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Updated March 21, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Stream 14, consider that the Alienware offers high performance suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering software, at a higher cost and with less portability due to its size and weight. The HP Stream, on the other hand, is more affordable, easier to carry, and sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing, office applications, and streaming videos, but it's not designed for demanding tasks and may struggle with performance-intensive applications. If you prioritize gaming or heavy-duty work and can invest more, the Alienware is better suited, while the HP Stream is for everyday use and budget-friendliness. 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
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
6.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU and abundant RAM, supports demanding tasks and provides a high-quality screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" offers greater portability and longer battery life at the cost of lower performance, suitable for basic tasks with its modest CPU and RAM, and also trades off screen quality which might affect your viewing experience.
Gaming and AI
7.9
5.7
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
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 Stream 14" is poor.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-performance GPU and a fast screen refresh rate, making it ideal for gaming and 3D applications; however, it comes with a higher price and possibly less portability. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" offers a lower-cost option with more modest gaming and 3D capabilities due to its less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, making it a better fit for general use or budget-conscious consumers.
Engineering and Design
8.4
5.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-performance CPU, an abundance of RAM, a powerful GPU, and a high-quality screen which are essential for demanding engineering tasks and design software, whereas the HP Stream 14" offers modest performance and screen quality that can handle basic tasks but may struggle with intensive engineering applications. While the HP Stream 14" is more portable and may have quieter operation, it sacrifices the keyboard and speaker quality that the Dell provides for a more robust and comfortable user experience.
Content Creation
7.9
6.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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
6.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for software development, while the HP Stream 14" 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
5.2
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
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 Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a high-resolution display and good brightness levels, making it a strong choice for general use where text clarity and image sharpness are key. For engineering and design, its ability to cover a wide range of colors means professionals can expect accurate color representation for their projects. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, which benefit from smoother visuals that come with higher refresh rates.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" has very 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
5.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | HP Stream 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $299 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 12.8'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 12.76" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 8.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Celeron N4120 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 320 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
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 | 5.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 8.2/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
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 | No | |
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 Stream 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the HP Stream 14"
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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