When choosing between the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the HP Omen Transcend 14, consider that the Alienware tends to offer more power for tasks like gaming, 3D design, and machine learning, but its larger size can make it less convenient for frequent travel. The HP Omen is typically more portable with potentially longer battery life, making it better suited for on-the-go use. However, if price is a major factor and you're inclined towards gaming or intensive tasks, the Alienware could be the more economical choice despite its bulkier build. 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 speakers
Advantages of the HP Omen Transcend 14
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Software Development
7.4/10
8.1/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 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
8.1/10
8.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the HP Omen Transcend 14 for gaming and AI, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering laptops for general use, the HP Omen Transcend 14's superior resolution and brightness offer clearer and more vivid displays than the Dell Alienware m17 R5. For engineering and design work, the HP's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation, which is crucial for those fields. Conversely, the Alienware's lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D and gaming, where the HP Omen also falls short, as high refresh rates are key to smooth visual experiences in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
5.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
14.0in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.2/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and HP Omen Transcend 14 both have good build quality, though the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$1,699
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a price of $1,100 and the HP Omen Transcend 14 costs $1,699.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen Transcend 14 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers powerful CPU and RAM configurations suitable for demanding tasks, but its larger screen size and weight might reduce portability and battery life compared to the HP Omen Transcend 14, which balances a quality screen, ample performance, and more portable design for everyday use, with better battery life to suit users on the go. While both have good keyboards and storage options, the HP's form factor makes it more conducive for prolonged use outside of a dedicated workspace, whereas the Alienware's size and potential heat and noise are considerations for desk-based gaming or heavy processing tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
7.9/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is equipped with a high-end GPU and a screen with a fast refresh rate, making it ideal for immersive gaming and smooth 3D modeling; however, it is typically heavier and pricier. Meanwhile, the HP Omen Transcend 14 also offers strong graphics performance and a quality display, but with a slightly smaller screen and usually at a lower price, it provides a balance between gaming capabilities and portability.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.5/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is designed with a high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and a powerful GPU which excels in handling intensive engineering software, and it has a high-quality screen that benefits design work, but it's less portable due to its size and weight. In contrast, the HP Omen Transcend 14, while also equipped with a solid CPU, ample RAM, and a capable GPU, offers a balance of performance and portability, with a high-quality screen and a more travel-friendly design, but may sacrifice some of the extreme performance of the Alienware for its compactness.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.3/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen Transcend 14 to be 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.
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How the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the HP Omen Transcend 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the HP Omen Transcend 14
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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