When choosing between the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider that the Alienware is likely better suited for high-end gaming or demanding tasks due to more powerful hardware, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less convenient for travel. The ThinkPad X13, on the other hand, offers great portability and longer battery life, making it ideal for general business use and on-the-go productivity, and it's more budget-friendly, but it won't handle intensive tasks as well as the Alienware. 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
Good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good portability
Good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.1/10
6.7/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its strong GPU and high screen refresh rate, provides a visually rich and fluid gaming experience that is crucial for fast-paced games and 3D rendering, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with modest graphics and a lower screen refresh rate, offers sufficient performance for casual gaming and basic 3D tasks, but may not handle intensive gaming or 3D applications as effectively. Although the CPU and screen quality of the ThinkPad are adequate, they do not compensate for the gaming and 3D performance one can expect from the high-end components and superior display of the Alienware.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
8.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its high-performance CPU, abundant RAM, and superior GPU, excels in demanding tasks like engineering simulations and graphics design, complemented by a vivid screen for precise visual work. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while offering a balance of performance with a capable processor and memory, is more portable, making it better suited for on-the-go professionals who value a good keyboard and quieter operation but do not require top-tier graphics capabilities.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 have displays that likely offer sharp images and vibrant colors due to high resolution and good brightness, making them suitable for daily activities like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design work, accurate color reproduction is crucial, and both laptops' displays likely cover a broad range of color spectrums, ensuring that the designs appear precise and true to life. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast on-screen action is common, the lower refresh rate on these laptops might not deliver the smooth motion that is essential for an immersive experience, despite having adequate resolution and panel types.
Battery
4.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
13.3in
8.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
$1,459
$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 ThinkPad X13 costs $1,459.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1, with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, excels in screen quality for vivid visuals, but its size and shorter battery life reduce portability and convenience for on-the-go use. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offers greater portability and longer battery life, ideal for mobile users, while still providing sufficient CPU performance and RAM for general tasks, though it may not match the Alienware's screen quality and gaming prowess.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.0/10
8.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 are both very good for software development.
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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m18 R1 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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.
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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