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Updated March 22, 2024·
When deciding between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Dell XPS 13, consider the primary use. The Alienware is tailored for high-performance gaming and intensive tasks, with a larger screen and more powerful components, while the XPS 13 offers greater portability and is sufficient for general use and light productivity tasks. The Alienware's higher cost reflects its advanced capabilities, but it will be heavier with shorter battery life. Conversely, the XPS 13 is lighter and typically has longer battery life, making it better for on-the-go use, but it won't handle demanding applications as effectively as the Alienware. 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
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.2
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
8.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a high-end graphics card and a screen with a fast refresh rate, excels in gaming and 3D applications, providing smooth and immersive experiences. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13, while having a decent CPU and screen quality, has less capable graphics and a standard refresh rate screen, making it less optimal for intensive gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
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 XPS 13 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 excels in CPU, RAM, and GPU performance suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, providing a powerful combination that ensures smooth operation in intensive applications along with a high-quality screen for vivid visuals. Meanwhile, the Dell XPS 13, while also offering good performance for engineering and lighter design work, benefits from greater portability, a high-quality keyboard, and quieter operation, making it a versatile choice for users who prioritize mobility alongside capability.
Screen Quality
8.2
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
13.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2's screen has high resolution and brightness, which makes it great for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work due to its sharp display and good color range. Its screen might not be optimal for gaming and 3D applications because the refresh rate isn't as high as what's usually preferred for those activities. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13's screen offers decent resolution and brightness for general and professional use, but similar to the Alienware, it lacks the high refresh rate desired for smooth gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 13 has 10 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
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.4in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,650
$850
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Dell XPS 13 costs $850.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.7
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
442.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell XPS 13 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, excels in handling intensive tasks and gaming, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the sleeker Dell XPS 13, which offers a balance of good screen quality, portability, and longer battery life for everyday use. The XPS 13, while not as high-performing for demanding applications, provides a comfortable keyboard, quality speakers, and is better suited for on-the-go use without frequently needing to recharge.
Content Creation
7.9
7.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
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 XPS 13 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
7.6
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell XPS 13 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Dell XPS 13 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 m16 R2 and the Dell XPS 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Dell XPS 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $850 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | August 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 2.59 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 11.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 7.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-1250U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 442 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
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 | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m16 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Momo Tabari | January 2024
"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."
Dell XPS 13
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chen | April 2023
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Dell XPS 13
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.
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