When considering between the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, if you're focused on everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and video streaming with the added benefit of a high-quality OLED screen for vibrant colors, the more affordable ASUS is a good option. It's also lighter and easier to carry around. On the other hand, if you're into heavy gaming, 3D modeling, or other resource-intensive applications and don't mind spending more for high performance and a larger screen, the Dell Alienware with its powerful hardware is more suited for those purposes. However, it will be bulkier and may have a shorter battery life than the ASUS. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
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 m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, while offering solid screen quality, may not match the Dell Alienware m16 R2 in terms of graphical power and higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth and detailed gaming and 3D experiences. Additionally, while both have competent CPUs for gaming, the Alienware's superior GPU gives it the edge in handling more graphically intense tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
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 Zenbook 14X OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED offers a balance of solid CPU performance and high-quality screen for engineering tasks, with added benefits of portability and less operating noise, but if you need more power for demanding engineering and design work, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has superior CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities, although it is less portable and could have louder operating noise. While both have excellent screens, the Alienware's gaming pedigree means a higher-quality keyboard and potentially better speakers but may come at a higher cost.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
8.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
376.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, and engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
If you prioritize a vivid and sharp display for everyday tasks like browsing or watching videos, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED's combination of an OLED panel with high resolution and brightness provides excellent screen quality. For engineering and design, the color accuracy enabled by OLED with wide color gamuts ensures precise visual representation, an asset for professional creative work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate on both the ASUS and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 might not deliver the smooth visuals desired by gamers, despite the good resolution and panel quality.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$575
$1,650
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a price of $575 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED offers a high-quality screen, respectable battery life, and is lightweight, making it ideal for those who prioritize portability and screen clarity for everyday tasks. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its more robust CPU and RAM, excels in performance for demanding applications but at the cost of reduced portability and shorter battery life.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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
7.5/10
7.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has 6 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"While one of the more budget-friendly configurations of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED may make a compelling case as a top value pick, it’s difficult to be disappointed with the more expensive model we reviewed here. At its core, for all models, it’s a luxury-built laptop with extreme portability and a gorgeous OLED display. Our unit rocks with a snappy Core i9 processor for getting real work done, and the discrete GPU—even if it has a clear power ceiling—is a bonus for creative pros."
"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 Zenbook 14X OLED 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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