The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is designed for high-end gaming and performance-intensive tasks; it has powerful hardware, but it's heavier and less portable, with potentially shorter battery life compared to more basic laptops. The HP 14" Laptop, on the other hand, is likely more affordable, light, and portable with longer battery life, suitable for general use like web browsing, office work, and media consumption. If you require top performance for gaming, 3D rendering, or engineering software, the Alienware may be your best bet; if you prioritize portability and battery life for everyday tasks, the HP might be the more appropriate choice. 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 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
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP 14" Laptop
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
6.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
5.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the HP 14" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 comes with a high-performing CPU, a substantial amount of RAM, and a superior screen quality, which makes it very good for general use but less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, resulting in a shorter battery life. The HP 14" Laptop, on the other hand, with its moderate CPU and RAM, as well as decent screen quality, is fair for general use and offers better portability because of its lighter weight and longer battery life.
Gaming and AI
9.1/10
5.8/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the HP 14" Laptop is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
6.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the HP 14" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design due to its high-performing CPU, a significant amount of RAM, powerful GPU, and a high-quality screen, while the HP 14" Laptop, with its mid-range CPU and integrated GPU, less RAM, and adequate but lower-tier screen is fair for these tasks. Although the Alienware is less portable and has a louder operating noise, it provides superior performance for demanding engineering software, complemented by its larger, more color-accurate display; conversely, the HP is more portable and operates more quietly, but isn't as capable in heavy computational tasks.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for content creation, while the HP 14" Laptop 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.
Software Development
8.0/10
6.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for software development, while the HP 14" Laptop is only fair.
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
7.8/10
6.3/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the HP 14" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1's superior panel type and higher resolution enhance visual clarity and detail, making it ideal for general use and intricate tasks in engineering and design where sharpness and color accuracy matter. However, its lower refresh rate detracts from the smooth visuals desired in gaming and 3D applications. Conversely, the HP 14" Laptop's moderate display specifications offer acceptable quality for everyday tasks and engineering software but fall short for gaming and 3D work, where its average refresh rate, resolution, and color gamut fail to meet the high standards required for optimal viewing experiences.
Battery
4.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 hours of battery life. The HP 14" Laptop 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
8.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP 14" Laptop has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the HP 14" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,600
$418
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a price of $2,600 and the HP 14" Laptop costs $418.
"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."
"This feels like an ideal laptop for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on a laptop and isn’t too bothered by things like build quality or construction. It’s a laptop that will be used to pay bills, keep track of expenses, do some online shopping, and will be tucked away in a spare bedroom/home office. It’s an appliance designed to do a job without fuss. It’s not a premium experience—the materials do feel a little cheap, the display won’t exactly wow you, and the battery life is nothing to write home about, especially if you’ve used more expensive devices. But overall it’s not too shabby, especially for the price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m18 R1 or the HP 14" Laptop
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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