The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is more expensive and offers high performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and intensive gaming, thanks to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card. However, it's heavier and might not be as easy to carry around. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is more affordable, lighter, and thus more portable, with a higher resolution touchscreen display beneficial for general use and engineering tasks. Still, it can't match the Dell's performance in gaming or heavy tasks, as it relies on integrated graphics. Both have similar battery lives, but if portability and cost are your primary concerns, the Lenovo ThinkBook may be the better choice. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.4/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1, with a high-performance i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics, surpasses the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s's i7 processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics in engineering and design tasks that demand advanced CPU and GPU capabilities. While both offer quality IPS displays, the Alienware's focus on gaming-grade performance leads to greater screen refresh rates and a higher thermal design power, offset by less portability and higher weight compared to the more compact and lightweight ThinkBook, which may better suit users who prioritize mobility and still require competent performance for engineering and design applications.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
7.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offer crisp images and comfortable brightness, which makes them suitable for tasks like browsing, video streaming, and document editing. When it comes to engineering and design, these laptops provide wide color gamuts ensuring that users see accurate colors and gradients for tasks that require precise color work, like photo editing or CAD. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key, the lower refresh rates on these laptops might result in less smooth visuals compared to models with higher refresh rates typically favored by gamers.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,201
$1,000
$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 ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is a solid choice for general use due to its high refresh rate display and robust graphics, which, combined with respectable battery life and a decent portability score, make it versatile enough for entertainment and productivity. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, on the other hand, offers a higher resolution touchscreen with a better pixel density, lighter weight for enhanced portability, and a slightly longer battery life, which are advantageous for users who prioritize display quality and ease of carrying over gaming capabilities.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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.
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How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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 best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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