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Updated March 22, 2024·
When considering the Dell Alienware m16 R2 versus the MSI Cyborg 15, if high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming is a priority and budget is less of a concern, the Alienware is a strong choice; however, it's less portable and might have shorter battery life. On the other hand, if you're looking for something that's easier to carry around and offers longer battery life for general use or less demanding tasks, and you'd prefer to spend less, the MSI Cyborg 15 could be more suitable. Always think about your primary needs: performance and specific features versus cost and portability. 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
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its high-performance CPU and ample RAM, excels in handling demanding tasks and ensuring smooth multitasking, paired with a superior screen for vivid visuals, yet it's less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to lighter options. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15 offers a balance with sufficient processor power and memory for everyday tasks, a decent display, and better ease of carrying around with a longer-lasting battery but might not match the Alienware's prowess for intensive processing needs.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.2
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers a high-end GPU and a screen with a very fast refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gaming and effective 3D rendering, while the MSI Cyborg 15 also provides a powerful GPU paired with a rapid refresh rate, albeit with a different set of trade-offs in CPU power and screen quality. Both are strong contenders for gaming and 3D applications, with the Alienware generally offering a higher level of performance at a premium, and the MSI balancing cost and capability.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 packs a more powerful CPU, GPU, and higher-resolution screen, making it better suited for demanding engineering tasks and design work that require top-notch performance and visual clarity. The MSI Cyborg 15, while still capable for engineering and design, offers a balance that favors portability and a quieter operating experience, with a good quality keyboard and speakers, but doesn't match the Alienware's raw power and screen detail.
Screen Quality
8.2
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 likely offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and a panel type that makes colors pop, which is ideal for general use and detailed engineering work, but it may have a lower refresh rate not optimal for the fast-paced visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Cyborg 15, while offering a decent level of brightness and resolution that could satisfy general tasks and support basic design work, probably doesn't provide the wide color gamuts necessary for professional-grade engineering and design. Moreover, both screens evidently do not prioritize high refresh rates, which would be a limiting factor for 3D work and gaming, where smooth motion is crucial.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
7.9
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Cyborg 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
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Cyborg 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Cyborg 15 to have good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 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 | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the MSI Cyborg 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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Why trust us
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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