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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is much more expensive and offers top-tier performance for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks, with a high-end Intel i9 processor, powerful RTX 3080 Ti graphics, and ample storage and memory. However, it's heavier and less portable, with limited battery life, so it's not ideal for on-the-go use. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is much less expensive and offers respectable performance for general use with its Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics; it's also more portable and has a longer battery life, suitable for everyday tasks and some light content creation, thanks to its touchscreen and 2-in-1 design. Choose the Dell for demanding tasks or the Lenovo for a balance of cost, portability, and versatility. 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
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.4/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 stands out for general use due to its powerful CPU and abundant RAM, providing excellent performance, as well as a very high-quality screen and speakers; however, its heavier weight and shorter battery life make it less portable than the Lenovo Flex 5 16. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 16, while having a less potent CPU and less RAM, boasts a higher-resolution touchscreen that can operate as a tablet, better battery life, and is significantly lighter, enhancing its portability for general use tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.9
6.2
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in gaming and 3D applications primarily because it is equipped with a top-tier Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and has an extremely high screen refresh rate, enhancing gameplay smoothness. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 provides only fair performance in these areas due to its less powerful integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate, which is significantly lower than that of the Alienware, leading to less fluid visual experiences.
Engineering and Design
9.1
7.2
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 boasts robust processing power and a high-end GPU that excel in demanding engineering tasks, supported by abundant RAM and a superior screen, making it ideal for intensive design and 3D rendering. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers a balance of efficient performance with its capable CPU, GPU, and sufficient RAM, while also providing added portability and a versatile design, but it may not handle extremely heavy workloads as smoothly as the Alienware.
Content Creation
8.3
7.6
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 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.
Screen Quality
8.5
7.3
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the Lenovo Flex 5 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering the Dell Alienware X17 R2, its vivid colors and high resolution make it ideal for general use and engineering tasks that require accurate color representation; however, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate may not provide the smooth visuals preferred by gamers. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 also offers good color accuracy and ample resolution, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, but similar to the Alienware, the refresh rate isn't up to par for high-end gaming needs. General users and engineers might appreciate these laptops for their display quality, but gamers should look for options with faster refresh rates to match their immersive graphic needs.
Battery
2.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.0
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$779
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a price of $2,000 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 costs $779.
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Key similarities
Software Development
7.8
7.5
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 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 X17 R2 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | Lenovo Flex 5 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $779 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 11.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 52.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 2 | |
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."
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the Lenovo Flex 5 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 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.
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