When choosing between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5, consider that the Alienware often offers higher performance for demanding tasks like 3D gaming or machine learning, making it suitable for more intensive engineering applications; however, this comes at a higher cost and with less portability. In contrast, the Legion Slim 5 is more budget-friendly and easier to carry, but it may not handle high-end tasks as well. If long battery life is crucial and your tasks are more general, the Legion Slim 5 is a good pick, while for top-tier performance, the Alienware is better, despite its weight and price. 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 display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m16 R2.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 boasts a higher resolution and panel quality that provide crisp and clear visuals for everyday tasks and detailed work in engineering, along with exceptional brightness which enhances visibility in different lighting conditions. However, its lower refresh rate limits the smoothness and responsiveness for gaming and 3D modeling. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 offers adequate resolution and brightness for daily and professional design activities but falls short for gaming and 3D content creation due to its modest refresh rate and less impressive color range.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers robust CPU performance and larger RAM that excel in demanding tasks, while its screen quality is suited for an immersive experience, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5, on the other hand, balances solid CPU and good RAM capacity with better portability and longer battery life, which makes it convenient for general use, although it might not match the Alienware in handling extremely resource-intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
7.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
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 Slim 5 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 both have high-end GPUs and fast screen refresh rates which are crucial for smooth gaming and 3D performance; while the Alienware typically offers more powerful GPUs for better graphics handling, the Legion Slim 5 balances power with a slimmer design. Although both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the Alienware emphasizes top-tier performance, potentially at the expense of bulkiness and weight, whereas the Legion Slim 5 provides a more portable form factor with enough power for demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.0/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 are equipped with high-performance CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality screens, making them excellent for demanding engineering and design tasks. The Alienware leans towards a more robust build and potentially louder operating noise, while the Legion Slim offers better portability and a quieter experience, albeit with slight trade-offs in maximum performance.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
7.6/10
7.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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 Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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Laptops Expert
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