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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 13, 2024·
Choosing between the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x depends on your priorities. The Alienware is tailored for gaming and intensive tasks with its robust performance but is bulkier and might have shorter battery life, whereas the ThinkBook is more lightweight and portable, making it ideal for general use and carrying around, but it might not handle demanding software as effectively. Keep in mind that while the Alienware might be less costly, investing in the ThinkBook grants you a sleeker design and potentially longer battery life for everyday work. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.6
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers a more powerful GPU suitable for demanding gaming and 3D applications, along with a higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals. On the other hand, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x provides a decent CPU and good screen quality, its less capable GPU and lower refresh rate make it less optimal for intensive gaming and 3D tasks.
Software Development
7.4
7.9
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
8.2
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5, with its high resolution and brightness, provides a clear and vivid display that is suitable for general computing and engineering tasks, where color accuracy and sharpness are crucial. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate may not deliver as smooth visuals as dedicated gaming laptops. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offers exceptional color representation and sharpness, benefiting both general use and professional design work, but like the Alienware, its refresh rate is not optimized for the high-performance demands of gaming or 3D rendering.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a price of $1,100 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5, designed with a powerful CPU and ample RAM, handles demanding tasks and gaming smoothly, making it suitable for a variety of general use cases, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offers a balance of good screen quality, lighter weight, and longer battery life, which makes it easy to carry around for everyday tasks, although it may not match the Alienware's performance for more intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.9
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m17 R5 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers a high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and a powerful GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering software, paired with a high-quality screen for detailed visuals; however, its size and weight compromise portability. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while still delivering adequate performance for engineering tasks with a good CPU and graphics capabilities, stands out for its portability and has a well-regarded keyboard, but it may not match the Alienware's raw power or screen size for the most intense applications.
Content Creation
7.8
8.0
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.6
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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 ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
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 | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.5/10 | 9.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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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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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