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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers powerful performance and is equipped for intensive gaming, with a larger screen and a gaming laptop appearance. However, it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. The Dell XPS 15, while also powerful, is more portable with a longer battery life and is ideal for general use with high build and keyboard quality. Both are similarly priced and suited for their respective strengths—gaming and on-the-go productivity. Consider the Alienware if gaming and performance are priorities, and the XPS if you value portability, battery life, and general usage. 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 m17 R5
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.8
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is equipped with a high-performance Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and an extremely high screen refresh rate, which are crucial for seamless gaming and 3D rendering performance. Conversely, the Dell XPS 15, while also suitable for gaming and 3D applications, offers a lower-end Intel Arc A370M GPU and a standard refresh rate, making it less optimal for intensive visual tasks but potentially more balanced for everyday use.
Content Creation
7.8
8.3
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 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
7.4
8.1
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 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
8.1
7.4
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
Both the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Dell XPS 15 have high-resolution displays with excellent brightness and panel types, making them clear and vivid for everyday activities and suitable for detailed engineering work, thanks to accurate color representation. However, their refresh rates are likely lower than specialized gaming laptops, limiting their appeal for fast-paced gaming where smoother visuals are key. The focus on resolution and color accuracy over blazing-fast refresh rates makes these laptops better for productivity and professional applications than for high-end gaming experiences.
Battery
5.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 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
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a price of $1,100 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 excels in general use with its higher screen pixel density and significantly brighter display, facilitating better visibility and sharper image quality. Additionally, it offers superior portability due to its lighter weight and increased battery life, unlike the Dell Alienware m17 R5, which, while having a larger screen and more storage, is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less convenient for frequent mobility.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.1
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 with its superior AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU is better suited for demanding engineering and design applications, while also offering a larger screen but at the cost of being less portable and having a heavier build compared to the Dell XPS 15, which also has a capable Intel CPU and Intel Arc GPU, but with a smaller, higher-resolution screen that provides sharper images, and is lighter, enhancing its portability.
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How the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Dell XPS 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 4.21 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 13.57" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 | 5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 86 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 606 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m17 R5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | January 2023
"Overall, the all-AMD system in the Alienware m17 R5 is impressive, especially the graphics performance. However, various driver issues and unnecessary inconsistencies prevent us from truly enjoying such a potent gaming machine. In addition to strong 3D performance, we particularly like the build quality, the fairly bright UHD display with high color space coverage, and the fact that the gamer is often quiet when not under load and also rather quieter than some competitors under load."
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Dell XPS 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.
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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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