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Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're prioritizing high-end gaming or demanding tasks and are willing to invest more, the Dell Alienware provides top-tier performance but is less portable and heavier. On the other hand, the Gigabyte G5 offers good performance at a more affordable price, making it suitable for everyday use and moderate gaming, but battery life might be shorter and build quality less premium than the Dell Alienware. Consider how often you'll move your laptop and what tasks you'll be performing most to make your decision. 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
- Good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte G5
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.1
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte G5 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a high-performance CPU and ample RAM, providing smooth multitasking and efficient handling of demanding applications, while its screen quality enhances the visual experience, making it suitable for both work and entertainment, but this comes at a cost of reduced portability and shorter battery life. The Gigabyte G5 also features a capable CPU and sufficient RAM for general use, and while it is easier to carry around and typically offers better battery life, you may notice a trade-off in screen vibrancy and build quality when compared to the Alienware.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.3
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
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 G5 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 comes equipped with a high-end GPU and a screen with a fast refresh rate, making it an excellent choice for immersive gaming and smooth 3D rendering, but it usually comes at a higher price point. On the other hand, the Gigabyte G5 also offers a capable GPU and competitive refresh rate for gaming and 3D tasks, potentially at a more affordable cost, but may compromise slightly on CPU and screen quality in comparison to the Alienware.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a superior CPU, more RAM, and higher-end GPU, delivers better performance for resource-intensive engineering applications and offers a higher screen quality for detailed design work. While the Gigabyte G5 can also handle engineering tasks, it is more portable and will have less operating noise, which might appeal to those frequently on the move or in quieter environments.
Content Creation
7.9
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Gigabyte G5 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
6.8
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for software development, while the Gigabyte G5 is only fair.
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
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte G5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 likely boasts higher resolution and brightness, along with a superior panel type, making it ideal for vivid and sharp image quality essential in general use and detailed engineering work. Its strengths in color accuracy with wider color gamuts benefit professional design tasks, where precise color representation is crucial. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate compared to other gaming-focused laptops can lead to less fluid motion, a drawback for fast-paced visuals where smoothness is key.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte G5 has 3.5 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Gigabyte G5 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair 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 G5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$868
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Gigabyte G5 costs $868.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Gigabyte G5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Gigabyte G5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $868 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.89'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 4.19 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.2" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i5-12500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 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 | 3.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
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 | 248 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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 G5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam | April 2023
"The Gigabyte G5 KE is a midrange gaming laptop that checks most boxes. Gigabyte makes good use of the Core i5-12500H and RTX 3060 Laptop GPU combo, and we find no untoward issues with overall performance. The dual-fan quad-heatpipe cooling arrangement does well to ensure that the underlying hardware doesn't throttle under load. That being said, the display is below par when compared to 2023 standards, especially when competing devices."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Gigabyte G5
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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