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Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gateway 14.1", consider that the Alienware is designed for high-end gaming and demanding tasks and offers top-tier performance, but it's bulkier and has a shorter battery life, which affects portability. The Gateway, on the other hand, is more affordable, lighter, and likely to have longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and on-the-go activities, but it won't handle intensive tasks as well as the Alienware. Select the Alienware for gaming or performance-heavy applications, and the Gateway for everyday tasks and travel convenience. 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
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
5.6
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, offers swift performance and high-quality display for various tasks, although it's less portable and has shorter battery life; the Gateway 14.1", while more portable and likely to have a longer battery life, falls short in performance and screen quality, making it less suitable for demanding applications. Additionally, the Alienware's superior storage, keyboard, and heat management justify its higher price, whereas the Gateway's compromises might be noticeable during extended use, despite its lower cost.
Gaming and AI
7.9
5.4
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a powerful GPU and a high screen refresh rate, essential for smooth and immersive gaming and 3D experiences. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" has a less capable GPU and a lower refresh rate screen, which makes it less suitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
5.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 features a more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and a superior GPU, which are critical for demanding engineering and design tasks, along with a higher quality screen for detailed visuals. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" offers less processing power and lower-tier hardware, making it less suitable for such intensive uses, even though it's more portable and might have quieter operation.
Content Creation
7.9
5.8
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
5.8
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
6.0
16.0in
SIZE
14.1in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 likely offers superior visuals and color accuracy with its screen, making it well-suited for tasks that require great detail, such as engineering and design work, due to its support for a wider range of colors. However, its refresh rate may not be as high, leading to less optimal experiences in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial. The Gateway 14.1", while perhaps not as sharp or vibrant for professional tasks, offers a fair compromise for everyday use and basic design work at a lower cost but falls short in the gaming and 3D realm due to limited refresh rate and color rendition.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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
14.1in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 14.1" 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
5.1
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$99
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gateway 14.1" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gateway 14.1" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $99 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 13.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 3.35 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 13.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 8.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14.1" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 208 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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."
Gateway 14.1"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | September 2021
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gateway 14.1"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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.
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