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Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're interested in high-end gaming or demanding tasks and are okay with spending more, the Dell Alienware may suit your needs due to its likely superior graphics and processing power. However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still performs well for gaming and everyday use, the Lenovo Legion could be a better choice. Keep in mind that the Alienware may be heavier and have shorter battery life, which could affect portability. The Lenovo might offer a better balance between performance and convenience if you plan to carry your laptop often. 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 build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 5 15"
- The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
8.0
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
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 Lenovo Legion 5 15" for gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a higher resolution and brightness, making it excellent for everyday tasks by offering crisp, clear visuals, but its refresh rate isn't optimal for fast-paced gaming or 3D work. The screen's extensive color gamut, crucial for accurate color reproduction, benefits engineering and design professionals working with detailed color work. The Lenovo Legion 5 15", while still good for daily activities and reasonably suitable for color-sensitive work, falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a lower refresh rate despite having a decent resolution and panel quality.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has 4 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion 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
$999
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Lenovo Legion 5 15" costs $999.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers high CPU performance and ample RAM which ensures efficient multitasking and smooth operation for general use, complemented by a high-quality screen, but it is less portable and offers shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 5 15" has a balance of performance and battery life that's suitable for general use, with moderate portability and screen quality that meet everyday needs without the premium pricing of high-end models.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.9
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.5/10
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
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a high-end GPU and fast screen refresh rate, providing smooth and immersive gaming and 3D experiences; its CPU and screen quality further support performance without compromising visuals. The Lenovo Legion 5 15" also delivers with a strong GPU and competitive refresh rate, ensuring fluid gameplay and effective handling of 3D applications, with its CPU and screen quality contributing positively to a balanced user experience.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" both come equipped with powerful processors, ample memory, and high-end graphics cards, which are essential for running demanding engineering and design software smoothly, while also providing screens with good color accuracy and resolution for detailed visuals. However, the Alienware typically offers more premium build quality and enhanced features that may appeal to those prioritizing performance and screen quality, whereas the Lenovo Legion 5 is often more budget-friendly, with satisfactory performance and a balance between portability and build, which might better suit users who carry their laptops often.
Content Creation
7.9
7.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" 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
7.3
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" and Dell Alienware m16 R2 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo Legion 5 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | Lenovo Legion 5 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.1'' x 10.3'' x 0.95'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 5.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.33" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 60 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
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 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
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 | 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."
Lenovo Legion 5 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | September 2021
"The Lenovo Legion 5 15 is an affordable gaming laptop with a lot of power. The new AMD processor Ryzen 7 5800H offers plenty of performance and it is also very efficient. The combination with the fast 130W version of the GeForce RTX 3060 ensures high gaming performance. We also like the fast 165 Hz display with the 1080p resolution. The automatic graphics switching causes some problems with stutters, which are very annoying. If you do not need long battery runtimes, you should definitely deactivate the hybrid graphics mode in Lenovo's Vantage app. The Legion 5 15 is never silent."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Lenovo Legion 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.
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