The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is a better fit for gaming and more intensive engineering or 3D/machine learning tasks thanks to its powerful GPU and CPU, but its higher price and heavier weight reduce its portability compared to the Lenovo Flex 5 14. The Lenovo offers a touchscreen and is lighter, making it more convenient for general use and more portable with longer battery life, though it’s not as well suited for intensive tasks due to its integrated graphics and less powerful processor. The Lenovo is also easier on the wallet. If you prioritize portability and cost savings for everyday tasks, the Lenovo is suitable; if performance, especially for gaming or engineering applications, is critical, then the Dell is the better option. 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 x14 R1
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 14
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.2/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
144Hz
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 x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Flex 5 14 is only fair.
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
8.2/10
7.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Flex 5 14 is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 stands out for engineering and design tasks with its powerful CPU and GPU, making it very suitable for resource-intensive applications, while its higher-quality screen provides better color accuracy and contrast for detailed visuals. However, the Lenovo Flex 5 14, with its decent CPU and integrated graphics, offers good performance for less demanding tasks, and its screen, while not as high quality, is still satisfactory; it also provides the added benefits of portability and versatility due to its 2-in-1 convertible design and lighter weight.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
277.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the Lenovo Flex 5 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 provides a vibrant and sharp display suitable for general tasks and precision work required in engineering and design due to its high resolution and color accuracy; however, the refresh rate is not as high as gaming enthusiasts demand for smooth visuals in fast-paced games. The Lenovo Flex 5 14, with its decent resolution and respectable brightness, offers a satisfactory experience for daily activities and some design work but lacks the advanced color range professionals need and the quick refresh rate gamers seek. When choosing between these, consider if your priority is the fine detail for professional creative work or the fluid motion for gaming, as each excels in different areas.
Battery
9.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has 11.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Flex 5 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,201
$950
$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 Lenovo Flex 5 14 costs $950.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is designed with a high-powered CPU and a dedicated GPU, making it efficient for demanding tasks while displaying high screen quality for general use; its portability is balanced by a moderate battery life and a solid build suitable for gaming aesthetics. The Lenovo Flex 5 14, with its integrated graphics and equally capable CPU, offers sufficient multitasking capabilities and a high-resolution, touch-enabled display for general use, alongside longer battery life and the versatility of a lightweight 2-in-1 design that enhances portability and usability in different environments.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 are both 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
7.7/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 are both 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 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."
"The highlight of the latest IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is clearly its AMD CPU. The octa-core Ryzen 7 5700U is insanely fast even when compared to the best Tiger Lake Ultrabooks in the market or even Core H CPUs in many gaming laptops. It's a lot of raw processing power for what is supposed to be a budget 14-inch convertible. If your daily workloads can benefit from extra multi-thread CPU performance, then look no further than the inexpensive AMD-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. For regular on-the-road browsing or video streaming, however, a slimmer and lighter 10th gen Core Yoga, Spectre, or XPS would be a more balanced option."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the Lenovo Flex 5 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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,995
Recommendations made
28,383
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.