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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 excels in gaming and intensive engineering tasks with its powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, but it comes with a hefty price tag and weighs more, affecting its portability. Viewers and creators may appreciate its 240Hz display. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, which is less expensive, still offers solid performance with an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card, suitable for general use and light gaming. It boasts a higher resolution screen in a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is great for productivity and boosts battery life with a less intense refresh rate. Conclusively, if budget is a concern and you need a laptop for everyday tasks with occasional gaming, go for the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i. However, if you're a serious gamer or require a machine for demanding engineering software and are willing to invest more, the Alienware m15 R7 is your go-to. 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
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i for gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i offer vibrant displays with high resolutions and brightness levels that enhance everyday tasks such as browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, the Alienware's superior color gamut coverage provides more precise color representation, which is vital for professionals in fields that demand color accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on both devices may not deliver the smooth visual experience that gamers seek, especially when compared to laptops designed specifically for gaming with higher refresh rate displays.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,200
$950
$0
$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 Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i costs $950.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.7
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Dell Alienware m15 R7 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is equipped with a robust CPU and high-quality GPU, providing dependable performance for general use, while Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i's lighter weight and slightly longer battery life offer better portability and convenience. Although both have impressive screen quality and sufficient RAM for multitasking, the Alienware's advantage in gaming-grade hardware may be more than needed for typical general use, making the IdeaPad Pro 5i a more balanced option for those who prioritize portability and battery life without compromising on everyday performance.
Gaming and AI
7.8
7.4
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.7/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, making it better suited for gaming and 3D applications where fast and smooth visuals are crucial. By contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i features an Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a 120 Hz screen refresh rate, offering competent performance for gaming and 3D tasks, but it may not be as fluid or responsive as the Alienware for the most demanding scenarios.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.7
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i 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
7.7
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i 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 Dell Alienware m15 R7 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m15 R7 | Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,200 | $950 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.7'' x 0.94'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 lbs | 4.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.73" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 75 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 | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 409 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | January 2024
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
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.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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