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Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Pavilion 15, consider that the Alienware is tailored for high-performance tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering software, with a corresponding higher price. It will offer better graphics and processing capabilities but is heavier, which impacts portability. The HP Pavilion 15, on the other hand, is more affordable and suited for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and media consumption, with better battery life and easier to carry around. If budget and casual use are your priorities, go with the HP; for peak performance in demanding applications, choose the Alienware. 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
- Good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, equipped with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, excels in performance and display clarity ideal for demanding tasks or gaming, but it can be heavy and have shorter battery life, affecting portability. The HP Pavilion 15, while offering sufficient CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, favors longer battery life and lighter weight for easy carrying, with a decent screen that's adequate for general use, although it may not match the Alienware's high performance or screen fidelity.
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.0
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
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 Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth and high-quality gaming and 3D rendering experiences. Meanwhile, the HP Pavilion 15, while decent in performance with an adequate CPU and screen quality, falls short in delivering the same level of gaming and 3D capabilities due to its less powerful GPU and lower refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.4
6.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its advanced CPU, GPU, and ample RAM, excels in handling demanding engineering tasks and offers superior screen quality for precise design work, but it's less portable and noisier under heavy load. Conversely, the HP Pavilion 15 falls short in performance for complex engineering software due to less powerful components, yet it offers better portability and a quieter experience for everyday use.
Content Creation
7.9
7.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and HP Pavilion 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.
Software Development
7.6
6.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
5.3
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 would provide a clearer and more vibrant display due to its high resolution and brightness, while the HP Pavilion 15's display is less vivid and sharp. In tasks involving engineering and design, color accuracy is crucial, and the Alienware's screen offers a wider range of colors covering professional color gamuts, ensuring that designs are rendered with precision, whereas the Pavilion falls short. When it comes to 3D applications and gaming, the refresh rate becomes critical for smooth motion, and the Alienware's display may not refresh as quickly as desired, affecting the gaming experience, whereas the Pavilion's limitations in resolution and panel quality compound, making it less suitable for this use.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 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
3.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Pavilion 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
6.2
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the HP Pavilion 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $600.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
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 | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
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."
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the HP Pavilion 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.
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