The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is more expensive and leans towards gaming and engineering with its powerful GPU and higher refresh rate display, ideal for intensive tasks like 3D modeling, gaming, or machine learning, although it has shorter battery life and heavier weight. In contrast, the HP Spectre x360 is slightly less expensive, more geared towards general use and portability with a higher resolution touchscreen and longer battery life, but less suited for intensive gaming or engineering tasks due to its integrated graphics. Both laptops offer similar storage and memory, with a slight edge in display quality for the HP due to its higher resolution. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
Good for gaming and AI
Very good portability
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.6/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is better suited for gaming and 3D because it includes a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz which are very important for these tasks, in contrast, the HP Spectre x360 uses integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and has a lower 60Hz screen refresh rate, which is less optimal for gaming and 3D use. While the Spectre x360 has a higher-resolution screen which provides better screen quality, it compromises on refresh rate which is critical for a smooth gaming experience.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 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.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
7.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
406.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the HP Spectre x360 for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1, with its respectable resolution and brightness, offers a pleasant viewing experience for general tasks and engineering software, which demand clarity and precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its screen lags due to a lower refresh rate which is crucial for the smooth rendering of fast-moving visuals. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 boasts a high-quality display with wide color coverage, making it ideal for professionals in engineering and design seeking color accuracy, but like the Alienware, it also falls short for gaming and 3D work due to a similarly modest refresh rate.
Battery
9.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 has 11 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good portability, while the HP Spectre x360 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,201
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the HP Spectre x360 costs $1,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Spectre x360 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 offers superior screen quality with a higher resolution and is a 2-in-1 convertible, enhancing its versatility for general use; it also provides slightly longer battery life than the Dell Alienware x14 R1. However, the Alienware x14 R1, while not as portable due to its gaming-oriented design, includes a more powerful graphics card, which could be more appealing for users seeking gaming or graphics-intensive tasks within a general-use context.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 excels in engineering and design due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, which outperforms the HP Spectre x360's integrated Iris Xe graphics, providing a notable advantage in tasks that require intensive graphics processing, like 3D modeling or CAD software. While both laptops offer high-quality displays and sufficient RAM and CPU capabilities for engineering tasks, the Alienware's stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate make it better suited for very demanding applications, although the Spectre x360 offers a higher resolution screen and a 2-in-1 convertible form factor which adds to portability and versatility for design work.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Spectre x360 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP Spectre x360 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 x14 R1 and the HP Spectre x360 compare to other laptops
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
"As we said, Lenovo's Yoga 9i is a tough competitor to the Spectre with an equally admirable OLED display. We're sad that neither of them has an HDMI port nor a niche or slot to hold the stylus, though the HP wins points for its bundled mini docking station and magnetically attached pen. Your choice will come down to screen shape—and in our eyes, just as seeing an OLED screen spoils you for an IPS panel, enjoying a tall 3:2 display spoils you for a more conventional view. The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is our new favorite 2-in-1."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the HP Spectre x360
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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