If you prioritize a lower price and portability for everyday tasks, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is a solid choice as it's less expensive and lighter than the Dell Alienware X17 R2. However, for superior performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering applications, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 is better equipped with its more powerful processor and top-tier graphics card, although it comes at a higher price and offers reduced portability due to its larger size and higher weight. For intensive gaming or high-performance needs, the Alienware provides a significant advantage, as well as a larger screen, but for general use and carrying around, the Zenbook Duo is more convenient. 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
Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware X17 R2
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
314.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
2.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 provides a very good experience for general use with its powerful CPU, abundant RAM, and high-quality screen which make it adept for a variety of tasks, although its heavier weight and larger size affect portability and it has shorter battery life. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, while fair for general use with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, its smaller size and longer battery life offer better portability, but it may fall short for multi-tasking or highly demanding applications due to lower screen quality and less RAM compared to the Dell.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 surpasses the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 in gaming and 3D performance thanks to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and very high screen refresh rate, which deliver smoother visuals and better handling of graphics-intensive tasks. The ASUS, with its more modest Intel Iris Xe graphics and standard refresh rate, offers respectable performance, but falls short of the Alienware's capabilities.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
9.1/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU, significantly larger RAM, and superior GPU, which are crucial for intensive tasks and rendering; additionally, its larger and higher-quality screen complements these tasks well.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.3/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is good.
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
7.8/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both good for software development, though the Dell Alienware X17 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
8.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
314.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 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.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has high resolution and brightness that make it suitable for general use and engineering tasks, with its color gamut supporting the nuanced color work required in design. The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers similar benefits in terms of resolution and color reproduction, making it equally suitable for engineering and general use, and its larger screen can enhance productivity for design tasks. However, both laptops lack high refresh rates, which is crucial for smooth visuals in 3D applications and gaming, limiting their effectiveness for tasks in those areas.
Battery
8.5 Hours
2.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 8.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 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
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 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 X17 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
$2,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a price of $999 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 costs $2,000.
"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."
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 or the Dell Alienware X17 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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