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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If your top priority is gaming or demanding engineering software, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels with powerful hardware but is heavier and has a shorter battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offers greater portability, longer battery life, and sufficient performance for general use and less intensive engineering tasks, at a lower price point and with a touchscreen. Neither are the most portable options available, but between the two, the Lenovo is significantly lighter and easier to carry around. Consider how much you value performance against cost, battery life, and portability for your specific needs. 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
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.1
6.7
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 165Hz, is excellent for gaming and 3D activities, providing smoother visuals and better performance in graphic-intensive tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has a modest Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a lower 90Hz screen refresh rate, which still delivers good gaming and 3D capabilities but with less graphical prowess and lower screen fluidity.
Engineering and Design
9.1
7.7
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
7.8
7.4
17.3in
SIZE
14.5in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation.
When considering a laptop for general use, both the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offer screens with clarity and brightness suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design work, both laptops provide displays with wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction critical for tasks that require precise color detail. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may lead to less smooth visuals, which can be a drawback for fast-paced games or rendering that depends on fluid motion.
Battery
4.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has 12 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
14.5in
8.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 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
7.8
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,600
$1,200
$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 Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in performance for general use with a high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a quality screen, though it trades off battery life and portability due to its size and gaming-oriented design. On the other hand, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offers good performance, a crisp display, and longer battery life in a more portable form factor, making it a better choice for users who prioritize mobility and battery duration.
Content Creation
8.4
8.0
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 are both very 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
8.0
7.8
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for software development, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 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.
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How the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m18 R1 | Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,600 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | 12.9'' x 8.9'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.9 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 16.15" | 12.91" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 12.59" | 8.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900HX | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 73 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 281 nits | 334 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m18 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | July 2023
"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."
Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | May 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 is an attractive, portable laptop that’s ideal if you need a combination of CPU and GPU performance. It also nails the fundamentals with solid connectivity, an enjoyable keyboard, a large touchpad, and top-notch webcam. Display quality is a weakness, but it’s an acceptable compromise for the laptop’s extremely competitive $1,199 MSRP. The Slim Pro 7 is a versatile, affordable laptop and hard to beat for the price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m18 R1 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
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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