For cost-conscious users wanting to perform everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing, the ASUS Vivobook 15X is a more economical choice. The Dell Alienware m16 R2, however, is designed for gaming and high-performance needs, such as 3D modeling or video editing, offering superior graphics and faster processing at a higher price, but it is also heavier and may have a shorter battery life, making it less ideal if you prioritize portability and all-day use without charging. 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 15X
Good portability
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
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
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Vivobook 15X are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X offers a balance of performance with its capable CPU and sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, along with a decent screen quality and portability, making it a solid choice for general use; its battery life complements this use-case well. Conversely, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also excelling in CPU and RAM, prioritizes high screen quality and gaming-grade performance, which may decrease its portability and battery life, but for users requiring more intensive processing for gaming or creative work, it remains a strong option.
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 15X is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a high-end GPU that's well-suited for demanding gaming and 3D applications and it usually comes with a higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother visuals for fast-paced games. In contrast, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X also supports gaming and 3D tasks, its GPU isn't as powerful and its screen refresh rate is typically lower, which means it won't handle intense graphics or quick movements as effectively as the Alienware.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
8.4/10
5.6/10
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 15X is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X, while capable, has less powerful components compared to the Dell Alienware m16 R2, meaning it may not handle demanding engineering software as smoothly; the Dell has a more robust CPU, GPU, and higher quality screen, which are crucial for these tasks. However, the Vivobook offers better portability and a quieter operating noise, which might be preferable for users frequently on the move or in noise-sensitive environments.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.9/10
5.6/10
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 Vivobook 15X 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
6.9/10
7.6/10
5.6/10
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 15X 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
6.2/10
8.2/10
15.6in
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 15X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X, with its fair screen attributes, offers adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks and some engineering work, but it lacks the color accuracy crucial for professional design tasks and the high refresh rate desired for smooth 3D rendering and gaming. The Dell Alienware m16 R2's high-quality display excels in brightness, resolution, and color coverage, making it suitable for detailed engineering and design work; however, despite these strong qualities, it falls short for gaming and 3D applications where a high refresh rate is paramount for optimal performance. Both laptops demonstrate that tradeoffs in display technology can impact their suitability for different applications, with general use and professional tasks being well-served by good resolution and color accuracy, whereas gaming and 3D rendering demand fast refresh rates to meet the required fluidity and responsiveness.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has 8 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
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has 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 15X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$525
$1,650
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a price of $525 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
"All in all, my day on the Vivobook had its ups and downs. It is a really pretty and well-built device, and it had all of the functionality I needed to get me through my browser-based workload. But the speakers weren’t my favorite, and the battery life was just too short."
"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 15X 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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