If you're looking for a powerful laptop for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or engineering software, and you are on a budget, the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is a solid choice, especially with its lower price point. However, if you prefer a thin and lightweight laptop that’s easier to carry around and you're willing to invest more, the Razer Blade 18 offers premium build quality and portability. Remember, you might sacrifice some battery life for higher performance in these models. Choose based on what's more important for you: cost savings with the Dell or sleek design and portability with the Razer. 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 18
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
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.1/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 packs a powerful CPU and ample RAM, facilitating smooth multitasking and demanding applications, but its larger size and weight, along with a shorter battery life, make it less portable compared to the Razer Blade 18, which offers a balance of high performance, superior screen quality, and longer-lasting portability for on-the-go use despite possibly higher cost. The Razer Blade 18 also edges ahead in portability and battery life, making it well-suited for extended use away from power outlets, with a trade-off in higher heat output under intense usage.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
8.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a solid GPU and high screen refresh rate, offers a smooth gaming experience, but the Razer Blade 18 steps it up with an even more powerful GPU, leading to enhanced visuals and gameplay in more demanding 3D environments. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the superior screen refresh rate and GPU in the Razer Blade 18 make it the more premium option for intense gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
9.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with a vibrant screen and powerful CPU, GPU, and ample RAM, handles engineering tasks well, but the Razer Blade 18 excels in the same areas due to higher-grade components and screen quality, ensuring smoother performance in demanding design software. Although the Razer's enhancements provide an edge for intensive use, it's less portable and might be louder under load, whereas the Alienware offers a balance between performance and ease of use, with a comfortable keyboard and better speaker quality for a mobile workstation.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 18 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
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 18 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
8.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
The Razer Blade 18 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the Razer Blade 18 offer sharp, well-lit displays due to their high resolution and brightness, making text clear and colors pop which is ideal for browsing, watching videos, and working with documents. For engineering and design, their color accuracy is essential, and both laptops provide a wide color gamut ensuring that designers and engineers see precise colors while working on projects that demand color fidelity. For gaming and 3D applications, however, their lower refresh rates may not deliver as fluid a visual experience as other laptops with higher refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced action.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 18 has 4 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
18.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and Razer Blade 18 both have only fair portability, though the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,650
$3,200
$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 18 costs $3,200.
"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."
"Razer made a powerful laptop in the Blade 18, showing off a beautiful and fast display and the same high-quality build we’ve come to expect from this product line. It’s also quite expensive, which is hardly a surprise, but bears repeating even in this price range. It’s pricier than the Scar 18 despite an inferior GPU and half the storage, so you really have to want the Blade 18’s design to justify the cost."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the Razer Blade 18
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
131,295
Recommendations made
28,448
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.