If your primary concern is cost effectiveness for general use such as browsing and document editing, the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is a budget-friendly option with basic performance adequate for these tasks, and it is much lighter, which enhances portability. On the other hand, if you require higher performance for demanding applications like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, while pricier, offers robust hardware including a faster processor and high-end graphics. Additionally, it has a build quality and thermal design more suited to intensive workloads, but it will be less portable due to increased weight. 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 general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14"
The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware x14 R1.
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
5.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
4.6/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for general use, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 outperforms the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" in general use primarily due to its much more powerful processor, larger memory capacity for multitasking, superior graphics unit for visual tasks, and a higher quality screen that is brighter and more colorful. Additionally, the Alienware boasts a longer battery life and greater portability, which are essential for users on the go, whereas the Cloudbook, despite being lighter, is hindered by its less capable processor, lower memory, and overall poorer build and screen quality, impacting its effectiveness for a range of tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
5.5/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
5.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 excels in engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, substantial RAM, capable Nvidia RTX GPU, and high-quality screen, contributing to solid performance and visual clarity. In contrast, the Packard Bell Cloudbook’s less robust Intel Celeron processor, minimal RAM, basic integrated graphics, and lower-quality screen make it unsuitable for demanding engineering applications and intensive design work.
Content Creation
7.9/10
5.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for content creation, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
5.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
4.6/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for software development, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
5.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.1in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Alienware x14 R1's superior resolution and brightness make it an appealing choice, offering crisp and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks, whereas the Packard Bell Cloudbook falls short in display clarity and brightness, which can make long periods of use more straining on the eyes. The Alienware's high coverage of color gamuts makes it suitable for engineering and design work, where color accuracy is crucial, but the Cloudbook's poor coverage limits its effectiveness in these fields. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Alienware's lower refresh rate can make fast-paced visuals less smooth compared to laptops designed specifically for gaming, which usually feature higher refresh rates to ensure fluid motion.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 has 7 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
5.1/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,201
$350
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" costs $350.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the Packard Bell Cloudbook 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.
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.