If you prioritize a unique dual-screen setup for multitasking and a more budget-friendly option, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is a solid choice that offers decent performance for everyday tasks and some creative work. However, if you're interested in high-end gaming or demanding applications, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, despite its higher cost, provides superior graphics and processing power, but with reduced battery life and less portability due to its size and weight. Consider your primary activities on a laptop and whether portability or raw power holds greater importance for your needs. 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 Zenbook Duo 14
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
314.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, with its superior screen quality and innovative second screen, provides a versatile setup for multitasking in everyday tasks, along with good battery life and portability for on-the-go use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers more power with its advanced CPU and additional RAM, making it better suited for demanding applications but at the cost of heavier weight and shorter battery life. The Zenbook excels for users prioritizing lightweight travel and screen real estate, whereas the Alienware is tailored for those who need stronger performance in areas like gaming or engineering and can manage with more bulk.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, while having a capable GPU, falls short compared to the Dell Alienware m16 R2's more powerful graphics card and higher screen refresh rate, essential for smooth gameplay in gaming and 3D applications. Additionally, even though the Zenbook's screen quality and CPU perform well, the Alienware's superior screen and processing power offer a noticeable enhancement in performance, making it a more suitable option for those activities.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
8.4/10
5.5/10
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 Duo 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is typically equipped with high-end components including a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a robust GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering and design tasks, along with a high-quality screen for precise visuals; on the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, while still capable with decent CPU, RAM, and a dual-screen feature that can benefit productivity, generally offers less raw power for intensive tasks and may not match the graphical performance of the Alienware, but it's lighter and more portable for on-the-go use.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.9/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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
7.0/10
7.6/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both good for software development, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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
6.8/10
8.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
314.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 offers a crisp, bright display with good resolution, making text and images clear and easy to read, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provides a similar experience with potentially enhanced brightness and sharpness given its focus on premium visuals. In the context of engineering and design, the ASUS maintains respectable color accuracy which is vital for precise work, but the Dell may edge out with more expansive color coverage, providing greater fidelity for professional color grading tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops may fall short as their lower refresh rates can lead to less fluid motion, and while resolution and panel quality are adequate, they are not optimized for the high-speed visuals demanded by modern games.
Battery
8.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 8.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 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 Duo 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$999
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a price of $999 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
"The Asus ZenBook Duo's second screen is like the Apple Touch Bar, but better. Most would agree that having two screens instead of one can really boost productivity and the ZenBook Duo is no different in this regard. It's tough going back to just one screen after becoming accustomed to spacious dual-screen setups. For a laptop form factor, however, users will have to accept some compromises. Firstly, weight is the most obvious drawback as the system is several hundred grams heavier than a regular ZenBook 14. Additionally, colors on the second screen will not be as vivid as the main display."
"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 Duo 14 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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