When choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo Legion 9i, consider if gaming performance and a distinctive design are priorities, in which case the Alienware, despite its lower cost, is a robust option with dedicated graphics suited for gaming and heavy tasks. However, if a sleeker build and possibly longer battery life are more important, the Legion 9i offers these along with typically strong performance, yet it comes at a higher price. For frequent travel, the Legion's portability could outweigh the cost difference, whereas for mainly static use where the laptop acts as a desktop replacement, the Alienware’s value for money may be more appealing. 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 battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 9i
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers strong performance due to its CPU and ample RAM, making multitasking seamless, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, affecting its portability for on-the-go use. Whereas the Lenovo Legion 9i, with its superior screen quality and longer battery life, provides a better overall experience for general use while still maintaining good performance, though it may come at a higher cost.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
9.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-quality GPU and fast screen refresh rate ensuring smooth gameplay and 3D rendering, but the Lenovo Legion 9i, with a superior GPU and equally high refresh rate, offers enhanced graphics performance for more demanding games and 3D tasks. Both laptops feature capable CPUs and good screen quality, but the Legion 9i's edge on GPU power makes it a more robust choice for the most intensive gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
9.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i, with a top-tier CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, ensures smooth performance for demanding engineering and design tasks, paired with a screen that offers crisp, accurate visuals. Meanwhile, the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also providing strong performance components, might fall slightly behind in screen quality, yet it remains a strong contender, especially if keyboard and speaker quality are a higher priority for your experience.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
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
7.6/10
8.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
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
8.2/10
9.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts robust color accuracy and bright, sharp resolution, making it excellent for engineering and design tasks that demand precise color representation, but its less than optimal refresh rate can be a drawback for gaming or 3D rendering. The Lenovo Legion 9i, likely excelling in similar aspects with potentially superior color gamuts and resolution, shines for both general use and professional design work; however, like the Alienware, its poor refresh rate diminishes its appeal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial. In choosing between the two, prioritize your need for vibrant, accurate colors for work or a smoother visual experience for entertainment and gaming.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 9i 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.
Cost
$1,650
$3,420
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
"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 Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Lenovo Legion 9i
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
97,395
Recommendations made
21,103
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.