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Updated March 22, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 typically offers higher performance suitable for gaming and demanding tasks, but it comes at a higher price and may not be as portable due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the Gigabyte A7 may be more budget-friendly and offers decent performance for general use and some gaming; however, it may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly. Consider the Dell if you require top-tier graphics and processing power, and prioritize the Gigabyte if you're looking for a more balanced cost-to-performance ratio for everyday tasks and occasional gaming. 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
- Good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A7
- The Gigabyte A7 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte A7 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its high-performance CPU and ample RAM, offers smooth multitasking and fast operations for general use, but its less portable design and shorter battery life may limit mobility. The Gigabyte A7 also provides sufficient CPU power and RAM for everyday tasks, and while it has a quality screen for visual clarity, its bulkiness and battery constraints similarly affect its ease of use on the go.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.3
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 A7 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte A7 both have powerful GPUs, which are essential for gaming and 3D applications, providing smooth and detailed graphics performance. While the Alienware typically has a higher screen refresh rate for more fluid visuals in fast-moving scenes, both laptops also offer solid CPUs and high-quality screens, ensuring overall great gaming and multimedia experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
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 A7 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers top-of-the-line CPU, RAM, GPU, and excellent screen quality, making it ideal for demanding engineering and design tasks. While the Gigabyte A7 also provides strong performance in these areas, it may trade off some screen quality and bear a bit more bulk, which affects portability.
Content Creation
7.9
7.3
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
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 A7 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
7.4/10
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 A7 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
7.3
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a vibrant, high-resolution display with ample brightness, which enhances the viewing experience for documents and web pages, making it suitable for general use and ensuring precise color representation crucial for engineering and design tasks. However, its lower refresh rate can be a limitation for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key. Conversely, the Gigabyte A7, while offering a good general-use display with adequate resolution and brightness, falls short in providing the color accuracy demanded by engineering and design professionals, and like the Dell, may not deliver the desired refresh rate for optimal gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 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
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte A7 both have only fair portability, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A7 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$940
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gigabyte A7 costs $940.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte A7 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte A7 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $940 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 15.6'' x 10.3'' x 1.19'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.58 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 15.59" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.31" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | |
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 | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
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 | 318 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 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 | 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 A7
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | October 2021
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte A7
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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