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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If top-notch screen quality, higher battery life, and a lighter build are important to you, the Lenovo Legion 9i stands out, especially with its high-resolution Mini LED display. However, if you prefer a laptop with an aggressive gaming look, and don't mind a bit less portability and screen quality, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 could suit you better, usually at a somewhat lower price. Both have high performance for gaming and tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering, but the Lenovo has slightly newer hardware which could make it more future-proof. Both laptops have large screens, ample storage, and plenty of RAM. 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
- The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Legion 9i.
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 9i
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Best in class overall display quality
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
9.1
9.6
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers a high-refresh rate Full HD screen and a powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU, while the Lenovo Legion 9i features a sharper Mini LED display with higher resolution and a newer, more potent Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, both with ample RAM and top-tier CPUs, making the latter an excellent choice for engineering and design where screen detail and graphic performance are paramount. However, the Alienware's build and cooling system are tailored for intense workloads and gaming, but the Legion 9i's lighter weight and superior keyboard and speaker quality provide a better overall user experience for long work sessions, despite both having their own appeal depending on specific user priorities like graphic power or portability and comfort.
Software Development
7.8
8.3
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is 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.
Screen Quality
8.5
9.7
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Dell Alienware X17 R2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo Legion 9i's superior panel type, higher resolution, and brighter display result in a more vivid and sharper image, enhancing everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. When it comes to engineering and design, the Legion 9i's outstanding coverage of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces ensures accurate color representation, crucial for professionals in those fields. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, but their resolution and panel quality remain decent for these tasks despite not being optimal for fast-paced action.
Cost
$2,000
$3,420
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a price of $2,000 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Dell Alienware X17 R2 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is appreciated for general use due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM and storage for multitasking, and a quality screen, though its larger size and heavier weight make it less portable and offer a modest battery life.
Gaming and AI
8.9
9.2
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Legion 9i to be excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 with its high screen refresh rate and potent Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU excels in gaming and 3D tasks, offering smooth visuals and strong graphics performance. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 9i also shines in gaming and 3D with its latest Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a high-resolution Mini LED display, but has a lower refresh rate which might not be as smooth for fast-paced gaming as the Alienware's.
Content Creation
8.3
8.7
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Legion 9i 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.
Battery
2.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 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
1.0in
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Dell Alienware X17 R2 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Lenovo Legion 9i both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the Lenovo Legion 9i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | Lenovo Legion 9i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $3,420 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 5.64 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 14.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 10.93" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 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 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3200 x 2000 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 682 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 6.4/10 | |
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 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
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."
Lenovo Legion 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | December 2023
"The Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the Lenovo Legion 9i
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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