For general use like browsing or office tasks, the ASUS Vivobook 17 will be more budget-friendly and has decent performance. However, its limited storage and lower performance components compared to the Dell Alienware m18 R1 will be noticeable if you're doing more demanding tasks like 3D rendering or engineering software. The Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers high-end performance, a better screen for tasks that require color accuracy, and is better suited for gaming or intensive tasks. But it's heavier, less portable, and more expensive. If you prioritize portability and cost over raw performance, go for the ASUS. If performance and high-quality display are more important and the price isn't an issue, choose the Dell Alienware. 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 17
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
7.0/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
263.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in general use largely due to its powerful CPU and ample RAM, which outperform the ASUS Vivobook 17's lower-tier CPU and lesser RAM, resulting in better handling of demanding tasks and multitasking. Additionally, the Alienware's superior screen quality, with higher resolution and color coverage, enhances visual experiences, although this comes at the expense of battery life and portability as it is heavier and has shorter battery longevity compared to the more portable ASUS Vivobook 17 with its longer 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
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 outperforms the ASUS Vivobook 17 in gaming and 3D applications because it features a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, compared to the ASUS's Intel i3-1220P UHD Graphics and 60 Hz refresh rate. Though both laptops have comparable screen sizes, the superior GPU and refresh rate of the Alienware provide smoother visuals and can handle more graphically-intensive tasks which are crucial for a top-tier gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
9.1/10
6.2/10
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 17 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a lower-end CPU, less RAM and storage, and an integrated GPU, which is less capable for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the Dell Alienware m18 R1, which has a high-end CPU, significantly more RAM and storage, and a powerful dedicated GPU. While the ASUS Vivobook is lighter and more portable, the Alienware offers superior screen quality and overall performance, but is heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.4/10
6.2/10
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 17 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
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 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
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
263.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 with its decent resolution and brightness offers a satisfactory experience for everyday tasks, but its limited color gamut may not be ideal for detailed engineering or design work that demands accurate color representation. The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its higher-quality display, better brightness, and wider color coverage, caters well to the needs of professionals in engineering and design, ensuring precise color work. However, for 3D applications and gaming, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and an immersive visual experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has 6 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
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$429
$2,600
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a price of $429 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
"The ASUS Vivobook 17 is an affordable 17-inch laptop with passive cooling. On one hand, you get a really quiet and cool work device with a good system performance, many connections, good maintenance options, speakers acceptable for multimedia enjoyment, and a sharp and clear matte FHD IPS display with the Asus VivoBook 17 (F712JA). On the other hand, the USB-C port lacks Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the display, a higher brightness and better color space coverage."
"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 17 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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