When considering the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Razer Blade 17, note that the Razer is typically slimmer and may offer a more premium build, making it more portable and attractive if you frequently travel. However, the Alienware often provides high performance at a lower price, making it a strong choice for intensive tasks like gaming or video editing, but it's heavier and bulkier, which can be a downside if portability is important. Both should handle demanding software well, but your decision should balance how much you value saving money against design and portability preferences. 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 Razer Blade 17
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, handles everyday tasks with ease, and its screen quality is suitable for a variety of uses, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go users. The Razer Blade 17, offering similar CPU and RAM benefits, also includes a high-quality screen and generally longer battery life, which, along with better portability, makes it a favorable choice for those who prioritize mobility and all-day use without compromising performance.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
8.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Razer Blade 17 both have high-quality GPUs, ensuring smooth and detailed graphics for gaming and 3D applications; however, the Razer Blade 17 typically offers a higher screen refresh rate, which results in more fluid visuals during fast-paced action. While both laptops have powerful CPUs and high screen quality, the superior refresh rate on the Razer Blade 17 makes it a more attractive option for those seeking the best gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
9.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 17 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, excels in handling intensive engineering software and design tasks, while its screen ensures clear and sharp visuals; however, it is less portable due to its size and weight. The Razer Blade 17 offers a similar level of performance with top-tier components and an exceptional display, while also providing a more portable design, though it may cost more and produce more operating noise during heavy use.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 17 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
8.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 17 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
8.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
The Razer Blade 17 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Razer Blade 17 offer sharp displays with high resolutions and brightness, making text, images, and videos clear and vibrant for everyday tasks. Their screens also cover wide color gamuts, providing the color accuracy and range necessary for professional engineering and design work, where precise color representation can be crucial. However, due to lower refresh rates, these laptops may not be suitable for gaming and 3D applications, which require smooth motion that's achieved with higher refresh rates to prevent screen tearing and to enhance the overall visual experience.
Cost
$1,650
$4,300
$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 Razer Blade 17 costs $4,300.
"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."
"Our test configuration of the Blade 17 targets gamers and creative professionals. A Core i9-12900H processor, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP after the BIOS update, 16 GB of VRAM), and 32 GB of working memory equip the laptop for video processing, rending, and 4k gaming at the highest level. In addition, a fast PCIe-4 SSD (1 TB) ensures short load and storage times. With the Blade 17 (Early 2022), Razer delivers a successful and powerful work device for creative professionals. But this also has its price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Razer Blade 17
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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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