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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is a powerful option for intensive tasks like gaming and engineering due to its high-performance processor and graphics card, but it's heavier, which affects its portability. It also has a robust cooling system, but it has a shorter battery life and comes at a higher price. In contrast, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i, while less pricey, offers a high-resolution touchscreen, lighter weight for better portability, and longer battery life, which can be better for general use and tasks that benefit from a high-quality display. However, it may not match the Dell's performance for tasks that require more powerful graphics processing. 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 Lenovo Slim Pro 9i.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall display quality
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.5
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is favored for general use due to its high-resolution Mini LED touchscreen with superior color accuracy and brightness, along with better portability thanks to its lighter weight and slightly longer battery life compared to the Dell Alienware m15 R7. While the Alienware offers a robust CPU and ample RAM for demanding tasks, its heavier build and more gaming-oriented design with lower screen brightness make it less ideal for those prioritizing screen quality and ease of carrying for everyday use.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.9
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i and Dell Alienware m15 R7 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i stands out for engineering and design use largely because it offers double the RAM and a higher resolution mini LED touchscreen, which enhances multitasking and screen quality. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m15 R7, while having a strong CPU and GPU, has less RAM and a lower resolution screen, which might restrict performance and detail in intensive tasks, despite it being heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.5
8.5
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 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
7.3
8.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 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
8.2
9.6
15.6in
SIZE
14.5in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m15 R7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i offers a superior viewing experience for general use and professional engineering tasks due to its high resolution and brightness, which enhance clarity and detail, and its wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate colors essential for precise design work. The Dell Alienware m15 R7, while providing a high-quality display suitable for general and engineering use, doesn't match the Lenovo in terms of peak brightness and color accuracy, making its screen less optimal for tasks requiring color precision. However, for 3D applications and gaming, both laptops are at a disadvantage with poor refresh rates that won't deliver the smooth visuals preferred for fast-paced and immersive experiences.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.5in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,200
$1,500
$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 Slim Pro 9i costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.8
7.6
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo Slim Pro 9i are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a high 240Hz screen refresh rate, which are very important for smooth and responsive gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i, while having a newer Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a Mini LED screen with a touch capability, has a lower refresh rate of 165Hz, but compensates with exceptional screen quality; both factors are crucial for immersive gaming and graphic work.
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has 5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m15 R7 | Lenovo Slim Pro 9i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,200 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.7'' x 0.94'' | 12.9'' x 9.6'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 12.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.73" | 9.64" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel i7-13705H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 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" | 14.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 3072 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 618 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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."
Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | August 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is an impressive laptop with a brilliant Mini-LED display, a powerful 100-watt version of Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, and excellent connectivity. Having run the Cinebench benchmark again, we were impressed with the CPU performance. That makes the Slim Pro 9i is an easy recommendation, especially for those who care about GPU and CPU performance. It’s also a fantastic choice if you frequently view HDR movies and games on your laptop."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
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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