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Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're looking for high-end gaming or intensive tasks performance, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a slight edge and may justify the higher cost. However, the m16 R2, while slightly less powerful, is usually more affordable and can still handle most demanding applications. Keep in mind that both models are heavy and offer limited battery life, not ideal for someone prioritizing portability or all-day use without charging. Consider your budget and whether the additional performance of the m15 R7 aligns with your needs versus the savings from the m16 R2. 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 Dell Alienware m15 R7
- The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
8.2
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m15 R7 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and m16 R2 laptops offer panels with high resolution and brightness, providing clear and vibrant displays that make everyday tasks like browsing and document editing a pleasure. With engineering and design in mind, these laptops excel with wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals who require accurate color representation for tasks like photo editing and CAD work are well-served. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens may disappoint due to lower refresh rates, which lead to less fluid motion and responsiveness during fast-paced action or in detailed animation workflows.
Cost
$2,200
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a price of $2,200 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.9
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and m16 R2 both offer powerful CPUs and ample RAM, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks, along with high-quality screens that enhance visual experience, but they're on the heavier side and might not provide long battery life, making them less ideal for on-the-go use. While both have good storage capabilities, comfortable keyboards, and decent speakers, be mindful that their performance can lead to noticeable operating noise and warmth during heavy use.
Gaming and AI
7.8
7.9
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and m16 R2 both boast powerful GPUs and high screen refresh rates, essential for smooth gaming and effective 3D rendering. While the m15 offers slightly lesser screen size for portability, the m16 provides a larger display with potentially better screen quality, alongside a more robust CPU for demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and m16 R2 offer high-performance CPUs and GPUs that excel in demanding engineering tasks, with ample RAM for multitasking and high-quality screens for precise visuals. However, the slightly larger screen on the m16 R2 could enhance visual space for design work, while both might compromise on portability and have noticeable operating noise due to their powerful components.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 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
7.3
7.6
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 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.
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has 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
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m15 R7 | Dell Alienware m16 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,200 | $1,650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.7'' x 0.94'' | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 lbs | 5.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.33" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.73" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 302 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m15 R7
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | October 2022
"The Alienware M15 offers solid gaming and leading endurance. It makes the most of its CPU and GPU while delivering stellar battery life for a gaming laptop. Opening the lid presents a full-size keyboard with honeycomb cutouts above it on the deck. An oblong RBG lightning element surrounds the entire rear panel and can be color-synced with the other lights on the laptop. There’s not a lot to dislike about the M15 Its productivity performance lagged in some areas, particularly in the storage benchmark, and it’s a bit heavy. Alienware has a clear winner here with the M15 based on its strong overall performance and endurance."
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 Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the Dell Alienware m16 R2
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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