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Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're focused on high-end gaming or demanding graphical tasks, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 would be well-suited for those needs, though at the cost of being less portable and having shorter battery life compared to the MSI Summit E16 Flip. Meanwhile, the Summit offers flexibility as a 2-in-1 device with a touch screen, making it ideal for presentations or creative work, and it's lighter, which enhances portability. However, the MSI might not handle intense gaming or complex software as well as the Alienware, but with its added portability could serve better for general use and business applications where those capabilities are not necessary. 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 build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
- Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.8
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, essential for smooth visuals and responsiveness in gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip, with a less capable GPU and lower refresh rate, offers more modest gaming and 3D performance but may benefit from a versatile design and potentially better screen quality for other uses.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and powerful GPU, excels in demanding engineering tasks and offers exceptional screen quality for detailed design work. While the MSI Summit E16 Flip also has a solid CPU and GPU, the focus on portability and a versatile keyboard makes it suitable for engineering on the go, though it may not match the raw performance and screen fidelity of the Alienware.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.0
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen than the MSI Summit E16 Flip for gaming and AI.
For general use, laptops like the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip offer vibrant and sharp displays with high resolution and luminance, making them suitable for browsing, video streaming, and productivity tasks. Their suitability for engineering and design is enhanced by offering a wide range of accurate colors, crucial for tasks requiring color fidelity, such as photo editing or graphic design. However, their screens fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times during fast-paced action or rendering.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip has 8 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E16 Flip has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,650
$1,413
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,413.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Summit E16 Flip are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its high-quality CPU and ample RAM, ensures smooth performance for a variety of tasks, coupled with a quality screen that enhances the visual experience, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less portable. The MSI Summit E16 Flip offers a balance with reliable performance, a high-resolution screen that's suitable for general use, and better portability due to its longer battery life and convertible design, although the speakers and keyboard may not be as superior as those in more specialized models.
Content Creation
7.9
7.9
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
7.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Alienware m16 R2 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 MSI Summit E16 Flip compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | MSI Summit E16 Flip |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $1,413 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 4.19 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 294 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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 Summit E16 Flip
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | October 2022
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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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