A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If budget is a key concern and you're looking for a balance between cost and performance for tasks like gaming or 3D work, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 might be more suitable. However, if you prioritize top-tier gaming performance, a highly responsive keyboard, and sturdier build quality and are willing to invest more, the Gigabyte Aorus 17G could be the better option. Keep in mind the Aorus may also be heavier and less portable than the Alienware, and both machines could have shorter battery life due to their high-performance components. Consider the primary use and how often you'll carry the laptop when making 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 build quality
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 17G
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.8
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17G is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-end GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering software and visual design work; its screen quality enhances the detail and color accuracy needed for precise projects. While the Gigabyte Aorus 17G also provides strong performance and a quality display, its attributes are slightly less optimized for the most intensive tasks, but it remains a reliable choice for engineering and design, with added benefits like better portability and quieter operating noise.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.0
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
300Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
282.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 17G for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, a laptop's screen resolution, panel type, and brightness greatly affect visibility and clarity, with higher resolution and brightness offering a more vivid and comfortable viewing experience. For engineering and design, accurate color representation is crucial, so displays with wider color gamuts are preferred to ensure that the designs look consistent across different devices. In contrast, for gaming and 3D applications, a high refresh rate is essential to achieve fluid motion and reduce motion blur, which enhances the gaming experience.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G 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
7.4
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17G has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$2,329
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gigabyte Aorus 17G costs $2,329.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
282.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, ensures smooth multitasking and good performance for everyday tasks, while its high-quality screen provides excellent visuals; however, it's less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to lighter laptops. The Gigabyte Aorus 17G also boasts a robust CPU and plenty of RAM, making it great for general use, and it's especially suited to users who prioritize a responsive keyboard and effective heat management, although it is also heavy and sacrifices some battery longevity for its strong gaming performance.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.5
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
300Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aorus 17G both offer high-end GPUs essential for smooth gaming and 3D performance, with screens that have high refresh rates to make fast-paced visuals crisp and less blurry. While the CPU and screen quality are also strong points for these laptops, they play a supporting role in ensuring games and 3D graphics run effectively, complementing the primary importance of the GPU and refresh rate.
Content Creation
7.9
7.5
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 Aorus 17G are both good for content creation.
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
7.2
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
9.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G 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 17G 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aorus 17G compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte Aorus 17G |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $2,329 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | April 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 15.9'' x 10.8'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.95 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-11800H | |
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 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99 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 | 300Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 282 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 6.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m16 R2
See more
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 17G
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | June 2021
"The Aorus 17G isn't among the top RTX 3080 laptops due to its relatively low TGP of 105 watts. The device's gaming performance is average for an RTX 3080. For maximum performance, competitors like the Lenovo Legion 7 or the Alienware m17 R4 are recommended With the Aorus 17G, Gigabyte delivers a well-rounded gaming laptop. However, the device generates a high noise level. Throttling is not an issue. The CPU and GPU can develop their performance uniformly. Nevertheless, the device produces a lot of noise under load - more than many competitors."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte Aorus 17G
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Alienware m16 R2 vs. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m16 R2 vs. Acer Predator Helios 16
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m16 R2 vs. ASUS TUF Gaming A15
VS
Compare Gigabyte Aorus 17G vs. MSI Raider GE67Hx
VS
Compare Gigabyte Aorus 17G vs. Gigabyte Aorus 17X
VS
Compare Gigabyte Aorus 17G vs. ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
131,295
Recommendations made
28,448
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
