If you're looking for a laptop mainly for gaming or demanding tasks like video editing, the Dell Alienware would be the better choice, as it has superior performance and graphics capabilities, although it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for travel or long periods away from a power source. On the other hand, if your primary needs involve general use like browsing the web, using office applications, or watching videos, and portability and longer battery life are important to you, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 offers a more cost-effective solution that's 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 for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
6.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a higher-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate, which are essential for smooth gaming and 3D rendering, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has less powerful graphics and a slower refresh rate, making it less suitable for these intensive tasks despite having decent processing power and screen quality.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and superior GPU, which are critical for demanding tasks such as 3D modeling and simulation, making it well-suited for engineering and design, and it also has a high-quality screen for precise visual work. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has modest specs in these areas, providing adequate performance for less intensive engineering tasks, but its lighter weight and quieter operation can make it more appealing for everyday use and for those who prioritize portability and a low-noise environment.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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.
Screen Quality
8.2/10
6.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2's screen excels in general use and engineering tasks due to its high resolution and brightness, offering clear and vibrant visuals, and it covers a wide color gamut, ensuring accurate color representation which is vital for detailed design work. However, its lower refresh rate is less suitable for fast-paced gaming where smoother motion is preferred. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and some design work, but its limited color range and refresh rate fall short for professional-level creative tasks and high-end gaming.
Battery
6.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
4.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
$771
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $771.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its high-performance CPU and ample RAM, caters well to users with demanding tasks, offering crisp screen quality, albeit at the expense of battery life and with a heavier build that affects portability. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" strikes a balance with adequate performance for everyday tasks, a good quality screen, and improved portability due to its lighter design and longer battery life, though it might not cater to those needing extreme processing power.
Software Development
7.6/10
7.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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