When comparing the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Omen 16, consider how you'll use the laptop. If you're seeking top-tier gaming performance or doing intensive tasks like 3D animation, the Alienware often offers premium build quality and may have a slight edge in power but comes at a higher price. The Omen, however, provides balanced performance for gaming and everyday tasks and can be better value for money. The Alienware might have shorter battery life due to its powerful components, whereas the Omen may offer longer usage between charges. If portability is crucial, the Omen is typically lighter and easier to carry around. 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 display quality
Very good overall build quality
Advantages of the HP Omen 16
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2/10
7.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.1in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
338.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the HP Omen 16 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you're primarily using your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, the Dell Alienware's superior resolution and brightness may offer a more pleasant visual experience compared to the HP Omen. For those working in engineering and design, the Dell's higher color accuracy covering wider color gamuts ensures more precise and vibrant images. However, for gaming and 3D rendering where smooth motion is key, both laptops may fall short due to lower refresh rates, despite the Dell's additional screen benefits.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the HP Omen 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the HP Omen 16 costs $1,100.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 16 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen delivers robust performance for a variety of tasks, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. The HP Omen 16 also boasts strong CPU and RAM for smooth operation, with slightly better portability and longer battery life, balancing performance and mobility for users who need to move around more frequently.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
8.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 16 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its high-end GPU, ensures smooth gameplay and effective 3D rendering, complemented by a screen with a fast refresh rate for more fluid visuals. The HP Omen 16, while also featuring a potent GPU for gaming excellence, has a somewhat less powerful CPU, which may affect performance in extremely CPU-intensive tasks but still offers a high-quality screen for vivid and crisp images.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Omen 16 are equipped with powerful CPUs and GPUs, as well as ample RAM, which are critical for demanding tasks like 3D modeling and data processing that are common in engineering and design work. They both also offer high-quality screens for detailed visuals, while they trade off some portability and may have louder operating noise due to their high-performance components.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
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 16 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
7.6/10
7.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The HP Omen 16 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 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 HP Omen 16 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.1in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Omen 16 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 both have 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 16 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."
"The Omen 16 has proven to be a fairly good mid-range gaming laptop with all-around improvements compared to the Omen 15. The high overall performance level across all use cases, the long battery life, and the good FHD display constitute the main advantages of this HP laptop. The main drawbacks are the faulty touchpad (one-off?) and the high latencies that can be observed even after just opening the browser. Furthermore, the useless, preinstalled 30-day trial versions of various software also fall under the category "unnecessary"."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the HP Omen 16
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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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