If you prioritize performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and general engineering tasks and want a bigger, higher-resolution touchscreen, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i excels with a superior screen and higher RAM, which helps in multitasking. However, it's more expensive and offers shorter battery life, making it less suitable for long periods away from a power source. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 stands out for gaming and intensive tasks with strong performance, a high refresh rate display, and better heat management, yet it has a smaller, non-touch display and less RAM, which might limit performance during very heavy multitasking. The Alienware is slightly heavier, but both laptops are relatively portable and have backlit keyboards, though the Alienware is styled more for gaming aesthetics and the Lenovo is more understated. 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 portability
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall display quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i rates higher for general use than the Dell Alienware x14 R1 largely due to its superior screen quality, more RAM which helps with multitasking, and a higher storage capacity, though it falls short in battery life. However, the Alienware x14 R1, while not as highly rated for general use, offers a more robust heat management system and slightly better battery life, which can be beneficial for extended use without a power source.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i and Dell Alienware x14 R1 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i outperforms the Dell Alienware x14 R1 for engineering and design use primarily due to its superior main processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU, which are essential for heavy computational tasks and graphics processing. Furthermore, the Slim Pro 9i boasts a higher-resolution Mini LED screen for more precise visual work, while both laptops maintain a balance between portability and build quality, with the Alienware offering slightly better battery life and the Slim Pro emphasizing screen quality and computing power.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is 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.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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
9.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a better screen than the Dell Alienware x14 R1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i outshines the Dell Alienware x14 R1 in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its higher resolution and superior brightness, offering clearer and more vibrant visuals. Additionally, its wider color gamut coverage enhances the precision required for engineering and design tasks, where color accuracy is critical. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short because they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and quick response times.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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.
Cost
$1,201
$1,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i costs $1,600.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i and Dell Alienware x14 R1 are both good for gaming and AI.
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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.5in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware x14 R1 to have very good portability, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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 Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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 Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is an impressive laptop with a brilliant Mini-LED display, a powerful 100-watt version of Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, and excellent connectivity. Having run the Cinebench benchmark again, we were impressed with the CPU performance. That makes the Slim Pro 9i is an easy recommendation, especially for those who care about GPU and CPU performance. It’s also a fantastic choice if you frequently view HDR movies and games on your laptop."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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