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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or demanding tasks like video editing and need top-notch performance, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 can be a great choice, despite its higher cost and lesser portability due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the HP Omen Transcend 14 offers more portability and should be sufficient for general use and moderate gaming, at a lower price point, but may not handle intensive tasks as well. Keep in mind, the battery life will generally be better on less powerful, more portable laptops. 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 X17 R2
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the HP Omen Transcend 14
- Very good for software development
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.9
7.9
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a superior GPU and a high screen refresh rate, both critical for smooth, high-performance gaming and 3D rendering. While the HP Omen Transcend 14 also offers capable gaming features, its GPU and refresh rate might not match the Alienware, making it slightly less suitable for the most demanding graphics tasks.
Engineering and Design
9.1
8.5
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers top-notch CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality, making it an excellent choice for demanding engineering tasks and design work which require high performance; however, it's heavy which affects portability. The HP Omen Transcend 14, while also strong in performance areas, is more portable, but may not match the Alienware's power or screen size, possibly making it less optimal for intensive graphics work but better for on-the-go use.
Screen Quality
8.5
8.6
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the HP Omen Transcend 14 for gaming and AI, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and HP Omen Transcend 14 laptops have displays with high resolution and brightness, ensuring clear and vivid images for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. These laptops also excel in engineering and design because they cover wider color gamuts, allowing for more accurate color representation which is crucial for these fields. However, their lower refresh rates make them less suitable for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion and responsiveness are key, and higher refresh rates can significantly enhance the visual experience.
Battery
2.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.8 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,699
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a price of $2,000 and the HP Omen Transcend 14 costs $1,699.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and Dell Alienware X17 R2 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2, with its high-end CPU and ample RAM, is well-suited for demanding applications and multitasking, while the quality screen enhances the user experience; however, its significant weight and size make it less portable and its battery life may be shorter, which could be a concern for users on the go. In contrast, the HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a balance with good performance for everyday tasks, a high-quality screen, and is easier to carry due to its compact size, although with a performance ceiling that may not satisfy intense gaming or professional 3D tasks.
Content Creation
8.3
8.3
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and Dell Alienware X17 R2 are both very 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
7.8
8.1
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen Transcend 14 to be very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 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.
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How the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the HP Omen Transcend 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | HP Omen Transcend 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,699 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 12.3'' x 9.2'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 3.87 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 12.32" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 11 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 71 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware X17 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the HP Omen Transcend 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.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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