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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is typically less expensive than the Dell Alienware m18 R1, making it a more budget-friendly option. However, despite its lower price, the ZenBook offers a 4K OLED touchscreen which could appeal to those who value a high-quality display for tasks such as photo editing or watching media. It's also more portable than the Alienware, with a smaller screen size and lighter build, which could be beneficial for those frequently on the move. The Alienware m18 R1, on the other hand, features a more powerful graphics card and a higher refresh rate screen, which could make it a better choice for intensive gaming or 3D rendering tasks. The Alienware is heavier and offers less battery life, which may affect its portability. Both laptops have ample storage and memory for engineering, machine learning, and general use, but the Alienware may offer a slight advantage in performance due to its higher-end components. 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 Duo 15
- Very good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.8
9.1
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is good.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15, equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and a 60Hz OLED screen, is very good for gaming and 3D tasks due to its high screen quality and sufficient GPU power. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m18 R1, with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics card and a higher 165Hz screen refresh rate, is excellent for these tasks, offering smoother gameplay and better rendering capabilities.
Screen Quality
8.3
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
332.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15's higher resolution and bright display enhance visual clarity and detail for general tasks and engineering work, while its color accuracy benefits professional design, but its standard refresh rate is less ideal for the fast-paced visuals in gaming and 3D. The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with a good resolution and decent brightness, provides satisfactory image quality for everyday use and precision tasks, yet still falls behind in gaming experiences due to its lower refresh rate. In both cases, the focus on screen attributes that benefit productivity and creative work means compromises in the high refresh rates needed for smooth gaming and 3D graphics.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 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
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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 Duo 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$2,600
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 has a price of $2,000 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.5
8.2
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
332.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 offers solid performance ideal for general use thanks to its capable CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality OLED touchscreen; however, while it is lighter and more portable than the Dell Alienware m18 R1, it offers less battery life. The Alienware m18 R1, also strong in CPU and RAM, excels in speaker and keyboard quality, and is designed to manage heat well during intense use, but it's less portable and has a bigger screen that doesn't support touch.
Engineering and Design
9.0
9.1
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 are both excellent for engineering and design.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15, with its OLED screen and high resolution, offers excellent visual clarity for design work, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1's more powerful CPU and GPU better handle demanding engineering applications, although it is heavier and less portable. The ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is more suitable for tasks where screen quality is paramount, while the Alienware m18 R1 excels in raw performance but sacrifices portability, which could be a consideration for users who need to move their workstation frequently.
Content Creation
8.7
8.4
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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
8.3
8.0
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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 Duo 15 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 | Dell Alienware m18 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $2,600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.8'' x 0.85'' | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.16 lbs | 8.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.17" | 16.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 12.59" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900H | Intel i9-13900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 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 | 92 Wh | 97 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 332 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 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 | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | 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 Duo 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Jared Newman | August 2021
"Benchmarks aside, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is hard to compare with other PCs. Its closest competition may be a multi-monitor desktop, or a laptop with an attached travel monitor. The Pro Duo is more portable and versatile than either of those options, especially with the software tools Asus has thrown on top. For a certain niche of artists, media creators, and gamers, all that might add up to something special, even if it’s unattainable for the rest of us."
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 Duo 15 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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