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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, consider that the ASUS is likely a more balanced choice for everyday work and creative tasks, offering a blend of performance and portability at a lower price point. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware is tailored for high-end gaming and demanding applications, providing top-tier graphics and processing power, which may justify its higher cost, but it's also heavier and may have a shorter battery life, making it less convenient for on-the-go use. 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 Pro 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
- Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Content Creation
8.5
7.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 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
8.2
7.6
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
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
8.3
8.2
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 provide crisp visuals and vivid colors due to their high resolution and bright displays, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Engineers and designers will appreciate the wide color gamuts on both machines, ensuring accurate color reproduction essential for professional photo editing and CAD work. However, gamers and 3D artists may find the lower refresh rates on these laptops less appealing, which can lead to less fluid motion and longer response times during high-speed gaming or 3D rendering.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.3
7.9
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a powerful CPU and ample RAM that ensures smooth general use, with a high-quality screen for clear visuals and a balance of portability and battery life that many users appreciate. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also good for general tasks, leans more towards the gaming and high-performance end, which can affect its battery life and portability, but it still includes a top-notch screen and capable hardware for everyday activities.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.9
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X comes with a high-quality GPU that is essential for smooth gaming and 3D rendering, along with an excellent screen refresh rate that ensures a seamless visual experience. Meanwhile, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a similarly robust GPU capability for demanding applications and a comparable refresh rate, but also offers a slightly more powerful CPU and superior screen quality, which can enhance overall performance and display clarity for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.6
8.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 16X boasts a high-end CPU, abundant RAM, and a top-tier GPU, making it superb for demanding engineering tasks and graphics-intensive design work, coupled with an exceptional screen quality for precise visual tasks. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 also delivers strong performance with similar specs and a focus on gaming, meaning it has a high-quality display and raw power that benefit engineering and design software, but both laptops could be less portable due to their robust hardware, and they may exhibit noticeable operating noise when under heavy load.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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 Pro 16X and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | Dell Alienware m16 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 5.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.33" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 302 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Dell Alienware m16 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Momo Tabari | January 2024
"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 Pro 16X 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.
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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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