When choosing between the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, consider that the Asus typically offers higher performance suited for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D work, or machine learning, but this comes with a higher price and less portability due to its size. The Dell, while still suitable for these tasks, may provide better value and easier carrying. If battery life is crucial, neither of these gaming laptops will excel like more productivity-focused models, but make sure to compare their battery life estimates, as this can vary depending on their configurations and the tasks you perform. 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 Scar 17
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, a screen with higher resolution, brightness, and a quality panel type provides clear and vivid images, which both the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 offer. However, when it comes to engineering and design, the color accuracy and wider color gamuts matter greatly, and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 excels here, making it suitable for professional color work. But for gaming and 3D applications, while both laptops may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which is crucial for smooth motion and responsiveness, the other factors like resolution and panel type may not entirely compensate for the gaming experience.
Portability
Poor
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,499
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a price of $2,499 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 offers powerful CPU and RAM capabilities with excellent screen quality for demanding tasks and games but is less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less suited for on-the-go use compared to the Dell Alienware m16 R2 which, while still delivering high performance, has a balance of better portability and longer battery life. Both have ample storage, with the tradeoff of the ASUS likely having louder operating noise and heat due to its higher performance parts, while the Alienware might have a more premium keyboard and better-managed heat and noise.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 both have high-end GPUs and fast screen refresh rates, making them excellent for gaming and 3D applications where smooth visuals are paramount. While both also have powerful CPUs and high-quality screens, these features are secondary to their top-tier graphics performance and the fluidity with which they display fast-paced content.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
8.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its robust CPU, high RAM capacity, and top-tier GPU, excels in handling demanding engineering software and renders graphics with precision on a high-quality screen. While the Dell Alienware m16 R2 also delivers strong performance with similar specs, its build might trade a bit of portability for the added power, and both models offer quality keyboards and speakers while managing operating noise effectively, making them well-suited for long design sessions.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 to be 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
7.5/10
7.6/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 laptop review: liquid metal 7 nm AMD Zen 3 is stunning. The raw performance increase is absolutely bonkers if you're upgrading from a laptop on Coffee Lake-H or older. The 45 W Ryzen 9 5900HX is neck-to-neck with the thicker, heavier, and hotter Schenker Ultra 17 running on a desktop-class Core i9-11900K despite their wide TDP differences. The performance-per-watt advantages can make Intel Rocket Lake feel like a last generation platform at times. As for the chassis itself, it's a huge light show with RGB LEDs on almost all sides of the system."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 or the Dell Alienware m16 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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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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