Alienware X17 R1 vs. M1 MacBook Pro 14”: Which is better?

Here is a side by side comparison between Alienware X17 R1 and M1 MacBook Pro 14” specs including CPU, RAM, storage, battery, display, and more.

Alienware X17 R1 Pros

Reasons that Alienware X17 R1 is better than M1 MacBook Pro 14”.

Upgradable memory

Alienware X17 R1 comes with two SODIMM slots that allow you to replace or upgrade when needed. On the flip side, you can't upgrade RAM on the M1 MacBook Pro 14” since it has onboard memory.

MemoryAlienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Slots
x2
Onboard
TypeDDR4 XMPUnified
Supports discrete graphics

Configurable up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6 150W TGP vs. integrated

Upgradable storage

Alienware X17 R1 comes with two M.2 slots that you can easily upgrade and install an additional SSD to expand the storage on the device.

SlotsAlienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
M.2
Yes x2
Onboard
21% larger display

Alienware X17 R1 has a 17.3-inch screen size 21% larger than the 14.2-inch M1 MacBook Pro 14”.

Display size
Alienware X17 R1
17.3-inch
M1 MacBook Pro 14”
14.2-inch
Has three more ports and slots

Alienware X17 R1 has more ports and slots count than the M1 MacBook Pro 14”. It has ten versus seven amount of ports and slots on the M1 MacBook Pro 14”.

PortsAlienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
full-size SD card slotNoYes
HDMIYesYes
headphone jackYesYes
microSD card slotYesNo
Mini DisplayPortYesNo
power portYesYes
RJ-45YesNo
Thunderbolt 4YesYes x3
USB-AYes x2No
USB-CYesNo
Total107
More versatile connectivity

Alienware X17 R1 has better versatile I/O connectivity than the M1 MacBook Pro 14”. It has nine versus five commonly used ports and slots on the M1 MacBook Pro 14”.

PortsAlienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
HDMIYesYes
headphone jackYesYes
power portYesYes
Thunderbolt 4YesYes
full-size SD card slotNoYes
microSD card slotYesNo
Mini DisplayPortYesNo
RJ-45YesNo
USB-AYesNo
USB-CYesNo

M1 MacBook Pro 14” Pros

Reasons that M1 MacBook Pro 14” is better than Alienware X17 R1.

Significantly faster CPU performance

Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G) inside M1 MacBook Pro 14” has a 25% better multi-core CPU performance score than the Intel Core i9-11980HK inside Alienware X17 R1.

Geekbench 5 multi-core score
M1 MacBook Pro 14” - Apple M1 Max (10C, 24G)
12,185
M1 MacBook Pro 14” - Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G)
12,185
M1 MacBook Pro 14” - Apple M1 Pro (10C, 16G)
11,988
Alienware X17 R1 - Intel Core i9-11980HK
9,677
M1 MacBook Pro 14” - Apple M1 Pro (8C, 14G)
9,512
Alienware X17 R1 - Intel Core i7-11800H
7,908
About 48% lighter

M1 MacBook Pro 14” weighed 3.5 pounds, 48% lighter than the 6.65 pounds Alienware X17 R1.

WeightAlienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Pound
6.65 lbs.
3.5 lbs.
Kilogram
3.02 kg
1.59 kg

Key Similars

Similar characteristics share between Alienware X17 R1 and M1 MacBook Pro 14”.

Supports the same maximum memory size of up to 64GB

Both laptops supports up to 64GB of system memory.

Max system memory size
Alienware X17 R1
64 GB
M1 MacBook Pro 14”
64 GB

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

Alienware X17 Price
Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop - 17.3-inch FHD 480Hz 1ms Display, Intel Core i9-12900H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB GDDR6, USB-C, Killer Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11 Home - Lunar Light
Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop - 17.3-inch FHD 480Hz 1ms Display, Intel Core i9-12900H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB GDDR6, USB-C, Killer Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11 Home - Lunar Light
By Alienware
$2,270.00
Dell Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop (2022) | 17.3" FHD | Core i9 - 1TB SSD - 16GB RAM - 3070 Ti | 14 Cores @ 5 GHz - 12th Gen CPU - 8GB GDDR5 Win 11 Home (Renewed)
Dell Alienware X17 R2 Gaming Laptop (2022) | 17.3" FHD | Core i9 - 1TB SSD - 16GB RAM - 3070 Ti | 14 Cores @ 5 GHz - 12th Gen CPU - 8GB GDDR5 Win 11 Home (Renewed)
By Dell
$2,305.99
Dell Alienware X17 R1 Gaming Laptop (2021) | 17.3" FHD+ | Core i7-512GB SSD Hard Drive - 16GB RAM - RTX 3070 | 8 Cores @ 4.9 GHz - 8GB GDDR6 Win 11 Home (Renewed)
Dell Alienware X17 R1 Gaming Laptop (2021) | 17.3" FHD+ | Core i7-512GB SSD Hard Drive - 16GB RAM - RTX 3070 | 8 Cores @ 4.9 GHz - 8GB GDDR6 Win 11 Home (Renewed)
By Dell
$1,611.97
M1 MacBook Pro 14” Price
2021 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Pro chip (14-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) - Space Gray (Renewed)
2021 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Pro chip (14-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) - Space Gray (Renewed)
By Apple
$1,199.00
$1,281.08 6% OFF
2021 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Pro chip 8-core CPU (14-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) (QWERTY English) Space Gray (Renewed Premium)
2021 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Pro chip 8-core CPU (14-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) (QWERTY English) Space Gray (Renewed Premium)
By Apple
$1,299.00
Apple 2021 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) - Silver
Apple 2021 MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) - Silver
By Apple
$2,204.95
$2,499.00 12% OFF

Availability

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Released20212021
Release DateAvailable on June 1, 2021
  • Announced on October 18, 2021.
  • Available on October 26, 2021.
Pricing
  • $2,099.99
    i7-11800H 16GB 256GB RTX 3060 6GB FHD 165Hz
  • $2,479.99
    i7-11800H 16GB 512GB RTX 3070 8GB FHD 165Hz
  • $3,229.99
    i7-11800H 32GB 512GB RTX 3080 16GB UHD 120Hz
  • $3,629.99
    i9-11980HK 32GB XMP 512GB RTX 3080 16GB UHD 120Hz
  • $1,999
    M1 Pro, 8C CPU, 14C GPU, 16GB, 512GB
  • $2,299
    M1 Pro, 10C CPU, 16C GPU, 16GB, 512GB
  • $2,499
    M1 Pro, 10C CPU, 16C GPU, 16GB, 1TB
  • $3,099
    M1 Max, 10C CPU, 24C GPU, 32GB, 1TB
  • $3,299
    M1 Max, 10C CPU, 32C GPU, 32GB, 1TB
  • $3,699
    M1 Max, 10C CPU, 32C GPU, 64GB, 1TB
  • $4,099
    M1 Max, 10C CPU, 32C GPU, 64GB, 2TB
  • $4,699
    M1 Max, 10C CPU, 32C GPU, 64GB, 4TB
  • $5,899
    M1 Max, 10C CPU, 32C GPU, 64GB, 8TB
Generations

Exterior

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Dimensions
  • 15.718” x 11.791” x 0.823” (399.23 x 299.49 x 20.9 mm)
    With FHD 360Hz diplay.
  • 15.718” x 11.791” x 0.843” (399.23 x 299.49 x 21.4 mm)
    With FHD 165Hz or UHD 120Hz diplay.
  • Height: 0.61 inch (1.55 cm)
  • Width: 12.31 inches (31.26 cm)
  • Depth: 8.71 inches (22.12 cm)
Weight6.65 - 7.05 lbs (3.02 - 3.2 kg)3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)
Colors
Lunar light
With High Endurance Clear Coat and Silky - Smooth Finish
Space Gray Silver
Keyboard and Trackpad
  • Keyboard
    • Alienware X-Series thin keyboard
    • Per-key RGB LED with AlienFX lighting
    • Anti-ghosting and N-key rollover technology.
    • 1.5mm key travel.
  • Touchpad
    • Multi-touch gesture Premium Precision glass touchpad with integrated scrolling.
    • 4.13 x 2.36 in (105 mm x 80 mm) precision touchpad with multi-touch gesture support.
    • Supports AlienFX touchpad.
Backlit Magic Keyboard with:
  • 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement
  • Touch ID
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures

Display

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Size17.3 Inches14.2 Inches
Info
  • 17.3” FHD with 165Hz
    1920 x 1080 127 PPI ComfortView Plus 3ms response time 300 nits 16:9 100% sRGB 1000:1 Anti-glare WVA 7.2 W
  • 17.3” FHD with 360Hz
    1920 x 1080 127 PPI ComfortView Plus NVIDIA G-Sync Advanced Optimus 1ms response time 300 nits 16:9 100% sRGB 800:1 Anti-glare WVA 8.4 W
  • 17.3” UHD with 120Hz
    3840 x 2160 255 PPI ComfortView Plus 4ms response time 500 nits 16:9 100% Adobe RGB 1200:1 Anti-glare WVA 12.2 W
  • Liquid Retina XDR display
    • Size: 14.2-inch
    • Technology: Liquid Retina XDR display
    • Resolution: 3024 x 1964
    • Pixel Density: 254 PPI
  • XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range)
    • Up to 1000 nits sustained (full-screen) brightness, 1600 nits peak brightness
    • 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
    • Color
      1 billion colors Wide color (P3) True Tone technology
  • Refresh rates
    • ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
    • Fixed refresh rates: 47.95Hz, 48.00Hz, 50.00Hz, 59.94Hz, 60.00Hz

Ports

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Alienware X17 R1 Ports
Image Source: Dell
Left (1)
  • 1 x power port
Right (1)
  • 1 x headphone jack
    Headphone/Microphone
Back (8)
  • 1 x Thunderbolt 4
    40 Gpbs, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Power Delivery (5V/3A)
  • 1 x USB-C
    USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Power Delivery (5V/3A)
  • 2 x USB-A
    USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Powershare
  • 1 x HDMI
    v2.1
  • 1 x Mini DisplayPort
    v1.4
  • 1 x microSD card slot
  • 1 x RJ-45
    2.5 Gbps, Killer E3100
M1 MacBook Pro 14” Ports
Image Source: Apple
Left (4)
  • 1 x power port
    MagSafe 3
  • 2 x Thunderbolt 4
    40 Gpbs, USB 4.0 (40 Gbps), DisplayPort, Charging
  • 1 x headphone jack
    Headphone/Microphone
Right (3)
  • 1 x full-size SD card slot
  • 1 x Thunderbolt 4
    40 Gpbs, USB 4.0 (40 Gbps), DisplayPort, Charging
  • 1 x HDMI
    v2.0, 4K@60Hz

Internal Specs

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Processor
  1. 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11800H
    8 cores, 16 threads, 2.30 → 4.60 GHz, 24MB SmartCache, 45W
  2. 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-11980HK
    8 cores, 16 threads, 3.30 → 5.00 GHz, 24MB SmartCache, 65W
  1. Apple M1 Pro (8C, 14G)
    8 cores, 8 threads, 3.20 GHz,
  2. Apple M1 Pro (10C, 16G)
    10 cores, 10 threads, 3.20 GHz,
  3. Apple M1 Max (10C, 24G)
    10 cores, 10 threads, 3.20 GHz,
  4. Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G)
    10 cores, 10 threads, 3.20 GHz,
Integrated Graphics
  1. 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11800H
    Intel® UHD Graphics
    32 Execution Units, 350 → 1450 MHz
  2. 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-11980HK
    Intel® UHD Graphics
    32 Execution Units, 350 → 1450 MHz
  1. Apple M1 Pro (8C, 14G)
    Apple M1 Pro iGPU
    14 GPU Cores, 16 Neural Engine Cores,
  2. Apple M1 Pro (10C, 16G)
    Apple M1 Pro iGPU
    16 GPU Cores, 16 Neural Engine Cores,
  3. Apple M1 Max (10C, 24G)
    Apple M1 Max iGPU
    24 GPU Cores, 16 Neural Engine Cores,
  4. Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G)
    Apple M1 Max iGPU
    32 GPU Cores, 16 Neural Engine Cores,
Memory
8 GB 16 GB 32 GB 64GB
3200MHz or 3466MHz Dual-channel DDR4 SDRAM.
2 x SO-DIMM slots.
  • Max 32GB of 3200 MHz DDR4 Memory
  • Max 64GB of 3466 MHz XMP DDR4 Memory
16GB 32GB 64GB
Unified Memory
Discrete Graphics
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060
    6GB GDDR6 TGP: 115W Dynamic Boost: 15W Max Power: 130W Speed: 1387 → 1702 MHz
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3070
    8GB GDDR6 TGP: 125W Dynamic Boost: 15W Max Power: 140W Speed: 1215 → 1620 MHz
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080
    16GB GDDR6 TGP: 150W Dynamic Boost: 15W Max Power: 165W Speed: 1350 → 1710 MHz
* All configurations include 12-phase HyperEfficient graphics voltage regulation.
-
Storage
  • 2 x M.2 2280 slots (Up to 2TB each)
    Supports RAID-0
512GB 1TB 2TB 4TB 8TB
SSD

Connectivity

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Wi-FiRivet Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675w
Triple Band 2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz Up to 2400 Mbps WiFi 6 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
  • 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible
BluetoothBluetooth 5.2Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
EthernetKiller E3100 2.5G Ethernet Controller
Transfer rate: 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps
-

Battery

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Size87 WHr, 6-cell smart lithium-ion battery70 Wh lithium‑polymer battery
Battery Life-
  • Up to 11 hours wireless web
  • Up to 17 hours of Apple TV app movie playback
Power Supply
240W 330W
power adapter.
  • 67W USB‑C Power Adapter
    M1 Pro with 8-core CPU models
  • 96W USB‑C Power Adapter
    M1 Pro with 10-core CPU or M1 Max models. Supports Fast-Charging.

Software

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
OS
Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro
Upgradable to Windows 11
Shipped with macOS Monterey
Built-in Apps
  • Alienware Command Center
    AlienFX lighting Game Library Auto-tune game profile functionality Fusion Alienware Adrenalin Alienware Mobile Connect
  • Microsoft Office 365 (30-day trial)
Photos iMovie GarageBand Pages Numbers Keynote Siri Safari Mail FaceTime Messages Maps News Stocks Home Voice Memos Notes Calendar Contacts Reminders Photo Booth Preview Music Podcasts TV Books App Store Time Machine Find My QuickTime Player

Camera & Audio

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
Camera
  • Front-facing camera.
    Alienware HD (1280x720 resolution) camera.
  • Windows Hello IR support.
1080p FaceTime HD camera 
Advanced image signal processor with computational video.
Audio
  • Controller: Realtek ALC3281
    • 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection
    • Alienware Sound Center via Alienware Command Center
  • Speakers:
    • 2 x 4W speakers
  • Microphone:
    • Dual-array microphones
  • High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers
  • Wide stereo sound
  • Support for spatial audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos on built-in speakers
  • Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking when using AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max
  • Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones

Misc

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
SensorsWindows Hello IR CameraTouch ID sensor
Security-
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Apple T2 Security Chip
In the box-
  • 14‑inch MacBook Pro
  • 67W USB‑C Power Adapter
    M1 Pro with 8-core CPU models.
  • 96W USB‑C Power Adapter
    M1 Pro with 10-core CPU or M1 Max models.
  • USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (2 m)
Warranty1 Year Hardware Service with Onsite/In-Home Service After Remote DiagnosisYour MacBook Pro comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase AppleCare+ for Mac to extend your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and add up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage every 12 months, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other repairable damage, plus applicable tax.
More-
  • Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:
    • Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors (M1 Pro) or
    • Up to three external displays with up to 6K resolution and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors (M1 Max)
  • Thunderbolt 4 digital video output
    • Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
    • VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)
  • HDMI digital video output
    • Support for one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz
    • DVI output using HDMI to DVI Adapter (sold separately)

Key Features

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”
At Glance
Released in Mid
2021
16:9 4K UHD
17.3”
2160p 120Hz
Weight
6.65 lb
3.02 kg
Up to
Intel Core i9-11980HK
8C/16T, 3.30 → 5.00 GHz
Geekbench 5
1,646
Single Core
Geekbench 5
9,677
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® UHD Graphics
32 Execution Units, 350 → 1450 MHz
Upgradable up to
64GB
3466 MHz DDR4 XMP
Alienware X17 R1 Ports
Nvidia GeForce
RTX 3080
16GB GDDR6 150W TGP
Released in Late
2021
16:10 XDR
14.2”
1964p 120Hz
Weight
3.5 lb
1.59 kg
Up to
Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G)
10C/10T, 3.20 GHz
Geekbench 5
1,747
Single Core
Geekbench 5
12,185
Multi-Core
With integrated
Apple M1 Max iGPU
32 GPU Cores, 16 Neural Engine Cores
Configurable up to
64GB
Unified Memory
M1 MacBook Pro 14” Ports

Comparison Summary

Alienware X17 R1 vs. M1 MacBook Pro 14”

Dell has released the Alienware X17 R1, a 17.3-inch machine, in mid-2021. It is powered by up to an octa-core Intel Core i9-11980HK with a boost clock speed up to 5.00 GHz. The laptop has a dedicated GPU option up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 with 16GB GDDR6 150W TGP.

On the other hand, we have the 14.2-inch M1 MacBook Pro 14” was introduced by Apple around the same year in late-2021. It comes with up to 10-core Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G). It has an integrated graphics option up to Apple M1 Max iGPU (32 GPU Cores, 16 Neural Engine Cores).

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Alienware X17 R11
11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11800H1,46683.92%
2
11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-11980HK1,64694.22%
M1 MacBook Pro 14”1
Apple M1 Pro (8C, 14G)1,73299.14%
2
Apple M1 Pro (10C, 16G)1,73799.43%
3
Apple M1 Max (10C, 24G)1,747100.00%
4
Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G)1,747100.00%
01,747

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Alienware X17 R11
11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-11800H7,90864.90%
2
11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-11980HK9,67779.42%
M1 MacBook Pro 14”1
Apple M1 Pro (8C, 14G)9,51278.06%
2
Apple M1 Pro (10C, 16G)11,98898.38%
3
Apple M1 Max (10C, 24G)12,185100.00%
4
Apple M1 Max (10C, 32G)12,185100.00%
012,185

The Alienware X17 R1 has a 17.3-inch display which is considerably larger than the 14.2-inch M1 MacBook Pro 14”. In addition, the Alienware X17 R1 weighs 6.65 lbs. about 90% heavier than the 3.5 lbs. M1 MacBook Pro 14”. Moreover, measured at 15.72” x 11.79” x 0.82”, the Alienware X17 R1 is much bulkier than the M1 MacBook Pro 14” at 12.31” x 8.71” x 0.61”.

Alienware X17 R1M1 MacBook Pro 14”

There are a toal number of 10 ports and slots available on Alienware X17 R1. That includes a power port, a headphone jack, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB-C port, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, a Mini DisplayPort, a microSD card slot, and an RJ-45 port. With that said, it has three ports and slots more than the M1 MacBook Pro 14” that has a power port, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, a full-size SD card slot, and an HDMI port.

Moving over to upgradability, Dell claims that the Alienware X17 R1 supports up to 64GB 3466 MHz DDR4 XMP memory that you can upgrade with two memory module slots on the motherboard. It also comes with two M.2 slots that users can easily upgrade and install an additional SSD to expand the storage on the device.

For M1 MacBook Pro 14”, it supports up to 64GB Unified memory. Unlike Alienware X17 R1, it has an onboard memory module that is not upgradable by the users. Furthermore, it also has an integrated storage module and has no M.2 slots for replacement.

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