For general use with a focus on affordability and portability, the ASUS Vivobook 15X is less expensive and lighter, making it easier to carry around. However, if you require superior performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, and you don't mind spending more, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a substantially more powerful processor, higher-quality screen, and longer battery life, but it's also heavier, which makes it less convenient for frequent travel. The Alienware's larger and higher resolution display also offers better color coverage, which can be beneficial for creative work. 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
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
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X is good.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X is designed with less powerful components, such as less RAM and a less advanced CPU, which can make heavy multitasking or demanding applications run slower. However, it is more portable and has a longer battery life than the Dell Alienware m18 R1, which, although it boasts superior screen quality, performance, and ample storage, is heavier and less suited for on-the-go use due to its shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a more modest integrated GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, making it fair for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Dell Alienware m18 R1, equipped with a superior Nvidia GPU and a high refresh rate screen, excels in these areas, providing a smoother and visually richer experience.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
9.1/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers greater performance for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i9 processor, significantly higher RAM capacity, and superior Nvidia RTX GPU compared to the ASUS Vivobook 15X's AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, lower RAM, and integrated Vega 7 graphics. Additionally, the Alienware's higher-resolution display and greater color accuracy benefit design work, while the Vivobook 15X offers better portability due to its lighter weight and smaller size.
Content Creation
7.1/10
8.4/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X 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
6.9/10
8.0/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very 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
7.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 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 has adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks and office work, but it might lack the wide color gamut and superior panel technology needed for precise engineering and design tasks, and its refresh rate is not high enough for smooth 3D work or gaming. The Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers a good combination of resolution and color accuracy, with screen features better suited for engineering and creative professionals who require accurate color representation but still doesn't excel in refresh rates needed for high-end gaming or 3D rendering. Both laptops may suffice for general use and professional design work, yet neither is optimized for the smooth visuals demanded by gamers or those working with fast-moving 3D graphics.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has 8 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
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 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
$2,600
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a price of $525 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
"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."
"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 Vivobook 15X 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.
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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