Do these two names sound familiar? Your answer will probably be yes, and I can bet on that. But did you ever think of comparing Dell Alienware and Apple MacBook Pro? Now I can sense a no. But that’s okay.
This review is a detailed comparative analysis between Dell Alienware vs Apple MacBook Pro.
Since we are talking about Dell Alienware, probably, you haven’t heard much about it. And there’s a reason behind that. But Apple MacBook Pro, well, it’s getting more and more familiar these days.
I know what you are thinking right now. What’s the need to compare two laptops that come from different backgrounds? Both brands share not a lot in common. Even their operating systems don’t match.
But if you are a tech freak, brace yourself then. There’s a lot hidden in the Dell Alienware vs Apple MacBook Pro comparison. As we dive deeper, things might go a bit technical.
Table of Contents
Overview of Dell Alienware vs Apple MacBook Pro
First, we’ll have a little introduction to the name Dell Alienware. And then Apple MacBook Pro.
Dell Alienware
Dell Alienware is a category dedicated to gaming laptops. Yeah, you read that right. So if you love a gaming laptop, your eyes must have gone through Alienware’s gadgets for gamers.
It’s also a sign that this comparison is between Dell’s gaming laptops and the pioneers of MacOS.
As Alienware is famous for launching high-end gaming laptops, it’s essential to know the latest laptop for games they have found. There are several gaming laptops under Alieware’s umbrella. You can identify them with the colorful alien theme on the desktop.
A laptop by Alienware has effective functioning as compared to other traditional laptops. And yeah, you can only find Windows operating system in an Alienware gaming laptop.
Another distinction is that these laptops by Alienware are more aesthetic. You’ll fall in love with their outer body.
Apple MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro series by Apple is famous for its high-end MacBooks. But don’t think that these are ordinary laptops by Apple.
The Apple MacBook Pro series brings powerful MacBooks for professional use. If your daily tasks require highly competent tech machinery, a MacBook Pro is a suitable option for you. But it would help if you kept in mind that MacBooks are pretty expensive.
Every MacBook Pro has a premium body made of aluminum. Unfortunately, since the purest manufacturing form of aluminum is not cheap, it exponentially increases the price of a MacBook Pro.
Apple has launched almost six various models in the MacBook Pro series. The first generation was established in 2006. And then Apple Inc. never stopped improving its MacBook family. Finally, in October 2021, Apple released the 5th generation series that uses M1 Pro and M1 Max silicon chips.
Apple, however, didn’t consider making laptops for games. If you use any MacBook Pro from the very Apple series, you instantly become a fan of the MacBook Pro. But when it comes specifically to gaming, it isn’t easy to give a verdict between Dell Alienware vs Apple MacBook Pro.
As you have a slight idea about the two tech giants, let’s move towards the comparison.
We’ll consider the following factors in this comparative review between Alienware vs Apple MacBook Pro:
- Display
- Performance
- Keyboard
- Battery
- Ports
We are taking Alienware 17 from Dell and MacBook Pro 16 from Apple for the best outcome.
Display – Dell Alienware 17
Dell Alienware 17 comes in three display categories: FHD, QHD, and UHD. Each display category of Alienware 17 has 17.3 inches screen with Tobii Eye-tracking. If you are into a gaming laptop, you will quickly feel the subtle difference in the displays.
The G-sync technology by NVIDIA gives your Alienware 17 powerful display support. For example, you will no longer have input lags or screen stuttering. Also, only the QHD display can give up to a 120 Hz screen refresh rate.
During our research, we found that many users commended its powerful UHD display. Do you know why?
Because the UHD display by Alienware 17 provides a 100% saturated RGB color spectrum. That’s more than the FHD and QHD display comparatively. Due to this UHD display, your gaming experience goes way smoother and faster.
Alienware 17 has an NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1070 graphics card as a gamers’ laptop. The NVIDIA Geforce GTX is a big name in gaming PCs and laptops.
Display – Apple MacBook Pro 16
The number 16 in Apple MacBook Pro represents the 16-inch LCD. Did this nudge you a bit?
Well, this means that these Apple MacBooks also come in 14 inch, 15 inch, and 16 inch LCDs. But we’ll be talking about the Apple MacBook Pro 16 here.
It has, by default, the Liquid Retina display with XDR. In simple terms, the show is similar to iPhone. You can feel a paper-like screen effect in the Apple Pro series. It gives you a more clear vision without making you see the pixel alignment.
Apple’s ProMotion technology gives you a 120 Hz screen refresh rate. And Apple MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics card. The AMD Radeon Pro 5500M surpasses Alienware 17’s graphical performance.
As with the colors in Apple MacBook Pro 16, it provides the display with True Tone technology. This means that a MacBook Pro senses the surrounding light and automatically adjusts the display. Therefore, your readability will always be at the maximum.
Performance – Dell Alienware 17
Dell Alienware 17 comes with an Intel Core i7. And it’s also supported with the Cyro-Tech cooling system. Unfortunately, the sound of the fan only disrupts your streamlined gaming experience on Alienware 17. But to be honest, a slight whirring sound is not enough to discard this option.
The memory specification of Alienware 17 gives you 16 GB RAM, 9 MB cache, and a 1 TB solid-state drive. Of course, being a top-level gamer, you can quickly go this amount of memory.
The Intel Core i7 makes the Alienware 17 process at 2.2 GHz about the CPU clock speed. And nothing is surprising because that’s the maximum an Intel Core i7 processor can give.
Dell’s laptops use Windows, and the Alienware 17 has a 64-bit Windows 10 home.
Performance – Apple MacBook Pro 16
The Apple MacBook Pro 6 has an Intel Core i9 processor, making its clock speed 2.3 GHz with a 9 MB cache. As a result, you can easily find the general performance of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 better than Alienware 17. But when it comes to enjoying games, we have a lot to settle between the two before giving a final verdict.
This 16-inch MacBook uses Intel Core i9; the memory feature again beats the Alienware 17. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 32 GB RAM, but the storage capacity is the same, i.e., 1 TB SSD.
The performance comparison might be a deal-breaker for you. However, apple’s 4th Generation MacBook series easily beats even the majority of the computer systems. And this MacBook 16 also performs better due to MacOS Catalina (2019).
Keyboard – Dell Alienware 17
The Alienware 17 laptop uses the 4-zone backlit keyboard. But that’s a modification in the recent model. Before that, Dell Alienware 17 used to have the Alienware Tactx keyboard.
You must be wondering why. From the user’s perspective, the Tactx keyboard had numerous issues. And as a gamer, you hate it when your keyboard disappoints you. This replacement of keyboards makes sure that your gaming experience becomes unstoppable.
The backlit keyboard gives you a pure entertainment ambiance. You can also customize the lighting using freely available software.
Also, the layout of the Alienware 17 keyboard is QWERTY. So you don’t need to relearn the whole typing process for mere online games.
Keyboard – Apple MacBook Pro 16
Apple has recently ditched the annoying Butterfly Keyboard due to good reasons. Now, you can find the traditional iMac keyboard in Apple MacBook Pro 16. The refined scissor-switch mechanism also pleases the users because of its comfortable usability.
The keyboard in Apple MacBook Pro 16 has no backlight feature. Does that sound like a problem to you? You will not make your MacBook Pro 16 a gamer’s gadget, are you?
The backlight feature is available in the Apple Magic Keyboards. But that’s making the price heavier.
If you are an old MacBook user, the traditional iMac keyboard will make you feel nice. Alignment of keys, gap, smoothness, and less clacking sound, all of these benefits are back.
Ports – Dell Alienware 17
In the Alienware 17 laptop, there are one RJ-45 network port, four USB ports, and five audio/video external ports.
The network port in Dell Alienware 17 is universal, so you will not have any wired connectivity issues.
But the real treasure is its four USB ports:
- USB 3.0 port
- USB 3.0 port with PowerShare
- Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) port
- USB 3.0 (Type-C) port
Also, the audio/video external ports give you:
- HDMI 2.0 port
- Microphone/headphone jack (configurable)
- Headset port
- Mini DisplayPort 1.2
- External graphics
Ports – Apple MacBook Pro 16
Again, the MacBook Pro 16 excels in the external ports comparison. There are four ports for charging and expansion:
- Charging
- DisplayPort
- Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
Unlike Alienware 17, the MacBook Pro 16 has better-performing external ports. Each port gives you faster and easier connectivity. Even if you want to connect the additional gadgets with your MacBook Pro 16, there will be no issue except the compatibility with the macOS.
The Intel Core i9 processor easily supports other peripherals that don’t come from Apple. But when you go old-school, things might get complicated for you.
As the comparison has reached its end, you should already have a winner in your mind.
Before we announce the triumphant brand’s laptop, there is something more. The following list has the trending laptops from both brands. So let’s quickly go through the laptops from both of these brands.
Top 2 Laptops from Dell Alienware Series
Have a look at some of the best laptops by the Dell Alienware gaming series.
Alienware 17 R5
Alienware 17 R5 is quite famous for its gaming performance. And that’s not it. Once you see its body framework, you will have a true gamer’s vibe.
It has a 17-inch LCD that gives you a unified entertainment experience. In addition, Alienware 17 R5 has an NVIDIA GTX 1080 graphics card recommended for playing games. And also, the Intel Core i9 processor gives a robust user experience.
But the bulky body of Alienware 17 R5 makes it bigger and heavier than other laptops.
Pros
- Sturdy Body
- Best for gaming
- Multiple configurations
Cons
- Heavyweight
- Bulky size
- Poor battery performance
Alienware m15 R6
The Alienware m15 R6 is a slim version from Dell’s gaming category. You might not hear much about this because of its limited display option. The Alienware m15 R6 comes with a 1080p display. If you are a loyal gamer, this factor might stop you from buying this laptop.
But you can modify this Alienware’s display by investing some bucks.
The performance of Alienware m15 R6 is quite reliable because of Intel Core i9 11th Generation. It also provides good connectivity options with wired and wireless devices.
So if you are into slim laptops to run games, go for Alienware m15 R6. But remember about the compromise on display.
Pros
- Slim body
- Intel Core i9 processor
- Good connectivity
Cons
- Low display quality
- The price tag is too high
Now let’s head to the Apple series of MacBooks.
Top 2 MacBooks from MacBook Pro Series
Following are the best MacBooks from the Apple MacBook Pro Series.
MacBook Pro 13-inch
MacBook Pro 13-inch is a high-performing yet affordable MacBook. The affordability factor comes from other MacBooks of the Pro series.
The 13-inch MacBook uses an Apple M1 processor. With such a fast performance, you also get a unified memory architecture. This architecture is either 8 GB or 16 GB. And on top of that, this MacBook gives both Touch ID and Touch Bar options.
But you will find only two ports in this 13-inch MacBook.
Pros
- High performance
- Good battery life
Cons
- Only two ports
MacBook Pro 16-inch
If you like larger screens, the MacBook Pro 16-inch is a suitable option for you. In addition, with Apple M1 Pro/M1 Max processor, this model has the highest performance so far among all other Apple MacBooks.
Other than that, you will admire the LED Retina display with True Tone technology. The display also provides auto-brightness and color control. Therefore, you no more need to adjust the display settings manually.
On top of that, this 16-inch MacBook has long-lasting battery life. But when you pick it up, the heavyweight of this MacBook may bother you.
Pros
- Best performing MacBook
- Retina display with True Tone technology
- Long-lasting battery
Cons
- Heavyweight
- Costly
The above laptops from Dell and Apple are fully equipped with the latest specifications. If you are wondering about the price tags, go through the specifications again. We believe that each laptop’s price is justified compared to the overall performance.
Now you must be waiting for the competition winner. Apple MacBook Pro has won the race.
Apart from Dell Alienware’s premium gaming laptops, you can’t execute other tasks with the same efficacy on Alienware.
But when we talk about the Apple Pro series, a MacBook can easily outperform Alienware. So whether it’s about the display, performance, or the battery, MacBook Pro is an all-rounder.
You can go for intense entertainment or download and run heavy apps on a MacBook.
And if you consider customization options, MacBook Pro gets defeated here only. Else, Alienware will stay in the second position.
Final Words
Well, as the Apple MacBook has won the title, you don’t need to worry. A lot of users complain about the costliness of Apple products. And that’s not a lie. But if you are too strict on the performance factor, we have bad news for you.
Dell Alienware can’t satiate your high-performing laptop needs. You can fully enjoy games on the Alienware laptops. However, if you want a versatile laptop, there’s only one option with a suitable graphics card.
The price of Apple MacBooks is not to fall short. And you are not planning on keeping two laptops from both brands, are you?
Therefore, we recommend you go for a less expensive Apple MacBook from the Pro series. You can then have the liberty to play games and complete your professional chores on that. But you have to compromise on the ports as you will get only two in the affordable option.
And that option is the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch.
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