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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is typically less expensive, comes with a larger 17.3-inch display but a lower resolution, a larger battery capacity, and a heavier build, making it less portable but potentially better for longer, unplugged gaming sessions. For intensive gaming and performance tasks, the Razer excels, while the Alienware offers more budget-friendly gaming with a tradeoff in portability and screen quality. 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 Razer Blade 14 (2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
8.4
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is beneficial for smooth gaming and 3D experiences, while the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is equipped with a more powerful GPU and a higher resolution display that can provide better gaming performance and greater screen detail. Despite the Alienware's advantage in refresh rate, the Razer's superior GPU generally translates to better handling of complex graphics in demanding games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.7
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Razer Blade 14 (2023) are designed with powerful CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality screens that cater to engineering and design work where performance and visual fidelity are critical. While the Alienware m17 offers a larger screen and slightly more robust hardware for demanding tasks, the Razer Blade 14's compact design and superior portability positions it as an ideal option for engineers and designers on the move, despite some concessions in maximum performance and battery size.
Software Development
7.4
7.9
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both good for software development, though the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is somewhat better.
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
8.9
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
560.0 nits
The Razer Blade 14 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m17 R5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 provides a well-balanced display in terms of clarity and visibility thanks to its resolution and brightness, making it comfortable for everyday tasks. Engineering and design professionals would appreciate its color accuracy, supporting a wide range of colors for precise work, but for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate can result in less fluid motion. Alternatively, the Razer Blade 14 (2023) offers similar advantages for general use and professional design with excellent color representation, but like the Alienware, its refresh rate is not optimized for high-frame-rate gaming, which could detract from the immersive experience and responsiveness in fast-paced scenes.
Portability
Poor
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) has very 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 Razer Blade 14 (2023) 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
$2,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a price of $1,100 and the Razer Blade 14 (2023) costs $2,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
8.1
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
560.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Blade 14 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5, with a larger screen and high-performance CPU and RAM, excels in tasks requiring screen real estate and computing power, but its heavier build and shorter battery life limit its portability compared to the Razer Blade 14 (2023), which boasts a more powerful CPU, higher resolution display, and longer battery life, making it a better choice for users needing a blend of performance and mobility.
Content Creation
7.8
8.2
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Blade 14 (2023) 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.
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 14 has 6 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.
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How the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the Razer Blade 14 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Razer Blade 14 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $2,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 12.2'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 4.05 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 12.23" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 8.97" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 68.1 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 560 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 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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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."
Razer Blade 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"After making a huge splash with the original 2021 model, it's expected that the 2022 refresh would be more of a minor update to an already impressive machine. It adds a higher resolution webcam (720p to 1080p), faster CPU (Ryzen 9 5900HX to Ryzen 9 6900HX), faster GPU (RTX 3070/3080 to 3070/3080 Ti), faster RAM (DDR4-3200 to DDR5-4800), faster M.2 SSD support (PCIe3 x4 to PCIe4 x4), newer WLAN module (Killer AX1690i to Qualcomm WCN685x), and a MUX switch for the new integrated Radeon 680M GPU. It's indubitably an upgrade especially in terms of single-thread processor performance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Razer Blade 14 (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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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