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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize performance for tasks like gaming or engineering, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 with a powerful GPU and higher RAM may be better. It's less portable due to a larger screen and heavier weight. The Framework Laptop 13, being lighter with a smaller screen, offers greater portability and a higher resolution display, excellent for general use and travel. Choose the Dell Alienware for its superior raw performance, especially for intensive tasks, while the Framework is better for on-the-go use and tasks that benefit from a higher resolution screen but don't require powerful graphics capabilities. 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
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.3
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.3
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 excels in engineering and design owing to its robust AMD Ryzen CPU, ample 16GB of RAM, and powerful Nvidia RTX GPU, alongside a larger screen with high refresh rate, making it ideal for demanding tasks and detailed visuals; however, its heavier weight and larger size reduce its portability. In contrast, the Framework Laptop 13 is more portable and features a higher resolution, but with an Intel i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an integrated Iris Xe GPU, it's better suited for less intensive engineering and design work while offering the advantage of a lighter and more compact form factor.
Screen Quality
8.1
7.4
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
472.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 13 for gaming and AI, and content creation, while the Framework Laptop 13 has a better screen for content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Framework Laptop offer displays with sufficient resolution and brightness, making text and images clear and easy to view. Engineering and design professionals benefit from their accurate color representation, covering a broad spectrum of color gamuts, which ensures that designs are precise and visually consistent. However, their lower refresh rates are less suited for gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion and quicker screen updates are crucial for an optimal experience.
Battery
5.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 13 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.
Portability
Poor
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
472.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Framework Laptop 13 (2023) are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 combines a potent CPU and ample RAM making it robust for various applications, and it boasts a large, quality screen, but it's less portable and has relatively limited battery life. In contrast, the Framework Laptop, with its competitive processor and adequate memory, promises excellent portability and better battery life, alongside a high-resolution display, though it offers less storage and a smaller screen which may not be ideal for all users.
Content Creation
7.8
7.5
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Framework Laptop 13 (2023) 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
7.4
7.6
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and Dell Alienware m17 R5 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.8
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Framework Laptop 13 (2023) both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$1,079
$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 Framework Laptop 13 (2023) costs $1,079.
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How the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Framework Laptop 13 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $1,079 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 11.7'' x 9'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 2.95 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 9.01" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Intel i5-1340P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 55 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 472 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
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."
Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
Wired
Scott Gilbertson | July 2023
"If you’re thinking of investing in your first Framework, now is the time. The kinks and rough edges have all been smoothed out and this is a very nice machine with a bright, upgradable future. The only reason I can think of to wait is the AMD model, which I’ll be sure to test as soon as I can get my hands on one."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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