When choosing between the Asus Vivobook 14 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, consider that the Vivobook is more budget-friendly and offers sufficient performance for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working with documents, and streaming media, and it's lighter, making it easier to carry around. The Alienware, however, is designed for high-end gaming and resource-intensive tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, or machine learning, delivering top-notch performance and higher quality graphics, but it's heavier and typically has shorter battery life, which may not be ideal if portability and battery life are priorities for you. 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 Vivobook 14
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 14, with its moderate CPU and RAM, offers enough performance for everyday tasks, good screen quality, and a lightweight design enhancing portability, but it has a relatively shorter battery life. Conversely, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, with superior CPU and larger RAM, excels in screen quality and performance for more demanding tasks, yet it is heavier and might have reduced battery life, making it less portable but better suited for intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
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 Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has a modest GPU suitable for everyday tasks and lighter gaming, but the Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a powerful GPU and high refresh rate screen, making it better for immersive gaming and running intensive 3D applications. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the Alienware's hardware is tailored for a premium gaming experience where smooth visuals are paramount.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
8.4/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
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 Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a higher-end GPU paired with superior screen quality, excels in demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the ASUS Vivobook 14. However, the Vivobook 14 offers greater portability and is generally quieter, with a decent keyboard and speaker quality that may appeal to those who prioritize a balance between performance and everyday convenience.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.9/10
6.4/10
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 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
6.8/10
7.6/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 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
6.3/10
8.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a high-quality display for general computing, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provides an impressive screen with measures like resolution and brightness that enhance everyday tasks. For engineering and design, it stands out with color accuracy and range, ensuring that the work you do looks as intended. However, for gaming and 3D applications, despite other strong qualities, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rate needed for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenes.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$421
$1,650
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has a price of $421 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
"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 Vivobook 14 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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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