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Updated March 22, 2024·
When deciding between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte A5, bear in mind that the Alienware is a premium choice with higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, but it's less portable due to its weight and size, and typically more expensive. The A5, while more affordable, may not match the higher specifications of the Alienware, sacrificing some performance and build quality, but it's generally lighter and could have longer battery life, making it more convenient for everyday use and carrying around. Consider your primary use and budget to guide your 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 m16 R2
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a powerful CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and performance for demanding applications, paired with a high-quality screen for a vivid display experience; however, it's less portable and has a shorter battery life. The Gigabyte A5 also provides a solid CPU and sufficient RAM for general use, though its screen quality, portability, and battery life may not match the Alienware, it compensates with a quieter operation and better heat management.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.1
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte A5 both have high-end GPUs that ensure smooth gaming and 3D modeling, along with screens that have high refresh rates for fluid visuals. While both have capable CPUs and high-quality screens, the Alienware typically offers a more premium build and may have a slight edge in overall screen quality, which can enhance the gaming and 3D experience further.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.3
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers top-notch CPU, RAM, GPU, and excellent screen quality, which are crucial for demanding engineering tasks and design work, ensuring smooth performance and sharp visuals. While the Gigabyte A5 also provides good specs for these uses, it may fall slightly short in comparison; however, it's usually more portable and could have a quieter operating noise, making it more comfortable for extended use in varied environments.
Content Creation
7.9
7.3
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte A5 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.
Software Development
7.6
7.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for software development, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
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
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, the Dell Alienware m16 R2's superior panel type, higher resolution, and brightness make it stand out for sharp and vivid visuals, which also benefits engineering and design tasks that profit from its wide color gamuts. The Gigabyte A5, while having a decent panel, resolution, and brightness, doesn't match the Alienware's capability to display a broad spectrum of colors, making it less optimal for color-critical tasks. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops' lower refresh rates hinder the smoothness and responsiveness expected by enthusiasts, with the lower quality stemming from less emphasis on these characteristics.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$830
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to have good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
Gigabyte A5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte A5
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 Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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.
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