When deciding between the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the LG Ultra 13, consider that the Alienware is built for high-end gaming and resource-intensive tasks, offering superior performance but at a higher price and with less portability due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the LG Ultra 13 is more affordable, lightweight, and portable, making it ideal for general use and mobility, but it won't match the Alienware in running demanding software or games. Battery life is also a factor; the LG likely outlasts the Alienware but at the cost of raw power. Choose based on your primary needs: performance or mobility 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 for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the LG Ultra 13
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a robust CPU and ample RAM making it suitable for demanding applications, while its high-quality screen enhances the experience for gamers and multimedia users, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life. The LG Ultra 13, on the other hand, is lighter with longer battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use, though its performance might not be as high for intensive tasks, it still maintains a good screen and sufficient RAM for general activities.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
6.1/10
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
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the LG Ultra 13 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, equipped with a high-end GPU and a screen with a fast refresh rate, excels in delivering smooth, detailed visuals which are crucial for gaming and 3D applications; it also has a strong CPU and good screen quality which support these tasks. In comparison, the LG Ultra 13, while still having a decent CPU and screen quality, falls short for gaming and 3D tasks due to its less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for those intensive activities.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 13 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a higher-end GPU, making it highly suitable for demanding engineering tasks, while its screen quality provides crisp and accurate visuals for design work. Meanwhile, the LG Ultra 13, with moderate performance components, offers better portability and a comfortable keyboard, making it a convenient choice for on-the-go usage with competent functionality for less resource-intense engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and LG Ultra 13 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
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the LG Ultra 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 likely has a high-resolution display and panel type that renders sharp, accurate colors which is ideal for engineering and design tasks that require precision, but its lower refresh rate may not be suited for the fast-paced action in gaming. The LG Ultra 13 might offer a good balance of resolution and brightness providing a comfortable view for everyday activities and detailed work in design, yet the lack of a high refresh rate could make it less appealing for gaming or 3D applications. Generally, a screen suitable for general use and engineering may not excel in gaming if the refresh rate isn't prioritized alongside color accuracy and resolution.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 13 has 10 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
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 13 has excellent 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
7.4/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the LG Ultra 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$529
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the LG Ultra 13 costs $529.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and LG Ultra 13 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 LG Ultra 13 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 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the LG Ultra 13
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 LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, 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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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
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