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 22, 2024·
When deciding between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Omen 15, consider that the Alienware often has a premium build and higher performance suited for cutting-edge gaming and intensive tasks, but this comes at a higher price and with less portability due to its size and weight. The HP Omen 15, being more affordable, can still deliver solid performance for most games and applications while being easier to carry around. However, expect a reduction in graphics and computing power, which may affect the most demanding software and games. Battery life usually is longer on less powerful laptops, so the HP might also edge out the Dell in this aspect. Choose the Alienware if top performance is a must and budget is not a primary concern, or the Omen for a balance between performance, portability, and cost. 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 display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the HP Omen 15
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
7.3
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the HP Omen 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2's display offers high resolution and brightness, making it crisp and clear for general tasks, as well as wide color gamuts crucial for accurate color representation in engineering and design work. However, it has a lower refresh rate which is less optimal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key. In contrast, the HP Omen 15 provides adequate clarity and brightness for everyday use and sufficient color space for professional creative work, but similarly falls short for gaming due to a lower refresh rate.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Omen 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the HP Omen 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
$1,012
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the HP Omen 15 costs $1,012.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 15 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, excels in screen quality and performance for demanding tasks, but is less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. On the other hand, the HP Omen 15 offers a balance with solid performance for general use, decent portability, and longer battery life, though it may not match the Alienware in raw power, its combination of good storage, keyboard, and speaker quality, alongside effective heat management and lower operating noise, rounds out its appeal for more daily, versatile usage.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.6
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
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
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 15 are well-suited for gaming and 3D applications because they come with powerful GPUs capable of handling demanding graphics and high screen refresh rates for smooth visuals. While both have strong CPUs and high-quality screens that enhance overall performance and display clarity, it's the superior graphics processing and refresh rates that make them particularly good choices for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.9
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m16 R2 to be very good for engineering and design, while the HP Omen 15 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 typically has top-tier CPU, RAM, and GPU options along with a high-quality screen, making it excellent for demanding engineering software and visually-intensive tasks; however, it may be less portable due to its size and weight. The HP Omen 15 offers solid performance for engineering applications and generally has a good screen, but balances portability more than the Alienware, and while it might have a good keyboard and quieter operation, its speakers may not match the Alienware's quality.
Content Creation
7.9
7.8
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 HP Omen 15 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
7.6
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
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 15 to have good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Omen 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | HP Omen 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $1,012 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | December 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.1'' x 9.4'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.42 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.44" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | |
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 | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 70.9 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 | 318 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
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 | N/A | |
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."
HP Omen 15
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2021
"We consider around 1,260 Euros (~$1530) for a Ryzen 7 4800H, a GeForce RTX 2060, a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB dual-channel RAM to be a good offer that appeals to price-conscious gamers. Very high details are rarely a problem in the native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. Buyers will also be spoiled with a top-notch battery life that even beats most other notebook classes. If HP now improves the speed of the WLAN module, the stability of the case and the repeatedly criticized picture quality, the competition will have to dress extra warmly."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the HP Omen 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.
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. Lenovo Legion 5 16 (2024)
VS
Compare HP Omen 15 vs. Lenovo LOQ 16i
VS
Compare HP Omen 15 vs. Lenovo LOQ 16
VS
Compare HP Omen 15 vs. Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
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
97,395
Recommendations made
21,103
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
