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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers superior performance for intensive tasks like gaming or engineering due to its AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while offering less performance, is more portable due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and basic productivity tasks. If your work demands raw power and you don't mind carrying a heavier laptop with less battery life, the Alienware could be the better option; if you prioritize portability and battery life for everyday tasks, the IdeaPad Slim 5i would be more appropriate. 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
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
- 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
1920 x 1200
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is superior for gaming and 3D applications due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics unit and a high screen refresh rate of 480Hz, which enhances the gaming experience with smooth visuals and allows for better performance in 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.0
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is preferred for engineering and design because it packs a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, making it very capable for graphics-intensive tasks, and offers a large high-refresh rate screen with good color coverage, essential for detailed design work. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i includes an efficient Intel CPU and integrated graphics, providing sufficient power for less demanding engineering tasks with the added benefit of greater portability and longer battery life, making it suitable for on-the-go professionals who prioritize ease of carry over raw performance.
Screen Quality
8.1
6.4
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate can detract from the fluidity needed in fast-paced games or 3D applications. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i provides a decent resolution and acceptable brightness for general tasks and engineering projects, yet it lacks the advanced color range and higher refresh rate critical for professional design and smooth gaming experiences. Both laptops could benefit from better refresh rates for gaming and 3D, but their existing screen attributes ensure they can handle general use and engineering tasks adequately.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 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
16.0in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$828
$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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is well-suited for general use due to its powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and ample RAM that smoothly handle a range of tasks; however, its size and shorter battery life make it less portable compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, which offers good performance with an Intel CPU and comparable RAM, better battery life, lighter weight, and enhanced portability, though with less storage and a smaller screen.
Content Creation
7.8
7.4
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.4
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.6
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $828 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 4.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Intel i5-1335U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 56.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
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 | 315 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
HT Tech
Robin Sinha | February 2021
"The device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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