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Updated March 22, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming and high-end tasks, the Alienware often has an edge in performance. However, it can be bulkier and heavier, which impacts portability. The Gigabyte Aorus typically offers a balance with good performance and is easier to carry, but might have shorter battery life due to its high-performance components. For daily use and regular computing tasks, both will excel yet could be more than you need. Consider the weight and battery life if you often work on the go, and think about the screen size preference—larger screens like on the Aorus are great for immersion but less convenient for travel. 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 17H
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
8.7
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 17H is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its strong GPU, delivers a smooth gaming experience, especially with its high screen refresh rate ensuring crisp motion clarity, but the Gigabyte Aorus 17H pulls ahead with an even more powerful GPU, making it better for the most demanding games and 3D tasks. While the CPU and screen quality in both laptops support gaming performance, the superior GPU and refresh rate in the Gigabyte offer an advantage for serious gamers and creators who prioritize the very best in visual fluidity and detail.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.3
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
351.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 17H for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17H has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a very high resolution and brightness, making it easier on the eyes for daily tasks, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17H, although slightly lower in resolution, still provides excellent visual clarity and brightness. When it comes to engineering and design, the Alienware's wider color gamuts ensure precision in color-sensitive work, which is slightly less accurate on the Aorus due to its good but narrower color coverage. However, for gaming and 3D, both laptops fall short with lower refresh rates, affecting the smoothness of motion, despite their adequate resolution and panel types for an immersive experience.
Portability
Fair
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17H has poor 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 17H has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$2,200
$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 17H costs $2,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
351.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.9/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 17H are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 features a powerful CPU and plenty of RAM, offering smooth performance for general tasks with a high-quality screen that enhances the user experience; however, it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aorus 17H also provides strong performance and good screen quality but is a bit bulkier, which may affect its portability, yet it typically offers a longer battery life, making it more suitable for extended use away from a power source.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 17H and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 features a high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a powerful GPU which excel in handling demanding engineering software and tasks, while the quality screen displays crisp and accurate visuals needed for detailed design work. The Gigabyte Aorus 17H, with similar high-level specs, ensures smooth performance in engineering applications, but being less portable and louder, it's better suited for a stationary workspace where the keyboard and speaker quality enhance the user experience.
Content Creation
7.9
8.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aorus 17H 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
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte Aorus 17H 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 17H 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.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte Aorus 17H compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte Aorus 17H |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $2,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 1.18'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.95 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.16" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
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" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 351 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 5.9/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
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 Aorus 17H
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Dig into reviews and images
eTeknix
Peter Donnell | February 2023
"Overall though, it’s *lots of swearing* fast, seriously. For work, rendering, gaming, it doesn’t matter, this is a true weapon of performance that’s going to run rings around most high-end desktop systems. If you absolutely have to game at ultra-high refresh rates on the go (but within thinking distance of a plug socket), this is the ticket. I can’t see such an extreme being that appealing to everyone, but if you take your gaming seriously, or even professionally, there’s nothing else out there that comes close that you can still fit in your backpack and travel with."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte Aorus 17H
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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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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