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Updated January 16, 2024·
Choosing between the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" primarily depends on your intended use and budget. The Alienware offers high performance suited for gaming, 3D work, and machine learning tasks and typically comes with a robust build and advanced cooling systems, at the expense of being less portable and commanding a higher price. The IdeaPad, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly, highly portable, and sufficient for general use, including web browsing, office applications, and media consumption, but may not fare well with demanding software or multitasking. Consider the Alienware if performance is a priority and you're okay with the extra cost and weight; choose the IdeaPad for casual use, portability, and to save money. 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
- Good for software development
- 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 IdeaPad 1 14"
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2
6.1
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in general use due to its powerful CPU, high RAM, quality IPS screen and superior GPU, which contribute to fast performance and crisp visuals, but it has lower portability and battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a much weaker CPU and graphics, lower RAM, and an inferior TN screen, resulting in slower processing and less vibrant display, although it is more portable and has a longer battery life.
Gaming and AI
8.9
5.5
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in gaming and 3D with its high-performance Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and an extremely high screen refresh rate, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" lacks in this area due to its much less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 and a standard refresh rate. Additionally, the Alienware's superior CPU and screen quality contribute to its suitability for demanding tasks, unlike the IdeaPad's basic CPU and lower quality screen which are not suited for intensive gaming or 3D work.
Engineering and Design
9.1
5.5
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is highly suitable for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i9 processor, high RAM capacity, advanced Nvidia RTX GPU, and superior screen quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is not, as it has a basic Intel Celeron processor, minimal RAM, integrated low-end graphics, and a lower quality TN display. While the Alienware offers high performance necessary for demanding tasks, it is heavier and less portable compared to the lightweight and silent Lenovo, which sacrifices performance for better portability and battery life.
Content Creation
8.3
6.2
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
8.5
5.3
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 boasts high resolution and brightness with a panel type that's favorable for general tasks, but its lower refresh rate might not be ideal for the high-speed demands of gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" might fall short in resolution and brightness for general use and may lack the wide color gamuts essential for precise color work in engineering and design. Lastly, the IdeaPad's modest screen attributes don’t favor 3D tasks, which typically require a high refresh rate alongside decent resolution and panel quality.
Battery
2.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 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
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very 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
6.0
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$150
$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 IdeaPad 1 14" costs $150.
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How the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $150 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 12.9'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 3.09 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 12.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 32 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 239 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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 IdeaPad 1 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | August 2021
"The IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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 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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