Dell Alienware m18 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 Comparison

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Dell Alienware m18

18 inches | January 2023

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Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18

18 inches | January 2023

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Dell Alienware m18 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 Comparison Overview

Dell Alienware m18

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Asus ROG Strix SCAR...

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Dell Alienware m18

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Asus ROG Strix SCAR...

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18, two laptops from Dell and Asus. Dell Alienware m18 was introduced to market in January 2023 and Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 was launched in January 2023. Both Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Alienware m18 and Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Alienware m18 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 13650HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
410.3 x 319.9 x 24.1-26.7 mm (16.15 x 12.59 x 0.95-1.05 inches)
Weight: 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13980HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB
16GB Ram
399 x 294 x 23.1 mm (15.71 x 11.57 x 0.91 inches)
Weight: 3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 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 Dell Alienware m18 over Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18

Refresh Rate	480 Hz vs 240 Hz	Smoother media experience
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
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 2x USB 4.0	Connect more device at the same time
Display Port	Yes vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
Avg. MSRP Price	$2400-2800 vs $4400-4800	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Reasons to choose Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 over Dell Alienware m18

Weight	3.10 kg vs 4.23 kg	1.13 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~80.1% vs ~71.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.7 mm vs 11.3 mm	5.6 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	168 ppi vs 126 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU FLOPS	24.7 TFLOPS vs 8.8 TFLOPS	Better typing feel
Key Travel	2 mm vs 1.8 mm

Common Strengths of Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Dell Alienware m18

Launch Dates	January 2023 vs January 2023	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
HDR Support	Yes, Dolby Vision vs Yes, Dolby Vision	Watch HDR Clips
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	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	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
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	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
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 Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Dell Alienware m18

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Dell Alienware m18 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware m18 and the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18.

Physical Specs
Weight	4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)	3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)
Surface Area	1313 cm2 (203.3 inches2)	1173 cm2 (181.8 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~71.6%	~80.1%
Side Bezel Thickness	~11.3 mm	~5.7 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.24 kg/inch	0.17 kg/inch
	0.528 lbs/inch	0.374 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gray	Black

Comparison of the Dell Alienware m18 and the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 External Dimensions

Weight

Alienware m18 weighs 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs), whereas the ROG Strix SCAR 18 weighs 3.1 kg (6.84 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 4.23 kg

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 3.10 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 26.70 mm

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 23.10 mm

Min 8.60 mm

Average 24.26 mm

Max 38.00 mm

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 Dell Alienware m18 is 0.24 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 is 0.17 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
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Dell Alienware m18 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 13650HX Intel Core i7 13700HX Intel Core i9 13900HX Intel Core i9 13980HX AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX	Intel Core i9 13980HX
Base Frequency	2.6 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.9 GHz	5.6 GHz
Number of Cores	14	24
Number of Threads	20	32
L3 Cache	24 MB	36 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (16EU)	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1840	2103
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	14421	20352
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1914	2199
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	21028	31359

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 Dell Alienware m18 and Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 13650HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i9 13980HX

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	1455 MHz	1290 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1755 MHz	1665 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	50 W	110 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	96 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	2250 MHz 18 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2560	7424
TMUs	80	232
ROPs	48	80

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. Dell Alienware m18 has a FLOPS value of 8.8 TFLOPS whereas the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 ' has a FLOPS value of 24.7 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware m18 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Alienware m18 and the ROG Strix SCAR 18, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 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	Dell Alienware m18	Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

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

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	97 Wh	90 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left
Charge Power	300 / 330 W	330 W
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr
Cable Length	1 meters

Moreover, the Alienware m18 boasts a larger battery capacity of 97 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the ROG Strix SCAR 18's90 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 97 Wh

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 90 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the Alienware m18 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the ROG Strix SCAR 18's max. storage capacity of 4 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	4	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

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.

Dell Alienware m18 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware m18 and Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 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. Both Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 screens have the same size of 18.0".The total usable screen area of the Alienware m18 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the ROG Strix SCAR 18's total usable screen area is 939cm² / 146inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the ROG Strix SCAR 18 features a higher pixel density with 168 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 126 ppi

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 168 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

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

Both Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 boast the same response time of 3.0 ms.

Brightness
The ROG Strix SCAR 18 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 300 nits

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 500 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Dell Alienware m18 vs Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

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 Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 have USB-A ports. Alienware m18 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while ROG Strix SCAR 18 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 have USB Type-C ports. Alienware m18 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while ROG Strix SCAR 18 has 2x 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 Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

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
Alienware m18 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. ROG Strix SCAR 18 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Alienware m18 and ROG Strix SCAR 18 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	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	1x v1.4	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes