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Updated January 10, 2024·
Without details about the specifications and features of both the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the MSI Cyborg 15, I can offer general advice on how to choose a laptop. If you prioritize gaming performance or intensive tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, despite being more expensive, typically provides higher-end hardware that might justify the cost. On the other hand, if you're looking for value for money and sufficient performance for everyday tasks with some light gaming and aren't concerned about having the highest possible specifications, the MSI Cyborg 15 could be a more cost-effective option. Remember to consider factors like build quality, customer support, warranty, and design preferences which might sway your decision beyond just specs and price. 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 overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- The MSI Cyborg 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware x14 R1.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 stands out for engineering and design due to its high-quality screen, superior contrast ratio, and excellent color coverage which is critical for design accuracy, while also offering a powerful CPU and GPU combo which suits engineering software needs. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, while also featuring a powerful CPU and capable GPU, has less RAM and a screen that covers a less range of colors, making it less ideal for design tasks but still good for engineering applications.
Screen Quality
7.9
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers a display with high resolution and brightness, making it sharp and vibrant for everyday tasks, and it provides wide color coverage crucial for precision in engineering and design. However, its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for the fast-paced visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15's screen also has decent resolution and brightness for general usage and adequate color representation for creative work, but like the Alienware, it doesn't support the high refresh rates that gamers and 3D users typically seek for a smoother visual experience.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,201
$1,100
$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 MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers a better general use experience thanks to its higher-quality screen, more robust heat management, and slightly longer battery life, all of which are essential for a variety of tasks and extended usage periods. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 has a larger screen and superior graphics card, which could make it a better choice for visually-intensive applications, but it has less RAM and a shorter battery life, making it less suited for multitasking and long sessions away from power outlets.
Gaming and AI
7.6
7.2
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 features a high-quality GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3060, with a screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, which together offer smooth and responsive gaming and 3D experiences; its screen also shows vibrant colors, indicated by high color space coverage.
Content Creation
7.9
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Cyborg 15 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
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Cyborg 15 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.
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How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware x14 R1 | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,201 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.06 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.66" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.34" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 80 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 411 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"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."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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