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Updated March 22, 2024·
When selecting between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15, consider what is most important for your use. The Alienware, known for its gaming prowess, offers robust performance suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and other graphics-intensive tasks but is typically heavier, which might affect its portability. The Aorus also delivers solid performance for similar tasks and can be slightly more portable but may trade-off some higher-end features or build quality that comes with the Alienware. Both should have reasonable battery life, but for extended use away from power outlets, gaming laptops generally have shorter battery life compared to less performance-oriented laptops. Choose the Alienware if you prioritize top-tier gaming experience and build, and the Aorus if you want a balance of performance and easier mobility. 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
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 15
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
8.0
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
316.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 15 for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15 has a better screen for software development.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15 offer high-resolution displays with vibrant colors and brightness, making them suitable for tasks like browsing, video streaming, and document editing. With their emphasis on color accuracy, covering wider color gamuts such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, they serve well for engineering and design applications where precise color representation is necessary. However, their lower refresh rates limit their appeal for gaming and 3D applications, which benefit significantly from higher refresh rates for smoother visuals and better responsiveness.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
316.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers powerful CPU and ample RAM, ensuring fluid multitasking and robust performance for demanding applications, in addition to a high-quality screen for crisp visuals; however, it may be heavier and have shorter battery life, affecting portability. Meanwhile, the Gigabyte Aorus 15, while also providing strong CPU and RAM capabilities for general use, might trade off a bit of screen quality and comes with challenges in heat management, but can be more portable with potentially longer battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.9
8.0
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aorus 15 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers solid gaming and 3D performance, but the Gigabyte Aorus 15 takes it further with a more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth, visually detailed gaming experiences. While both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, those features play a secondary role in gaming performance compared to the GPU and refresh rate, where the Aorus 15 excels.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.4
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 Aorus 15 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15 are both equipped with high-performance CPUs, ample RAM, and dedicated GPUs, making them excellent for demanding tasks like engineering and design, where fast processing and detailed graphics are essential. While both have high-quality screens for clear visual work, consider the Alienware for its slightly superior build and thermals if operating noise is a concern, and the Aorus if you prioritize a balance of power and portability.
Content Creation
7.9
8.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aorus 15 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
7.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 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
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aorus 15 has 6 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
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 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 Aorus 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte Aorus 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.2'' x 9.6'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.29 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.2" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.6" | |
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 | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 316 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
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 Aorus 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | December 2022
"The Gigabyte Aorus 15 is a power-hungry gaming beast. The Aorus 15 is designed to run games at QHD and high to max settings. But it also cuts a good figure in other demanding applications such as video editing and rendering. This is made possible by the Core i7 12700H and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop inside the machine. A lightning-fast PCIe 4.0 SSD (1 TB) allows for short loading times."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte Aorus 15
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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