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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability and longer battery life are crucial, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro stands out as it's lighter and has a higher battery life for typical usage. On the other hand, if better performance in areas like gaming, 3D modeling, or engineering software is a priority, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 could be a better fit, although it’s heavier and has a lower battery life in general use. For high-resolution tasks or media consumption, the Lenovo also boasts a higher resolution screen with touch capabilities, while the Dell offers a larger screen and specialized features for gaming. Consider the Lenovo for everyday use and portability, and the Dell for intensive tasks and gaming, also keeping in mind the Lenovo is typically less expensive than the Dell. 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 7i Pro
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.1
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
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 7i Pro is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 stands out for gaming and 3D applications largely due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a high refresh rate screen, making it adept at rendering complex graphics smoothly. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, with its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, provides a more modest gaming experience, and its lower screen refresh rate isn't as optimized for fast-paced gaming or high-end 3D work.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.0
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
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 7i Pro is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5, with its high-performance CPU, slightly better GPU, and larger RAM capacity, stands out for engineering and design work that requires more power and complex computations, but it's less portable due to its greater weight and size. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, while boasting a high-resolution screen that might benefit design clarity and a more portable design, has a less robust CPU and integrated graphics, making it suitable for less demanding engineering tasks and on-the-go use.
Screen Quality
8.1
7.7
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro for gaming and AI, and content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
When considering general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro stands out due to its high-resolution display with excellent brightness, making it suitable for a variety of environments and easy on the eyes during long-term use. For engineering and design work, the same laptop offers superior color accuracy and a wider color gamut, which are critical for tasks that require precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as their displays lack the high refresh rate needed for smooth visuals, which is a significant factor for fast-paced and graphically intense tasks.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has 8.5 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
14.0in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$799
$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 7i Pro costs $799.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 stands out for its more powerful AMD processor and superior graphics capabilities, making it better suited for performance-intensive tasks, but it is heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less portable than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, which offers a higher-resolution touchscreen and longer battery life in a more compact and lighter design, ideal for on-the-go use despite somewhat less raw computing power.
Content Creation
7.8
7.4
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
7.3
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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 7i Pro compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $799 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 3.04 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 12.29" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Intel i5-11300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 60.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 395 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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | October 2021
"The main selling point of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro versus a regular IdeaPad Slim 7 is its faster Core H-series CPU. In reality, the Core i7-11370H is only marginally faster than the U-series Core i7-1165G7 to the point where most users are not likely to notice the benefits. The slight performance uptick comes at the cost of slightly higher power consumption as well meaning owners will have to deal with potentially warmer temperatures or louder fans to compensate. Unless if you happen to be a power user, then the regular non-Pro model will be more than enough. Once you go 90 Hz, you can't go back."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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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