Updated January 10, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for its gaming capabilities with a high-end graphics card, greater storage, and a larger display, making it well-suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. However, it's significantly more expensive, heavier, and has a shorter battery life, compromising its portability. On the other hand, the Dell Precision 5470 is less expensive, lighter, and offers a longer battery life, targeting professional use with a balanced performance for engineering and general tasks. It's highly portable with a smaller screen size but lacks the gaming prowess of the Alienware model. Consider the Precision 5470 if mobility, battery life, and cost are your priorities, and the Alienware m18 R1 if you need top-tier performance for demanding applications and gaming. Give Feedback
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Advantages of the Dell Precision 5470
Very good portability
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.1/10
6.7/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Precision 5470 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 outperforms for gaming and 3D tasks largely because it contains a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and has a higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, compared to the Dell Precision 5470, which comes with a less robust Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz. The Alienware's GPU is better suited for the demands of high-frame-rate gaming and 3D rendering, and its faster refresh rate will translate to smoother on-screen motion during gameplay and animation, while the Precision's capabilities, though suitable for some gaming and 3D work, are oriented more towards general professional use.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
7.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Precision 5470 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in engineering and design due to its superior CPU, larger amount of RAM, and more powerful GPU, alongside a high-quality display, which are crucial for demanding tasks, but it sacrifices portability and has a lower-quality keyboard compared to the Dell Precision 5470.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Precision 5470 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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.3/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Dell Precision 5470 for gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you value a display that’s vibrant and clear for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, both the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and the Dell Precision 5470 offer displays which have respectably high resolution and brightness, suiting general use well. For engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial, these laptops boast panels that cover a broad spectrum of colors, making them apt for professional creative work. However, for gamers and those engaged in 3D work where fluid motion is key, the lower refresh rates on these models may result in less smooth visuals compared to laptops with high refresh rate screens.
Battery
4.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 hours of battery life. The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 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
8.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,600
$1,669
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a price of $2,600 and the Dell Precision 5470 costs $1,669.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Precision 5470 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in general use mainly due to its more powerful CPU and higher RAM, making it suitable for demanding tasks and multitasking, although its larger size and lower battery life reduce portability. In contrast, the Dell Precision 5470, while also good for general use, balances performance and portability with a less potent CPU, less RAM but a smaller, lighter build, and longer battery life, proving advantageous for users who prioritize mobility and battery duration over top-tier performance.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.7/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for software development, while the Dell Precision 5470 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Dell Precision 5470 both have very 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 m18 R1 and the Dell Precision 5470 compare to other laptops
"Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive."
"The Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m18 R1 or the Dell Precision 5470
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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.
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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