When choosing between the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, consider that the ASUS may be less expensive and offer decent gaming performance, but the Alienware typically provides higher-end specs for more demanding games and tasks. The Alienware also usually has a more premium build quality and advanced cooling systems to handle intense workloads, but it may weigh more, making it less convenient for travel. Battery life might be better on the ASUS for general tasks, but gaming will drain the battery faster on both. For heavy gaming or resource-intensive work, the Alienware is often the stronger choice, but if you're looking to save money while still getting a capable gaming machine, the ASUS could be the more cost-effective option. 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 Gaming F17
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
264.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17, with substantial CPU and RAM, ensures smooth multitasking and gaming performance, offering a good screen for everyday tasks, while its size and weight affect portability and battery life doesn't last as long on a charge. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provides strong CPU and RAM capabilities, superior screen quality for enhanced visuals, but also shares the ASUS's heavier build which reduces portability, and it has a similar battery life which may need frequent charging for heavy users.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.9/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17's GPU and screen refresh rate provide an acceptable experience for gaming and 3D applications, though not as strong as the Dell Alienware m16 R2, which boasts a more robust GPU and higher refresh rate, making it better suited for demanding games and graphics work. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the Alienware's superior graphics performance makes it a better choice for immersive gaming and intensive 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
8.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 typically offers a more powerful CPU, GPU, and higher-quality screen compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming F17, making it more suitable for demanding engineering tasks and design work that require better performance and visuals. While the ASUS is lighter and may have a quieter operating noise, making it more portable and comfortable for everyday use, the tradeoff is lower performance in those high-demand applications.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.9/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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
6.7/10
7.6/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
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
6.9/10
8.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17, while offering ample brightness and resolution for everyday tasks, may lack the wide color gamuts needed for precision in engineering and design, and its slower refresh rate limits the smoothness needed for high-end gaming and 3D work. The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its superior color accuracy, serves engineering and design professionals well, ensuring that colors are represented faithfully, but like the ASUS, falls short for gaming and 3D due to a refresh rate that doesn't meet the high standards required by these applications. For general use, both laptops deliver with their resolution and panel types ensuring clear and vibrant displays for typical tasks such as browsing and video streaming.
Battery
4.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
"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 TUF Gaming F17 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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