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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're looking for top-notch gaming performance and don't mind a heavier, bulkier laptop with less battery life, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is a strong choice, especially if budget is a concern. Conversely, if you prioritize a lighter, slimmer design with potentially better battery life and a focus on creative tasks like video editing or 3D rendering, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio may be better, although this comes at a higher cost. Consider what you'll use the laptop for most and how often you'll be carrying it around when making your decision. 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 MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio.
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.4
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers strong CPU performance and ample RAM, making it suitable for everyday tasks, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, impacting its portability. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, has similar CPU and RAM strengths paired with a superior screen and longer battery life, providing a better balance for general use, although at a higher price and with a larger form factor that might affect its ease of carrying around.
Gaming and AI
7.8
8.9
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
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
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a high-refresh-rate screen and a strong GPU, making it suitable for gaming and handling 3D applications with fluid visuals and responsive gameplay. While the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio also packs a powerful GPU and high-quality display, it edges out with even more screen clarity and slightly better processing capabilities, enhancing the experience for both gamers and professional 3D artists who require top-notch graphics performance and detail.
Engineering and Design
8.2
9.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU necessary for demanding engineering tasks, while its premium screen displays detailed visuals crucial for design work. However, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio surpasses it with superior screen quality and enhanced graphics performance, though it may be less portable and noisier under load, making it better suited for stationary use where top-notch processing and visual fidelity are prioritized.
Content Creation
7.5
8.5
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.4
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m15 R7 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offer panels with high resolution and brightness, providing crisp and vivid visuals suitable for everyday tasks. In the realm of engineering and design, these laptops boast displays that cover a broad range of colors within the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, ensuring designers see accurate and consistent colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and potentially a less immersive experience when playing fast-paced games or running 3D simulations.
Cost
$2,200
$2,900
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a price of $2,200 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
18.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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 MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m15 R7 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,200 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.7'' x 0.94'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.73" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 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 | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
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 | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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