If you require a laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working on documents, or streaming video, the Dell Inspiron is a more cost-effective and lightweight option, offering sufficient performance with better portability. However, if you need a laptop for high-end gaming, 3D rendering, or resource-intensive engineering software, the Alienware provides higher performance suitable for these purposes, but it is more expensive and heavier, which reduces its portability. Keep in mind too that the Alienware typically has shorter battery life due to its powerful hardware. Choose based on your primary needs and how much you value performance over cost and portability. 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 m16 R2
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 7425
Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
6.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
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 m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-end GPU and a screen featuring a rapid refresh rate, essential for smooth gameplay and 3D rendering, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7425, with a less powerful GPU and a lower refresh rate, offers adequate but not optimal performance for games and 3D applications. Moreover, while both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the Alienware's superior specs justify its focus on gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 typically offers top-tier CPU, RAM, and GPU specifications, and a high-quality screen which are essential for demanding engineering tasks and design software, but tends to be less portable and noisier under load. The Dell Inspiron 14 7425, with respectable performance specs, offers greater portability and a quieter operation, making it suitable for less intensive engineering work and everyday use while still maintaining decent screen quality and a good keyboard.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Inspiron 14 7425 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
8.2/10
6.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Alienware m16 R2's higher resolution and brightness, along with a superior panel type, provide a crisper and more vibrant display, while the Inspiron 14 7425's lower brightness and resolution result in less impressive visual quality. When it comes to engineering and design, the Alienware stands out with its wide color gamut coverage, offering more accurate color reproduction for professional work, as compared to the Inspiron's fair performance in this regard. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Alienware's lower refresh rate holds it back from delivering the smooth visuals that gamers seek, which can be more important than the resolution and panel type that it excels in.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7425 has 7.5 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
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7425 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$800
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 costs $800.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Inspiron 14 7425 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a powerful CPU and ample RAM for multitasking and demanding applications, with a high-quality screen enhancing the user experience, but its portability and battery life may be limited due to its gaming-focused design. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 is more portable with better battery life for on-the-go use, and while it still provides a good screen and sufficient CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, it won't match the Alienware's performance for intensive activities.
Software Development
7.6/10
7.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell Inspiron 14 7425 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7425 compare to other laptops
"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."
"Overall, this Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 offers a lot to like, especially at its oft-discounted price of $800. It’s a sturdy laptop with strong performance, a convertible touchscreen, loud speakers, and a convenient fingerprint reader. But the trade-offs you’ll make in pursuit of that lower price—most notably the dim display and stiff trackpad—might just keep you from outright loving it."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Dell Inspiron 14 7425
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.
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
97,695
Recommendations made
21,168
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.