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Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're looking for top-notch gaming performance or have heavy-duty engineering tasks, the Alienware may suit you, with its emphasis on high-end graphics and cooling systems. Conversely, if you prioritize longer battery life and a lighter machine for easier transport, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus should be your pick, although it might not match the Alienware in raw power. Keep in mind, the Asus offers a balance for everyday use and some gaming, while the Alienware is targeted more towards serious gamers and professionals needing extra graphical horsepower. Choose based on your primary use - performance and gaming, or portability and battery life. 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 Zephyrus G15
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.9
8.2
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and content creation.
When considering general use, both the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 have high-resolution displays with excellent brightness and panel types that offer crisp, clear images, making for an enjoyable everyday viewing experience. For engineering and design, the same laptops may boast wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals and hobbyists see accurate colors and details necessary for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these laptops' screens can lead to less fluid motion, hindering the immersive and responsive experience gamers and 3D artists look for.
Battery
9.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has 9.5 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks and superior screen quality for vivid visuals, while its balance of battery life and portability makes it an excellent all-around choice; the Dell Alienware m16 R2, although also good for general use, leans more toward users needing high performance with features that support intensive tasks at the expense of increased weight and potentially shorter battery life. Both laptops have sufficient storage, quality keyboards, and speakers, but may produce more noise and heat under heavy use, which is a common trade-off with high-performance machines.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.9
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 both come equipped with high-end GPUs that deliver excellent performance for gaming and 3D applications, along with screens that have high refresh rates for smoother visual experiences. While both laptops have powerful CPUs and high-quality screens that enhance gameplay and visuals, the GPU and screen refresh rate take precedence in these models, making them well-suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.0
8.4
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 both offer high-performance CPUs and ample RAM, which are crucial for demanding engineering software, and their powerful GPUs and high-quality screens enhance graphics-based tasks. However, the ASUS is generally more portable and quieter, while the Dell has a sturdier keyboard and better speakers, making the choice between them a balance of performance needs and personal preferences for on-the-go use and user interface quality.
Content Creation
8.0
7.9
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1440
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 Zephyrus G15 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
7.4
7.6
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 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.
Cost
$1,637
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has a price of $1,637 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
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How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 | Dell Alienware m16 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,637 | $1,650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.6'' x 0.78'' | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 5.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.33" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.57" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 309 nits | 302 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | No Webcam | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2021
"As long as you're aware of the fact that the GeForce RTX 3080 laptop version can only unfold its potential to a limited extent due to Asus's low TDP setting and that it can be slower than a fast RTX 3070 laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q cuts a fine figure. One of the biggest highlights turns out to be the WQHD panel, since it attracts customers with 165 Hz, relatively fast response times, FreeSync, and good color-space coverage. Other selling points are the surprisingly rich sound, the long battery life, and the sleek design. In terms of looks, the white edition stands out nicely from the competition."
Dell Alienware m16 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Momo Tabari | January 2024
"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 Zephyrus G15 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.
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