If you're looking for a cost-effective option primarily for everyday use like web browsing, document editing, and other basic tasks, the ASUS Zenbook 14 offers a balance of price and performance for general use. However, if you require a laptop capable of handling demanding tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, or complex machine learning or engineering software, the Dell Alienware m15 R7, despite its higher cost, is designed for high performance in such areas. The tradeoff comes in portability and battery life, with the Alienware likely being heavier and having shorter battery life compared to the more lightweight and longer-lasting Zenbook. The decision should be based on whether high performance and gaming capabilities are a priority over portability and cost. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m15 R7
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, provides reasonable graphics but might struggle with high-end gaming and 3D tasks. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 features a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it better suited for demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.2/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is good.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 outperforms the ASUS Zenbook 14 in engineering and design primarily due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a superior dedicated GPU; factors which are crucial for demanding tasks such as 3D modeling and simulations. While the ASUS sports an OLED screen, known for better color accuracy and contrast, the Alienware provides a higher refresh screen but with slightly less color coverage, and though it is less portable due to its greater weight and size, it offers greater overall performance for intensive use cases.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
8.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m15 R7 for general use, and engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness, making it ideal for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. Its broad color coverage suits professional work in engineering and design where color accuracy is crucial. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is essential for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications, leading to a less optimal experience for those activities.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has 5 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
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$2,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Dell Alienware m15 R7 costs $2,200.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14's fair performance for general use is due to its adequate RAM and CPU for everyday tasks, a high-resolution OLED screen, and a lightweight design that significantly boosts portability and extends battery life. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is rated good for general use because of its superior CPU and double the RAM, which enable better multitasking and more demanding work; however, its gaming-focused hardware results in shorter battery life and lower portability due to its heavier build.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for content creation.
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
7.2/10
7.3/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for software development.
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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the Dell Alienware m15 R7 compare to other laptops
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
"The Alienware M15 offers solid gaming and leading endurance. It makes the most of its CPU and GPU while delivering stellar battery life for a gaming laptop. Opening the lid presents a full-size keyboard with honeycomb cutouts above it on the deck. An oblong RBG lightning element surrounds the entire rear panel and can be color-synced with the other lights on the laptop. There’s not a lot to dislike about the M15 Its productivity performance lagged in some areas, particularly in the storage benchmark, and it’s a bit heavy. Alienware has a clear winner here with the M15 based on its strong overall performance and endurance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the Dell Alienware m15 R7
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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