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has somewhat better 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 G18 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$2,600
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both equipped with high-performing CPUs and plenty of RAM, which makes them suitable for demanding tasks and contributes to their capacity for general use. The Strix G18 is lighter with better battery life for portability, while the Alienware has a marginally larger screen and more RAM, which could be preferable for users prioritizing multitasking and visual workspace over the ease of carrying the device around.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
9.1/10
8.9/10
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is beneficial for smooth and responsive gaming experiences, but its GPU is less powerful than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 which has a more advanced GPU for higher performance in gaming and 3D applications. The Dell also boasts a superior screen quality, but the ASUS pulls ahead with a faster screen refresh rate that gamers often prioritize for competitive play.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
9.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.9/10
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 G18 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design use because it packs more RAM and a slightly more powerful GPU than the ASUS ROG Strix G18, which is very good in the same context but has less RAM and a modestly less capable GPU. Both laptops have high-quality screens, but the Alienware has a superiority in processing and graphical tasks, key factors for demanding engineering software, while both are less portable due to their size and weight.
Content Creation
8.6/10
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 G18 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
8.1/10
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
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 G18 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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