If you prioritize gaming or tasks that demand high performance, like video editing or 3D design, the Dell Alienware is designed for that, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life. The HP Envy x360 is more affordable, lighter, and offers longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and better for carrying around. However, it won't handle intensive tasks as well as the Alienware. Choose based on whether performance or portability and battery life is more important for your needs. 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 gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Envy x360 15"
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Envy x360 15" are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU and abundant RAM, showcases superior performance for demanding tasks and gaming, but it's less portable due to size and battery life; meanwhile, the HP Envy x360 15" offers a balance with a decent CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, a high-quality touch screen, and better battery life making it more suitable for on-the-go use while still having good enough speakers and a comfortable keyboard for media consumption and productivity.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
6.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Envy x360 15" is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for gaming and 3D tasks that require smooth visuals and quick response times. The HP Envy x360 15", while having a decent CPU and screen quality, doesn't match the Alienware's performance in these areas due to its less powerful GPU and lower refresh rate, making it a fair choice for less demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Envy x360 15" is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-end CPU, abundant RAM, and a powerful GPU, which are crucial for running complex engineering software, and it has a superior screen quality for detailed design work. In contrast, the HP Envy x360 15" offers lower specs in these areas, making it less suitable for demanding tasks, though it does gain an edge in portability, which can be a plus for those who prioritize working on the go.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Envy x360 15" 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.
Screen Quality
8.2/10
6.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the HP Envy x360 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize sharp, vivid displays for productivity and content creation, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 stands out with better resolution and brightness, as well as a wider color coverage which is crucial for engineering and design tasks. While the HP Envy x360 15" has a satisfactory display for everyday tasks and casual design work, its screen may not be as detailed or as rich in color. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates though the Dell's superior resolution and panel type offer a slight edge.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Envy x360 15" has 10 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
4.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Envy x360 15" has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the HP Envy x360 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
$430
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the HP Envy x360 15" costs $430.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Envy x360 15" 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Envy x360 15" compare to other laptops
"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."
"Despite its good looks, stellar webcam and comfortable keyboard, the Envy x360 15 is hard to recommend because of its dim, 16:9 display. If the display isn't an issue for you, just be sure to wait for a good sale price. Otherwise, a more modern two-in-one with a 16:10 display such as the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 or Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 provides a larger workspace without adding much to the size and weight of the system."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the HP Envy x360 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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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.