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Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, consider that the Alienware is built for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, and machine learning, with a corresponding higher price, but it's less portable due to its size and weight. The Lenovo, on the other hand, offers good performance for general use, is lighter, and more suitable for on-the-go use with better battery life, all at a lower cost, but it won't handle demanding tasks as well as the Alienware. Consider your primary needs when deciding between raw power and portability with cost in mind. 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 Slim 7i
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.2
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
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
9.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth, high-quality gaming and 3D experiences, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, with a less robust GPU and lower refresh rate, offers more moderate performance suitable for less demanding tasks. Both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, but the Alienware's superior GPU and refresh rate make it a better choice for serious gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a powerful GPU, all of which are crucial for demanding engineering software, and it also has a superior screen quality for detailed design work, but it is heavier and less portable. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, while still good for engineering tasks with a capable CPU and enough RAM, has a less powerful GPU and a slightly lower screen quality, making it more suited for portability and general use with a trade-off in peak performance for intensive tasks.
Screen Quality
8.2
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2's screen stands out for general use and engineering due to its high resolution and panel type, offering crisp images and a broad color spectrum that is essential for detailed design work. However, its lower refresh rate might make fast-paced gaming less smooth. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i provides a balance of good resolution and adequate color range, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional design, but it also falls short for gaming due to a refresh rate that isn’t geared towards high-speed visuals.
Battery
6.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 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
2.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
7.8
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$899
$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 Slim 7i costs $899.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.7
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers high CPU and RAM capacity, making it suitable for demanding tasks and multitasking, while providing a high-quality screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life, making it ideal for stationary use or gaming. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, with a balance of good CPU performance and screen quality, leans toward better portability and longer battery life, which is great for on-the-go users who still require efficiency for general computing tasks.
Content Creation
7.9
7.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Slim 7i 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $899 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | October 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 12.6'' x 8.2'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 2.99 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 12.62" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 8.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-1165G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 11.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 60.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 340 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
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
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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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Ted Needleman
| January 2022
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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.
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