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 choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Omen 17, consider that the Alienware often offers a more premium build and may have better cooling systems for intense gaming or high-load tasks, while the Omen might give you a larger screen and may be slightly easier to upgrade. If you need a higher refresh rate and more robust gaming capabilities, the Alienware could be a better choice, albeit possibly at the expense of battery life and portability. In contrast, the Omen may provide a good balance for gaming and general use with a bit more emphasis on screen real estate. 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
- Good battery life
Advantages of the HP Omen 17
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
9.0
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 17 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a high-quality GPU and fast screen refresh rate, provides an immersive gaming experience, but the HP Omen 17, with its similarly powerful GPU but even higher screen refresh rate, delivers more fluid and responsive visuals that are especially noticeable in fast-paced games. Both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, which bolster overall performance, but the HP's edge in refresh rate might be especially attractive for gamers seeking the smoothest experience.
Screen Quality
8.2
7.9
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the HP Omen 17 for gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the HP Omen 17 has a better screen for software development.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m16 R2's high resolution and brightness make it excellent for a variety of tasks, providing crisp visuals and good visibility. The same factors, along with its wide color gamuts, give the device a very good quality for engineering and design, as these ensure accurate color representation and detail. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial, the laptop's lower refresh rate can be a drawback, making fast-paced visuals less fluid compared to laptops with higher refresh rates.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Omen 17 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
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 17 both have only fair portability, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has somewhat better 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 HP Omen 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$2,099
$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 HP Omen 17 costs $2,099.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Omen 17 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a high-quality CPU and ample RAM, offers smooth performance for everyday tasks and a high-quality screen that enhances the user experience, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to other general-use laptops. Meanwhile, the HP Omen 17 also provides powerful performance and excellent screen quality for general use while being somewhat better in battery life and portability, but still may not be ideal for those who need to carry their laptop around frequently. Both have decent storage, keyboard, and speaker quality, but during heavy use, they might produce noticeable operating noise and heat.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.8
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen 17 and Dell Alienware m16 R2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers powerful CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality screens suitable for demanding engineering tasks and design work, while the HP Omen 17 combines similar high-performance components and excels in screen quality as well, ensuring smooth and precise visuals for complex projects. However, both are less portable due to their size and weight, and while they have quality keyboards, their large gaming-oriented builds may contribute to noticeable operating noise, with speaker quality being adequate for most uses.
Content Creation
7.9
8.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 17 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
7.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The HP Omen 17 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Omen 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | HP Omen 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $2,099 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 15.6'' x 10.3'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 6.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 15.64" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.32" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-13700HX | |
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 | 3.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 83 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
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 | 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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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 17
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter | September 2022
"The HP Omen 17 (2022) gaming laptop has a stylish case and hardware with lots of potential. The HP Omen 17 is a fairly unobtrusive gaming laptop. A material combination of plastic and metal gives the case a high stability and a quality surface feel. The unspectacular design is pleasing and is hardly indicative of the laptop's high performance potential. The Intel Core i7-12700H in particular is able to perform well once again. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is also strong in the gaming notebook. Demanding games run smoothly in Full HD resolution. The HP Omen 17 is a good gaming laptop that delivers partly excellent performance. But even at this performance level, cheaper alternatives are available."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the HP Omen 17
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. ASUS TUF Gaming A15
VS
Compare HP Omen 17 vs. Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
VS
Compare HP Omen 17 vs. Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
VS
Compare HP Omen 17 vs. LG Gram 17
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
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.
Featured in
