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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is specifically designed for gaming with higher general use performance and includes a dedicated RTX 3060 graphics card, which is more capable for 3D rendering and machine learning compared to the MSI Prestige 16. Additionally, it's slightly lighter with more USB-C ports, but with less battery life during typical use. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 has a larger and higher resolution screen, more RAM for handling multiple tasks, and a better keyboard and speaker quality, which may appeal to professionals needing a premium business laptop for productivity with great screen colors, but it's not targeted towards intensive gaming. Both are similarly priced and well-suited for engineering tasks, but the Alienware has better gaming appearance while the Prestige has a more understated look. 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
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.8
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 outshines the Dell Alienware x14 R1 in general use mainly because it offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM for multitasking, and a higher resolution screen for sharper visuals. Although both have a similar build quality and battery life, the larger screen and storage of the MSI Prestige 16 also contribute to its edge, with trade-offs being slightly less portability and gaming-focused hardware compared to the Alienware.
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.7
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 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.
Screen Quality
7.9
8.3
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware x14 R1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use and engineering, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers sufficient resolution and brightness, making it comfortable for daily tasks and detailed enough for technical work, while its color accuracies meet the precision needs of engineers and designers. The MSI Prestige 16, with its higher resolution and better coverage of professional color gamuts, provides an edge for users requiring exceptional detail and color fidelity, which benefits meticulous design tasks. However, for gaming and 3D, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and responsiveness—key aspects for an immersive and competitive gaming experience.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,201
$1,611
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is fitted with a powerful main processor and dedicated GPU, which offer robust performance for engineering software and design applications, complemented by a high-quality screen with excellent color coverage. The MSI Prestige 16, on the other hand, comes with even more RAM and a higher resolution screen that would benefit detailed design work, though it uses integrated graphics which may not handle intensive 3D tasks as well as the Alienware's dedicated GPU.
Content Creation
7.9
8.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 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.
Software Development
7.7
8.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware x14 R1 to have very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware x14 R1 | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,201 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.06 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.66" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.34" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 80 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 411 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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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 Prestige 16
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Dig into reviews and images
Make Use Of
Paul Antill | June 2023
"The MSI Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the MSI Prestige 16
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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