Alienware m17 R4vsAcer Aspire 7

We compare these two popular phones to help you decide which one fits your needs and budget better.

Alienware
Alienware m17 R4
m17 R4

Quick Stats

The Alienware M17 R4 delivers impressive performance, exceeding expectations with smooth gameplay and reliable processing capabilities always.
The M17 R4 boasts top-notch build quality, solid feel, and attention to detail, a major strength of the laptop overall.
The standout feature of Alienware M17 R4 is its high-quality display options with seamless gaming experience.
The Alienware M17 R4 boasts impressive features including high-end display and GPU options.
Acer
Acer Aspire 7
Aspire 7

Quick Stats

The Acer Aspire 7 delivers decent performance for day-to-day tasks and moderate gaming, despite some limitations.
The Acer Aspire 7's build is adequate, lacking a premium feel that holds it back significantly.
The Acer Aspire 7's display has a limited peak brightness and inconsistent refresh rate options available.
The Acer Aspire 7 boasts a great keyboard and a decent display with limited brightness.
Key Differences

No significant specification differences found between these devices.

Rank
Alienware m17 R4
#607
Acer Aspire 7
Winner
#605
Scores by Category
Rankings
Connectivity
Alienware m17 R4
#448
Acer Aspire 7
#434
Winner
Display
Alienware m17 R4
#589
Acer Aspire 7
#569
Winner
Performance
Alienware m17 R4
#183
Winner
Acer Aspire 7
#638
Build
Alienware m17 R4
#430
Acer Aspire 7
#383
Winner
Features
Alienware m17 R4
#684
Acer Aspire 7
#12
Winner

Note: Lower rank number indicates a better position in category.

Specifications Comparison
Specification
Alienware Alienware m17 R4
Acer Acer Aspire 7
up to 32GB
up to 16GB
up to 8000GB SSD
up to 1000GB SSD
Intel Core i9-10980HK
Intel Core i5-10300H
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (Laptop, 165W)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (Laptop)
N/A
1x M.2 NVMe slot See photo

Note: Highlighted specifications show differences between the two devices.

Pros and Cons

Alienware m17 R4

Strengths

The Alienware M17 R4 has impressive performance and cooling, which was a surprise given its previous reputation for overheating.
The new 360Hz display is a nice addition, offering smoother visuals and more syncing options for content creators.
The build quality of the laptop is solid, with a distinctive style that feels premium and well-made.
The thermals on this model were actually pretty darn good, which was a pleasant surprise considering Alienware's usual thermal issues.

Weaknesses

The battery life of the M17 R4 is short, especially when using the 360Hz display, with around 2 hours of battery life.
The lack of ram slots and soldered-on RAM is a drawback for users who need to upgrade their memory.
The Wi-Fi card is also soldered on board, which limits flexibility for users who want to upgrade or replace it.
The higher-end model's 330W charger is bulky and unwieldy, making it a hassle to carry around.

Acer Aspire 7

Strengths

You have a very utilitarian body here in terms of design language but it doesn't necessarily look as Sleek as the competition
Performance numbers as a result of this design are actually quite nice
Thermals are very manageable
The keyboard here is decent as well
You also have a great selection of i/o ports
This laptop kind of makes obvious compromises so you know exactly what you're getting with this laptop
If you are someone who just wants a laptop that has great performance and great customizable specs, I definitely think the Aspire 7 is a great option

Weaknesses

The miserable trackpad is a notable issue
The subpar webcam is another drawback
The speaker system is lackluster
The display varies a lot depending on which region you're in
Having 250 nits of peak brightness is just disappointing
The limited 16GB of RAM can cause occasional frame drops
Gaming performance may not be up to par due to the limited 4GB of vram
Read Full Reviews

Alienware m17 R4

The Alienware M17 R4 is a powerhouse laptop that delivers exceptional performance, impressive cooling, and sleek design. Its distinctive style makes it stand out from the crowd, and the build quality is solid, despite some potential issues with quality control. The thermal management system impressively keeps the CPU in check, allowing for smooth gaming experiences. With options for 360Hz or 4K displays, this laptop caters to both gamers and content creators, making it a compelling choice for those seeking ultimate performance.

Acer Aspire 7

The Acer Aspire 7 is a laptop that makes some notable compromises in its pursuit of high-end mid-range performance. Its chunky design may not be the most stylish, but it pays off in terms of thermal management and keyboard quality. However, the trackpad, webcam, and speakers are subpar, and the display's peak brightness varies significantly depending on region. This laptop shines with decent performance, great IO ports, and customizable specs, making it a solid choice for those seeking a high-end mid-range experience.

Need help choosing?

Read our detailed reviews to understand which device is better for your specific needs and budget.

Read Alienware m17 R4 ReviewRead Acer Aspire 7 Review

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