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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Asus Zenbook Pro 16X is generally less expensive, more portable, and has a slightly longer battery life, making it suitable for on-the-go use and general tasks. It features an OLED touchscreen and offers a balance of performance for general use, engineering applications, and 3D/machine learning tasks. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 is more expensive, less portable due to its size and weight, but has superior performance for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering work, thanks to a more powerful processor and GPU. It lacks a touchscreen but has a faster screen refresh rate, useful for fast-paced gaming. Choose the Asus for a balance of portability and performance or the Dell if high-end performance and gaming are your priorities. 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 overall display quality
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5
9.1
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 outshines in gaming and 3D due to its higher-end Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a screen with a refresh rate of 165 Hz, facilitating smoother visuals and better gaming performance than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, which is equipped with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 60 Hz screen refresh rate. Although the Zenbook's OLED screen provides excellent quality, the Alienware's superior hardware specs make it a more suitable choice for high-end gaming and demanding 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.6
9.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its more powerful Intel i9 CPU, double the RAM, and a significantly superior Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, offers exceptional performance for demanding engineering and design tasks. While the ASUS's OLED screen provides higher resolution and color accuracy, the Alienware's larger screen and higher refresh rate may be more advantageous for detailed design work, albeit with greater weight and reduced portability.
Screen Quality
8.3
7.8
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a sharp, bright display with a high resolution, which enhances the viewing experience when browsing the web, watching videos, or working with documents. In engineering and design, the Zenbook's wider color gamuts ensure that professionals can see more accurate colors for tasks like photo editing or CAD software, where color precision is critical. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the ASUS's lower refresh rate means less fluid motion and responsiveness, a drawback that detracts from the immersive experience these activities require.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 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
Good
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 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
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.3
8.2
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X shines in general use due to its robust CPU, ample RAM, superior OLED screen with high resolution and touchscreen capabilities, all encased in a more portable and lightweight design that also offers a decent battery life.
Content Creation
8.5
8.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very 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
8.2
8.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very 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 Pro 16X and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | Dell Alienware m18 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $2,600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 8.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 16.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 12.59" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i9-13900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 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 | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 97 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 4 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
See more
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 m18 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | July 2023
"Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X or the Dell Alienware m18 R1
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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