Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 vs Dell Alienware m18 R2 Comparison

Laptop to replace

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Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

15.6 inches | March 2022

Speed 5

Size 7.5

Display 3.5

Gaming 2.5

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Dell Alienware m18 R2

18 inches | January 2024

Speed 7

Size 4.5

Display 5

Gaming 4.5

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Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 vs Dell Alienware m18 R2 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2, two laptops from Lenovo and Dell. Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 was introduced to market in March 2022 and Dell Alienware m18 R2 was launched in January 2024. There is 22 months difference between ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 so it would still give an advantage to younger Alienware m18 R2.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Dell Alienware m18 R2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 Key Specs

Launched in March 2022
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 12500H
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
366.5 x 250 x 21.2-24.2 mm (14.43 x 9.84 x 0.83-0.95 inches)
Weight: 2.09 kg (4.61 lbs)

Dell Alienware m18 R2 Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 14650HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
8GB Ram
410.3 x 319.9 x 24.1-25.1 mm (16.15 x 12.59 x 0.95-0.99 inches)
Weight: 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 over Dell Alienware m18 R2

Weight	2.09 kg vs 4.23 kg	2.14 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~73.2% vs ~71.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	10.6 mm vs 11.3 mm	0.7 mm thinner bezels
Contrast Rate	1200:1 vs 1000:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	141 ppi vs 126 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Opening Angle	180° vs 135°	More flexible screen

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware m18 R2 over Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Display Size	18 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	480 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1200 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	11.6-16.8 TFLOPS vs 1.41 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 4.0	Better HDMI connectivity
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 2.0

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware m18 R2 and Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Launch Dates	March 2022 vs January 2024	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR5	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.0 vs 1x HDMI 2.0	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell Alienware m18 R2 and Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 vs Dell Alienware m18 R2: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and the Dell Alienware m18 R2.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.09 kg (4.61 lbs)	4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)
Surface Area	916 cm2 (142 inches2)	1313 cm2 (203.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~73.2%	~71.6%
Side Bezel Thickness	~10.6 mm	~11.3 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.13 kg/inch	0.24 kg/inch
	0.286 lbs/inch	0.528 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	135Â°

Comparison of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and the Dell Alienware m18 R2 External Dimensions

Weight

ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 weighs 2.09 kg (4.61 lbs), whereas the Alienware m18 R2 weighs 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware m18 R2

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Thickness Comparison

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware m18 R2

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 is 0.13 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware m18 R2 is 0.24 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 vs Dell Alienware m18 R2: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 12500H Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i7 12800H	Intel Core i7 14650HX Intel Core i7 14700HX Intel Core i9 14900HX
Base Frequency	2.5 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.5 GHz	5.2 GHz
Number of Cores	12	16 (8P + 8E)
Number of Threads	16	24
L3 Cache	18 MB	30 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)	Intel UHD Graphics (16 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1702	1948
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	13247	21334

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Dell Alienware m18 R2.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 12500H

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 14650HX

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)	GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	1545 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1100 MHz	1890 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	115 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS	11.6-16.8 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	8 GB
Memory Type	DDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bus	System Shared	128 bit
Memory Speed	4.8 Gbps	~16 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	640	3072
TMUs	40	96
ROPs	20	48

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware m18 R2 ' has a FLOPS value of 11.6-16.8 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware m18 R2 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	5600 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2

Both laptops, the ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and the Alienware m18 R2, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3	Dell Alienware m18 R2
CPU	Intel Core i5 12500H	Intel Core i7 14650HX
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)	GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
Memory	8 GB	8 GB ; 8 GB VRAM
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~12 GB (6.5 GB VRAM 5.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 8 GB VRAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✔ Runs Well fits in your 8 GB VRAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	⚠ Borderline / Slow doesn't fit in 8 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3|Dell Alienware m18 R2

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	68 Wh	97 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Bottom
Charge Power	135 W	280 / 360 W

On the other hand, the Alienware m18 R2 features a higher battery capacity of 97 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the ThinkPad P15v Gen 3's 68 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware m18 R2

Avg: larger than 17.0"

STORAGE
The Alienware m18 R2 offers a larger max storage capacity of 8 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the ThinkPad P15v Gen 3's storage capacity of 4 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	4
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 vs Dell Alienware m18 R2: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Dell Alienware m18 R2 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, Alienware m18 R2 has a larger18.0" display.The total usable screen area of the ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the Alienware m18 R2's total usable screen area is 939cm² / 146inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 features a higher pixel density with 141 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware m18 R2

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Refresh Rate
The Alienware m18 R2 offers a higher refresh rate of 480 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware m18 R2

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Lenovo ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 vs Dell Alienware m18 R2 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Alienware m18 R2 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 have USB-A ports. ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Alienware m18 R2 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 have USB Type-C ports. ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 has 1x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Alienware m18 R2 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 feature an HDMI port. ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 offers 1x HDMI 2.0, while Alienware m18 R2 offers 1x HDMI 2.1.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both ThinkPad P15v Gen 3 and Alienware m18 R2 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v7
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.2	v5.4
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 4.0	3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.0	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Optional	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes