If you prioritize a lightweight and versatile device with a touch screen for everyday tasks and appreciate saving a bit of money, the ASUS Zenbook Flip could serve you well. However, if you need robust performance for gaming, 3D work, or engineering software and are okay with a heavier, less portable option, investing in the Dell Alienware would make sense despite its higher cost and likely shorter battery life due to its powerful hardware. Choose based on whether portability or power is your priority. 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 Flip S13
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
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
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
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 Flip S13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, while versatile and portable with a decent screen, doesn't have the powerful GPU and high refresh rate screen that the Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers, which are key for smooth and immersive gaming and 3D experiences. The Alienware's superior CPU also contributes to better performance for these demanding tasks, although the screen quality of both is adequate, the ASUS's less robust specifications mean it won't handle gaming as effectively as the Alienware.
Engineering and Design
7.4/10
8.4/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a more powerful GPU, which makes it more suitable for demanding engineering software and tasks that require high processing power; its screen quality also supports finer details for design work. However, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers greater portability and a quieter operation, making it an attractive option for those who value a balance between performance and ease of use on the go.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, the screen's resolution and brightness play a significant role, and in this case, both offer pleasing visual clarity and are bright enough to offer comfortable use in various lighting conditions. Both laptops have screens with a wide color gamut that is crucial for professionals in engineering and design, ensuring accurate color representation for tasks that require precise color matching. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the refresh rate is vital for smooth motion; the lower refresh rates on these laptops mean they aren't ideal for those use cases where fast, fluid visuals are critical.
Battery
10.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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
Excellent
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent 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 Flip S13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a price of $1,400 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, with its high-quality CPU and RAM, ensures smooth everyday performance and can handle multitasking with ease, while featuring a high-quality screen and being notably portable with strong battery life, making it a solid choice for general use. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also benefiting from powerful CPU and abundant RAM, is less portable due to its size and potential shorter battery life, but offers an exceptional screen and performance that excels in demanding tasks, making it suitable for both general use and more intensive applications.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.9/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.6/10
7.6/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
"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 Flip S13 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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