A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is more affordable with a midrange price, offering reasonable performance for general use and gaming. It's lighter and comes with a slightly better battery life, which may make it more suitable for those who need portability. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 commands a higher price, providing superior performance with more storage and memory, better suitable for intensive 3D tasks, machine learning, and engineering purposes. The tradeoff for the Alienware's power is its added weight and lower battery life, making it less portable than the ASUS. Both laptops have similar features like backlit keyboards and gaming capability, but the Alienware's larger screen and higher resolution might be preferable for those who prioritize visual space and detail. 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 TUF Dash 15
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
272.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers decent general use capabilities with adequate CPU, RAM, and screen quality, and is quite portable with good battery life, making it a balanced choice for everyday tasks. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 features a superior CPU, double the RAM, a higher resolution screen for better display sharpness, and excellent speaker and build quality, but it is less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, and has shorter battery life, positioning it as a premium choice for those who prioritize advanced performance over mobility.
Gaming and AI
7.4
9.1
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 outshines the ASUS TUF Dash 15 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz compared to the RTX 3060 GPU and 144 Hz screen of the ASUS. While both laptops have high-quality IPS displays, the Alienware's higher resolution screen along with a more robust CPU further contribute to its superior performance in these areas.
Engineering and Design
7.8
9.1
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 delivers excellent performance for engineering and design use with its superior processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU compared to the Asus TUF Dash 15, which still provides good capabilities but with less power. Additionally, the Alienware has a higher screen resolution and better color coverage, enhancing visual tasks, while it's less portable and noisier under load compared to the more compact and quieter Asus TUF Dash 15.
Content Creation
7.6
8.4
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 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
8.0
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
7.0
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
272.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Dash 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 feature displays with sufficient resolution and brightness, making them clear and easy to view for everyday tasks. During engineering and design work, where color accuracy is crucial, both laptops offer displays with wide color gamut coverage, ensuring that colors are reproduced faithfully. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which may not deliver as smooth visuals as some games and 3D programs require.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 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
Good
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,150
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a price of $1,150 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
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How the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS TUF Dash 15 | Dell Alienware m18 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,150 | $2,600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 9.9'' x 0.81'' | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 8.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 16.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 12.59" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12650H | Intel i9-13900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 97 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 272 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 4 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS TUF Dash 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
Dell Alienware m18 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | July 2023
"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 TUF Dash 15 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.
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