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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a larger screen, more RAM, a slightly more powerful GPU, and a significantly larger battery compared to the Razer Blade 14 (2023), making it better for intensive engineering tasks and gaming, though it is considerably heavier and thus less portable. The Razer Blade 14 is lighter and more suitable for general use and portability with good battery life, though it may not perform as well as the Alienware in demanding tasks due to having less RAM and a slightly less powerful GPU. If portability is a priority and you want to save some money, the Razer is a good pick; however, if you prefer top performance for gaming and engineering work and don't mind the additional cost and weight, the Alienware might be the better 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
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Razer Blade 14 (2023)
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.1
8.4
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for gaming and 3D applications due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and considerable screen size, which facilitates a more immersive experience with a respectable refresh rate that supports smooth motion in games. The Razer Blade 14 (2023), while having a less powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, boasts a higher screen refresh rate for exceptionally fluid gaming visuals and greater portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, although it may offer a less commanding visual presence compared to the Alienware.
Screen Quality
7.8
8.9
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
560.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Razer Blade 14 for software development, while the Razer Blade 14 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers a balance between resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks, while the Razer Blade 14 enhances this with an even sharper display and better brightness. In engineering and design, both laptops provide wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction, but the Razer Blade 14 edges out with superior color fidelity crucial for those fields. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both fall short as their refresh rates are lower than what is ideal for fast-paced visuals, despite having adequate resolution and panel types.
Battery
4.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 14 has 6 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
4.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) 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
$2,400
$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 Razer Blade 14 (2023) costs $2,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.1
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
560.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
5.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Razer Blade 14 (2023) are both very good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is equipped with a high-end CPU and generous RAM, offering strong performance for various tasks, along with a large, high-quality screen; however, its bulkiness and lower battery life impact its portability. The Razer Blade 14 (2023) also has a robust CPU and high-quality screen but with less RAM; it's much lighter and offers a longer battery life, making it more portable, though it could be less optimal for multitasking or very RAM-intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
9.1
8.7
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be excellent for engineering and design, while the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, large RAM, and quality screen, but it is heavier and less portable; in contrast, the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is highly portable with excellent keyboard quality and a high-quality display, albeit with less RAM and a slightly less powerful GPU and CPU.
Content Creation
8.4
8.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Razer Blade 14 (2023) 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
7.9
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 Razer Blade 14 (2023) 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
8.5
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and Razer Blade 14 (2023) 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 Razer Blade 14 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m18 R1 | Razer Blade 14 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,600 | $2,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | 12.2'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.9 lbs | 4.05 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 16.15" | 12.23" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 12.59" | 8.97" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900HX | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 68.1 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 281 nits | 560 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
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."
Razer Blade 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"After making a huge splash with the original 2021 model, it's expected that the 2022 refresh would be more of a minor update to an already impressive machine. It adds a higher resolution webcam (720p to 1080p), faster CPU (Ryzen 9 5900HX to Ryzen 9 6900HX), faster GPU (RTX 3070/3080 to 3070/3080 Ti), faster RAM (DDR4-3200 to DDR5-4800), faster M.2 SSD support (PCIe3 x4 to PCIe4 x4), newer WLAN module (Killer AX1690i to Qualcomm WCN685x), and a MUX switch for the new integrated Radeon 680M GPU. It's indubitably an upgrade especially in terms of single-thread processor performance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m18 R1 or the Razer Blade 14 (2023)
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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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