If your priority is performance for intensive engineering tasks, gaming, and machine learning, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 stands out as it has a dedicated Nvidia graphics card and more RAM, which are essential for these activities. However, it is heavier and may not be as portable as the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED. The ASUS is sleeker and comes with an OLED display, which is better for vibrant colors and viewing experiences, as well as a longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and on-the-go productivity. Keep in mind that while the ASUS is more budget-friendly, it lacks the hardware for intensive gaming and engineering workloads. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED
Very good portability
Good battery life
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
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
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 OLED is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is equipped with an integrated GPU and a screen with a modest refresh rate, which are sufficient for casual gaming and lighter 3D tasks, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 boasts a dedicated high-performance Nvidia GPU and a significantly higher refresh rate screen, enhancing the experience for competitive gaming and more demanding 3D applications.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
8.1/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
376.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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.
For general use, the Zenbook's OLED screen offers vibrant colors and deep blacks with high resolution and brightness levels, making for a more visually appealing experience compared to the Alienware's non-OLED display. The Zenbook's superior color gamut coverage caters well to engineering and design professionals who require accurate color representation for their work. However, for 3D applications and gaming, the Alienware's likely higher refresh rate makes it more suitable for smooth motion, although the Zenbook's OLED panel provides better image quality at the expense of refresh rate.
Portability
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
7.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$575
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a price of $575 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 costs $1,100.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is a solid choice for general use due to its high-resolution OLED touchscreen, which offers vibrant colors and clear visuals coupled with a lightweight design that enhances portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5, with its larger screen and higher RAM, provides a robust performance, though its heavier build and larger size make it less portable. Both laptops have capable CPUs and ample storage but the Zenbook prioritizes screen quality and portability, whereas the Alienware trades some portability for a more powerful gaming-focused capability which may affect battery life and portability compared to the Zenbook.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
8.0 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 OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, with its high-resolution OLED screen, is suitable for design tasks that require accurate color reproduction and visual detail, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers a more powerful CPU and GPU combo for more demanding engineering software, along with greater RAM for multitasking, but it's less portable and has a lower screen quality which may affect precision in design-related work.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 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
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
8.0 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 OLED 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
6.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has 6 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 OLED 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 OLED and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 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."
"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 OLED 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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