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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for top-tier gaming or engineering performance with a larger screen and you're less concerned about portability and battery life, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 may be a better choice, though it is generally more expensive. On the other hand, if you prefer a laptop that's lighter, more cost-effective, and offers a higher resolution display with a different aspect ratio, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro could suit your needs. However, the Legion has a smaller screen size, less RAM, and a less powerful GPU, which may impact performance in intensive tasks. Both have ample storage and good build quality, but the Alienware provides slightly better performance for demanding software and gaming. 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 content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5
- The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware X17 R2.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
9.1
8.5
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.3/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is very good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in engineering and design use due to its high-performance CPU, large amount of RAM, superior GPU, and excellent screen quality, making it well-suited for demanding tasks, although it is less portable and has a heavier build. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, a capable GPU, and a high-resolution screen conducive to design work, with the added benefits of being lighter for better portability and having a more contemporary release date.
Screen Quality
8.5
8.0
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 for general use, gaming and AI, and content creation.
For general use, the panel type, high resolution, and brightness contribute to crisp images and comfortable viewing on both the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the Lenovo Legion Pro 5, making for an excellent screen quality experience. Engineering and design tasks benefit from the wide color gamuts on these laptops, ensuring accurate colors for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates could lead to less smooth visuals, which is why they're not ideal for those scenarios despite their good resolution and panel type.
Battery
2.0 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has 3.5 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
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and Dell Alienware X17 R2 both have only fair portability, though the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,320
$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 Legion Pro 5 costs $1,320.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in general use due to its superior CPU and larger RAM, which contribute to faster and smoother performance, complemented by a high-quality screen, although it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro offers good general use capabilities with a decent CPU and adequate RAM, a higher resolution display, better portability, and longer battery life, but it may lag behind in intense computational tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.9
8.4
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Lenovo Legion Pro 5 are both very good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in gaming and 3D with its powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and a high screen refresh rate which enhances smooth visuals during fast-paced scenes. Meanwhile, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 also stands out for similar tasks, thanks to the capable Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a respectable refresh rate, offering a balance of performance and quality for intensive gaming experiences.
Content Creation
8.3
7.8
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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.
Software Development
7.8
7.6
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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 Legion Pro 5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,320 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 14.3'' x 10.3'' x 0.97'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 5.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 14.31" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 10.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 80 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 | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 340 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 4 | |
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 | 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 Legion Pro 5
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | July 2023
"It doesn't quite match its Legion Pro 7i sibling as an Editors' Choice winner, but Lenovo's AMD-powered Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 is a stylish, well-built gaming laptop with solid performance at both 1080p and its sharper native resolution. It's cheaper than some comparably equipped machines and better than some similarly priced ones. That's a recipe for success, even without its frequent availability of discounts or sales. A brighter screen and longer battery life would be nice, but even as is the Legion Pro 5 earns a solid recommendation."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the Lenovo Legion Pro 5
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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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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