If you prioritize portability and a high-quality display, the ASUS Zenbook 14X is lighter, has a smaller screen, and offers an OLED panel for vibrant colors. However, for gaming or demanding engineering software, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is better equipped with a stronger GPU and larger screen, though it is heavier and less portable. The Alienware's battery is larger, which may translate to longer use between charges, but individual battery life will depend on usage patterns. The Zenbook may save you some money as it generally costs less, while the Alienware, with its higher-end specs, understandably comes at a higher price. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14X
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m17 R5
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X's Nvidia MX550 GPU and the reasonable refresh rate of its OLED screen make it fair for gaming and 3D applications, yet the Dell Alienware m17 R5 comes with the much superior Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a very high refresh rate IPS screen, standing out as better suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
8.1/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m17 R5 for general use, and engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X boasts a high-resolution display and exceptional brightness, making it crystal clear for general activities like browsing and video streaming; for engineering and design, its accurate color representation covers a broad spectrum, crucial for precise visual work. Conversely, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers a good balance of resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, with decent color coverage for professional design, but neither excel in gaming or 3D environments due to lackluster refresh rates which are key for smooth motion and fast-paced graphics.
Portability
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
7.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$777
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 costs $1,100.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m17 R5 to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.8/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
7.4/10
7.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Alienware m17 R5 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m17 R5 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Alienware m17 R5 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 compare to other laptops
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"Overall, the all-AMD system in the Alienware m17 R5 is impressive, especially the graphics performance. However, various driver issues and unnecessary inconsistencies prevent us from truly enjoying such a potent gaming machine. In addition to strong 3D performance, we particularly like the build quality, the fairly bright UHD display with high color space coverage, and the fact that the gamer is often quiet when not under load and also rather quieter than some competitors under load."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the Dell Alienware m17 R5
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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