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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming and high-end performance, the Alienware may be the better choice with its powerful graphics and cooling system, but it will likely be heavier and have a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for travel. On the other hand, the Aero offers a balance between performance and portability, suitable for professionals in fields like 3D design or video editing who also need a machine that's easier to carry around and has a longer-lasting battery. However, if general use and moderate performance are your main concerns, either laptop should suffice. 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 overall build quality
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 5
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
8.6
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
446.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 5 for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m16 R2's balance of resolution, brightness, and panel technology offers a very good visual experience, suitable for diverse tasks like web browsing and video streaming. The Gigabyte Aero 5 excels for engineering and design due to its superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts, providing a meticulous level of detail for creative professionals. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced visuals are key, both laptops fall short because they do not prioritize high refresh rates, which are critical for smooth motion and gameplay.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,250
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gigabyte Aero 5 costs $1,250.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
446.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 5 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a robust CPU and ample RAM, delivers smooth performance for a range of tasks while its high-quality screen enhances the visual experience; however, its size and battery life make it less portable and suitable for on-the-go users. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 5 also offers a powerful CPU and plenty of memory for efficient multitasking, boasts a superior screen for crisp images, and has a longer battery life, making it more convenient for mobile use, but it's slightly heavier which might be a factor for those prioritizing lightness.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.9
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aero 5 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a high-end GPU and fast screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth, detailed gaming and 3D performance. The Gigabyte Aero 5 also delivers with a powerful GPU and a high-quality screen, but the Alienware's superior refresh rate gives it an edge for the most demanding visual tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 5 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aero 5 both offer powerful CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality screens, which are crucial for demanding engineering tasks and design work that require strong processing capabilities and detailed visual outputs. However, the Alienware typically has a slight edge in gaming performance making it suitable for 3D tasks, whereas the Aero focuses more on color accuracy for professional design work, but both may compromise on portability and might produce more operating noise due to their high-performance components.
Content Creation
7.9
8.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 5 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
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
7.9
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 5 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 5 has 7 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
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aero 5 both have 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 Aero 5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte Aero 5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $1,250 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14'' x 10'' x 1.08'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.07 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 446 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
Gigabyte Aero 5
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Dig into reviews and images
The Tech Revolutionist
Zhi Cheng | May 2022
"It is unfortunate that the Gigabyte AERO notebook series have seem to lost its charm, as it’s not exactly any much different from the AORUS series now. Regardless, content creators and designers will certainly still appreciate the features on the AERO 5 XE4, which are fundamental to their work. This largely revolved around the notebook’s display, which is colour calibrated and validated, high resolution (4K) and with great AMOLED colour representation. Now that the AERO 5 XE4 has improved its performance with the latest CPU and GPU, the professionals can also appreciate the improved productivity from the notebook."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte Aero 5
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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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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