A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you need high-end performance for gaming or demanding tasks, the Dell Alienware would likely suit you better, but it will be less portable and have a shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, which is more budget-friendly, easier to carry, and has a longer-lasting battery, making it suitable for general use and business applications. If affordability, mobility, and longer usage between charges are priorities, go for the ThinkPad; if raw power for specialized activities is a must, despite the higher cost and weight, the Alienware is the better choice. 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
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.4
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, excels in screen quality for immersive experiences but is less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offers balanced performance with a focus on portability and longer battery life, suitable for productivity and general use, but may not handle intensive tasks as robustly as the Alienware.
Gaming and AI
7.8
6.7
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 boasts a high-end GPU and a fast screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth, responsive gaming and 3D rendering, offering an immersive experience. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while still featuring a capable CPU and respectable screen quality, has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, so it delivers adequate but not optimal performance for gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.5
8.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a high-resolution display with impressive brightness and varied panel types, making it excellent for daily tasks and professional design work due to its capacity to represent colors vividly and accurately across different color gamuts. However, its lower refresh rate holds it back in gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion and quicker screen updates are key. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while providing a quality display suitable for everyday use and engineering, falls short for gaming and 3D purposes due to the same limitations on refresh rate despite satisfactory resolution and panel technology.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has 5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,200
$1,459
$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 ThinkPad X13 costs $1,459.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.0
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a high-performing CPU, abundant RAM, a robust GPU, and excellent screen quality which are crucial for demanding engineering software and intricate design tasks; however, it is less portable and tends to be noisier under load. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while also geared for engineering, balances performance with better portability and keyboard quality, making it suitable for on-the-go professionals, although its GPU and screen are typically less superior compared to the Alienware, which may impact graphically intensive tasks.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m15 R7 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,200 | $1,459 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.7'' x 0.94'' | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 lbs | 2.87 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 11.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.73" | 8.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
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 | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m15 R7
See more
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 ThinkPad X13
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Alienware m15 R7 vs. Gigabyte Aorus 17H
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m15 R7 vs. Razer Blade 14 (2024)
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m15 R7 vs. Dell Alienware X17 R2
VS
Compare Lenovo ThinkPad X13 vs. Lenovo Legion Slim 5
VS
Compare Lenovo ThinkPad X13 vs. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
VS
Compare Lenovo ThinkPad X13 vs. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
131,295
Recommendations made
28,448
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
