Razer vs. Alienware

When it comes to producing high-end gaming laptops, both Razer and Alienware are among the very best. These companies have been in the laptop market for quite some time, and their brands are widely recognized in the gaming community.

But they are not perfect, and each has its own flaws.

In this article, we’ll find out how Alienware and Razer Blade laptops go head-to-head in different categories and see which one comes out as the winner in each.

So let the clash of the titans begin.

Razer vs. Alienware Performance

Both brands make their laptops with the most powerful CPUs and GPUs available.

So what can these bad boys do in terms of performance? Well, rest assured that their most expensive gaming machines (the Alienware X17 R2 and the Razer Blade 17) will run AAA games at the highest settings with ease.

But gaming is not the only thing these machines are good for. Because they are so powerful, they are also great for heavy-duty workloads like programming, 3D modeling, or video editing.

So which laptop delivers better performance? I must say it is a pretty close call, but usually, Alienware has the upper hand. And this is mainly because of better heat management.

But what if you can’t afford the highest-spec PC these brands have to offer? The good news is you can get great deals for under $2000 with slightly lower performance capabilities. Make no mistake, these are no budget laptops in any sense, but if you’re aiming for a great gaming experience, the price is reasonable.

Better cooling -> Higher performance

Since Alienware laptops have larger chassis, they can fit larger fans and more heat pipes. This helps keep the power-hungry components at lower temperatures, which translates into better performance with heavy workloads.

Winner: Alienware

Razer vs. AlienwareUpgradability

Usually, there are two things you could upgrade in a laptop, the RAM and the storage. And you can upgrade both in the Alienware X17 R2 and the Razer Blade 17.

But it is a different situation with their smaller variants. While the Razer Blade 15 provides extra slots for RAM and storage, the X15 only has one extra slot for storage and no room for RAM upgrades. So, if you’re getting an Alienware X15, make sure it comes with enough RAM for your needs.

There is one other thing worth mentioning here. Alienware laptops come with inverted motherboards. So when the time comes to upgrade or simply clean up the dust that builds up inside, it is much more of a hustle.

With the Razer Blade, you simply remove the bottom lid, and you’re good to go.

Winner: Razer

Razer vs. Alienware Build Quality

What about build quality? I honestly have no complaints about either brand. Both companies make durable and premium-quality devices. Their chassis are mostly made of tough metals, so you won’t have to worry about wear and tear for a long time.

What amazes me the most about the Alienware X and the Razer Blade laptops is how thin they are. Kudos to the engineers from both companies for stacking such powerful components in such a limited space.

Winner: Tie

Razer vs. Alienware Screen

Choosing a Razer or an Alienware laptop is a bit simpler than with other brands since they all look the same. You only have to decide if you want a 14″, a 15″, or a 17″ device and the configuration.

Since these are gaming laptops, they offer screens with high refresh rates (up to 360Hz) and high resolution (up to 4K). All their screens provide a super-smooth gaming experience and exceptional color accuracy.

Razer has more options to choose from, though. You can also get a Razer Blade with a 15″ QHD OLED display and a 240Hz refresh rate. This is probably the best screen I’ve ever seen on a gaming laptop. It is bright, buttery smooth, and maintains exceptional color accuracy. So besides gaming, it is also great for content creation.

Winner: Razer

Razer vs. Alienware Keyboard and Trackpad

In the gaming keyboard segment, Alienware gaming laptops are my personal favorite. I mean, Razer keyboards are also very nice and comfortable, but the typing experience with Alienware is the best. Besides, with Alienware, you can choose between a standard keyboard and a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard.

If you’re a gamer, you wouldn’t really care much about the trackpad. But if you also need to do some work on the go and you don’t wanna carry your mouse, it’s nice to have one. Razer Blade’s trackpads are more spacious and provide a better experience compared to any other gaming laptop I’ve reviewed.

Winner: Alienware for the keyboard / Razer for the trackpad

Razer vs. Alienware Design and Weight

The design aesthetics is one of the main things that distinguishes Razer and Alienware laptops.

If you prefer a clean, industrial design that blends into an office environment, Razer is the way to go. Take away the glowing snake logo from the top cover, and you’ll hardly be able to tell it’s a Razer Blade.

On the other hand, Alienware laptops have a more futuristic style. With the round-tron lighting on the back, the glowing alien head on the top lid, and the alien spaceship-looking shape, these laptops are a real head-turner in the gaming community.

As for the weight, nobody really expects a powerful gaming machine to be light. But if we compare these two brands to other gaming laptops, Razer and Alienware laptops are among the thinnest and lightest gaming devices available.

Winner: Tie

Razer vs. Alienware Webcam and Speakers

If I’m splashing my cash on a super-expensive gaming machine, I would expect every piece of hardware component to be of the highest grade. Unfortunately, for some reason, Alienware decided to put an average 720p webcam that you usually find in a budget laptop.

The clear winner in this segment is Razer since their premium models have better quality and higher resolution (1080p) webcam.

As for the audio quality, even these high-spec gaming laptops have pretty average sound. They are okay for spoken content, but far from ideal for gaming or any kind of entertainment. So for the best possible gaming experience, I’d suggest investing in a nice set of gaming headphones.

Winner: Razer

Razer vs. Alienware Ports Selection

Port selection is excellent with either of these brands. If you go for the larger 17-inch models, you’d have almost all the benefits you usually get with a desktop PC. To be fair, the Razer Blade usually has a few extra USB Type-A ports than the Alienware.

On that note, it’s worth mentioning that Razer laptops have most of the ports on the sides, while the Alienware X series laptops have all their ports stacked on the back of the chassis. I guess, for convenience reasons, there are pros and cons to each approach, but I personally prefer Alienware’s because it makes for a much cleaner desk area.

Winner: Tie

Razer vs. Alienware Battery Life and Portability

In order to deliver the ultimate gaming performance, these laptops are packed with power-hungry components. So you shouldn’t really expect much in terms of battery life. However, in most test results, Razer Blade laptops usually lasted a couple of hours longer.

Portability is the most obvious advantage that Razer Blade has over Alienware. If you put a Razer Blade next to an Alienware, you’ll notice how big of a difference we’re talking about.

This is a result of the large exhaust grill that Alienware laptops have on the back of their chassis. However, the main disadvantage of Alienware is also its biggest advantage. The large grill makes for better heat management and better performance with heavy workloads.

Winner: Razer

Razer vs. Alienware Pricing and Customer Support/Warranty

These brands are not known for budget laptops.

However, Razer Blade gaming laptops usually cost a few hundred dollars more than their Alienware counterpart. This is probably the main advantage that Alienware has over Razer.

Moreover, Alienware’s customer support is unparalleled. Since Alienware is part of a larger corporation like Dell, it can offer on-site customer support. If you have any issues with your laptop, Alienware will send their tech guys to the comfort of your home and try to repair it on-site. And their usual response time is only a couple of days.

If you are a Razer customer, you’ll have to give your machine away and wait a few weeks to get it back.

Winner: Alienware

Head-to-Head: Summary of Results

Our Top Pick: Should You Get a Razer or Alienware?

Declaring a clear winner is no easy task. Both brands offer some of the most powerful laptops available. And each has its pros and cons. When choosing between these brands, I personally considered portability, performance, design, and price above else.

If you are a professional content creator like me and looking for a portable device that is also great for gaming, getting a Razer gaming laptop might be the right choice. But Alienware models are the absolute best when it comes to gaming performance.

Then there is the difference in design aesthetics. There is no right or wrong choice here, so you should be the one to decide which laptop brand is more appealing to your personal taste.

Also, keep in mind that Alienware usually offers lower prices and much better customer support.

Now over to you. Which one do you think is the better laptop brand, and why? Let us know in the comment section below.

If you’re interested to see other recommendations for the best gaming laptops, we got a whole other story for you. And if you’re looking for the best picks for gaming and school, we got you covered.

Are you interested in finding out how Alienware compares to MIS laptops?