Display size: 15.6-inch
Display: 1920x1080 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate
Capacity: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB M.2 drive
Chip: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H
Camera: 720p webcam
Speakers: 4 stereo speakers
Weight: 2.27 kg
Dell has long been a dependable manufacturer across laptops and desktops, but it gets to cut loose a little when it comes to its Alienware sub-brand.
Focused on capturing the attention of discerning gamers worldwide, Alienware’s secret sauce is in its mix of eye-catching designs and impressive price points and build-to-order options.
Look a little closer, though, and it’s clear some corners needed to be cut. For one, there display has a high refresh rate, but it taps out at 1080p resolution (unless you go for a more expensive built-to-order variant). Then there’s the webcam, which is a 720p option that’ll have you reaching for an external option.
Still, it’s a very solid laptop at this price range that offers enough power for your competitive gaming fix on the go.
For
- 3060 GPU is a solid laptop option
- Interesting design
- High refresh rate display
Against
- 1080p resolution could be better
- Disappointing webcam
Display size: 17.3-inch
Display: 1829x1080 resolution, 144Hz refresh rate
Capacity: 512GB or 1TB M.2 SSD
Chip: Intel Core i7
Camera: 720p webcam
Speakers: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
Weight: 2.6 kg
If the Alienware laptop we’ve picked is designed to stand out, the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is almost entirely the opposite.
That’s not to say it’s not a good-looking machine (we’ll cover that shortly), but it’s a pretty standard-looking laptop. In fact, it’s quite tame for a gaming laptop, we’d argue, outside of its stylized key layout and top-mounted cooling vent.
It’s heavier than the Alienware, but does offer a mammoth 17.3-inch display. Sadly, it caps out at the same 1920x1080 resolution as its contemporary, and yes, the webcam is 720p again.
Still, under the hood, there’s a 3070 Ti which is sure to run huge games wherever you are - as long as you can handle a bit of fan noise, and superfast storage and 16GB of RAM make it ideal for work as well as play.
For
- 3070 Ti GPU is powerful for a laptop
- Huge display
- Rugged design
Against
- 1080p resolution could be better
- Another 720p webcam
Alienware vs ASUS: Design
As we’ve already alluded to, both manufacturers certainly took different turns when designing these machines. The narrower hinge of the Alienware laptop is certainly different, revealing blank space under the display that stands out.
The ports are all located on the back, too, which certainly means it looks cleaner from the sides - but may mean you need to adjust your setup to clear room.
On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 looks much like you’d expect any laptop to look – there are no wild cut-outs, the ports are on the side, and it’s a pretty standard black (or gray) colorway, too.
The only true indication that it’s a gaming laptop comes with the keyboard layout, with the WASD keys highlighted, and a nice degree of backlighting throughout.
Ultimately, though, it’ll come down to personal preference.
Winner: Tie
Windows laptops come in many shapes and sizes, and while we’ve already compared Alienware to Razer, it’s Alienware vs ASUS that we’re taking a look at this time.
It’s very difficult to find a “bad” manufacturer these days, but both Alienware and ASUS are excellent options. The former may be an offshoot from Dell, but it tends to pack great value into its machines, while ASUS runs the gamut between productivity laptops, 2-in-1s, and its own gaming models, too.
With that in mind, we picked the two models for comparison here between the Alienware x15 R2 Gaming Laptop, and the ASUS TUF Gaming A17. Both are valued at around £1500 without discounts, and the idea is to work out which is worth you parting with that cash. Unlike our Alienware and Razer comparison, both laptops here are gaming machines, making the comparison much closer, while both have productivity chops, too.
If you're still undecided about what brand or tech you want to invest in, check out our guides to the best home computers and the best laptops.
Alienware vs ASUS: Display
To get the negative out of the way first, both of the displays here are 1080p panels. That’s still solid, but if you’re looking for a 1440p screen you’ll have to spend a bit more – something to consider for gamers.
On the plus side, both offer high refresh rates, with the ASUS having 144Hz for smoother animation and the Alienware hitting as high as 165Hz.
Neither are touch screens, but it’s hard to look past the monolithic display afforded by the ASUS TUF Gaming A17. That 17.3-inch display is huge, and is likely to feel like a cinema you carry in your backpack. The Alienware’s 15.6-inch panel is solid enough, but it just can’t compete for immersion.
Winner: ASUS TUF Gaming A17
Alienware vs ASUS: Audio
Both laptops offer left and right speakers for stereo sound, but the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a little boost on the Alienware x15 because it includes Dolby Atmos.
Dolby Atmos is object-based surround technology that allows for more immersive audio. That, paired with the huge display, makes the ASUS option attractive for cinephiles on the move.
Winner: ASUS TUF Gaming A17
Alienware vs ASUS: Performance
The Alienware x15 comes with an Nvidia RTX 3060 by default, but can be fitted with up to a 3080 instead if you’re happy to pay considerably more. It’s a solid card that’ll make the most of the 1080p resolution, but the ASUS option has a little more grunt under the hood.
That’s because the ASUS has an RTX 3070 Ti inside. While the 3060 can run the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, you’ll find things are smoother and more detailed on the ASUS’ GPU.
According to userbenchmark.com, there’s a 58% increase in 3D GPU speed from the 3060 to the 3070Ti, which could make a sizeable difference both in gaming and creative work.
Outside of that, both laptops are running Windows 11 right out of the box, and are powerful enough for more standard work – running through spreadsheets, sending emails, and more.
Winner: ASUS TUF Gaming A17
Alienware vs ASUS: Value
While both machines are priced similarly, the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 appears to be regularly discounted through ASUS itself. That gives it the edge here, with hundreds of pounds/dollars of savings available throughout the year, but you can also drop to a 3060 and save more (at the cost of the performance boosts we’ve mentioned above).
That, paired with the larger screen, makes it an easier recommendation of the two machines – unless you’re particularly wedded to the more quirky design of the Alienware x15.
Winner: ASUS TUF Gaming A17
Alienware vs ASUS: Verdict
It’s almost a clean sweep for the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 on a category-by-category basis, with its larger screen, better GPU, and Dolby Atmos helping it edge out the Alienware x15.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more stylish and portable, the Alienware x15 is still a great option.
