HardwareGaming LaptopsIf it’s a choice between an RTX 4090 or an RTX 4080 Black Friday gaming laptop there is only one smart option, and it’s not all about the moneyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareGaming LaptopsIf it’s a choice between an RTX 4090 or an RTX 4080 Black Friday gaming laptop there is only one smart option, and it’s not all about the moneyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Dell/Lenovo)
Jump to:Quick LinksAlienware x16 R2Lenovo Legion 7i Pro
Jump to:Quick LinksAlienware x16 R2Lenovo Legion 7i Pro
Two gaming laptops, both with high-end specs and big price tags. However, one boasts the best-of-the-best when it comes to GPUs and a big SSD, whereas the other sports a higher resolution screen and a better processor.
So which one should you buy? Do you spend the extra money and go all out, or save those pennies and go with the slightly lower spec? As it turns out, it’s really not about the money, but all about quality of life.
👉We’re curating the best Black Friday PC gaming deals right here👈
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Alienware x16 R2
Alienware x16 R2 | RTX 4090 | Core Ultra 9 185H | 16-inch | 1200p | 480 Hz | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD |$2,699.99 at DellThis is a heavily specced Meteor Lake-powered Alienware gaming laptop so naturally it has a price tag to match. It might be all the laptop you could ever want but the Core Ultra 9 185H isn’t the best processor for gaming and that screen resolution is a bit low for an RTX 4090.View Deal
Alienware x16 R2 | RTX 4090 | Core Ultra 9 185H | 16-inch | 1200p | 480 Hz | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD |$2,699.99 at DellThis is a heavily specced Meteor Lake-powered Alienware gaming laptop so naturally it has a price tag to match. It might be all the laptop you could ever want but the Core Ultra 9 185H isn’t the best processor for gaming and that screen resolution is a bit low for an RTX 4090.View Deal
Alienware x16 R2 | RTX 4090 | Core Ultra 9 185H | 16-inch | 1200p | 480 Hz | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD |$2,699.99 at DellThis is a heavily specced Meteor Lake-powered Alienware gaming laptop so naturally it has a price tag to match. It might be all the laptop you could ever want but the Core Ultra 9 185H isn’t the best processor for gaming and that screen resolution is a bit low for an RTX 4090.View Deal
Alienware x16 R2 | RTX 4090 | Core Ultra 9 185H | 16-inch | 1200p | 480 Hz | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD |$2,699.99 at DellThis is a heavily specced Meteor Lake-powered Alienware gaming laptop so naturally it has a price tag to match. It might be all the laptop you could ever want but the Core Ultra 9 185H isn’t the best processor for gaming and that screen resolution is a bit low for an RTX 4090.
Alienware x16 R2 | RTX 4090 | Core Ultra 9 185H | 16-inch | 1200p | 480 Hz | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD |$2,699.99 at DellThis is a heavily specced Meteor Lake-powered Alienware gaming laptop so naturally it has a price tag to match. It might be all the laptop you could ever want but the Core Ultra 9 185H isn’t the best processor for gaming and that screen resolution is a bit low for an RTX 4090.
Alienware x16 R2 | RTX 4090 | Core Ultra 9 185H | 16-inch | 1200p | 480 Hz | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 | 2 TB SSD |$2,699.99 at DellThis is a heavily specced Meteor Lake-powered Alienware gaming laptop so naturally it has a price tag to match. It might be all the laptop you could ever want but the Core Ultra 9 185H isn’t the best processor for gaming and that screen resolution is a bit low for an RTX 4090.
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View Deal
The problem with jamming the most powerful components into a slim laptop chassis is that it’s really difficult to properly shift all the heat they generate. Or at the very least, it’s hard to do without resorting to lots of very loud fans.
I’ve not tested this particular Alienware myself but unless Dell have worked some engineering miracle, then it’s almost certainly going to be a noisy boi when under a heavy gaming load. Either that or the internal power limits stop it from getting too hot, but that’ll just cap the gaming performance.
And I can’t help but feel that an RTX 4090 is somewhat wasted with a 1200p screen, despite the 480 Hz refresh rate. That kind of GPU is designed to work at higher resolutions than this and you’re essentially looking at a 1080p laptop.
Unless you’re a professional gamer who needs to compete while on the go, you’re better off going with a laptop that isn’t quite so wild with the specs.
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 4080 | Core i9 14900HX | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD |$2,649$1,999 at B&H Photo save ($650)This is almost the same spec as theLegion 7i Pro we reviewedearlier this year and it’s one heck of a gaming laptop. The CPU and GPU combination are able to properly stretch their legs and it’s a genuine 1440p beast.View Deal
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 4080 | Core i9 14900HX | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD |$2,649$1,999 at B&H Photo save ($650)This is almost the same spec as theLegion 7i Pro we reviewedearlier this year and it’s one heck of a gaming laptop. The CPU and GPU combination are able to properly stretch their legs and it’s a genuine 1440p beast.View Deal
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 4080 | Core i9 14900HX | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD |$2,649$1,999 at B&H Photo save ($650)This is almost the same spec as theLegion 7i Pro we reviewedearlier this year and it’s one heck of a gaming laptop. The CPU and GPU combination are able to properly stretch their legs and it’s a genuine 1440p beast.View Deal
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 4080 | Core i9 14900HX | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD |$2,649$1,999 at B&H Photo save ($650)This is almost the same spec as theLegion 7i Pro we reviewedearlier this year and it’s one heck of a gaming laptop. The CPU and GPU combination are able to properly stretch their legs and it’s a genuine 1440p beast.
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 4080 | Core i9 14900HX | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD |$2,649$1,999 at B&H Photo save ($650)This is almost the same spec as theLegion 7i Pro we reviewedearlier this year and it’s one heck of a gaming laptop. The CPU and GPU combination are able to properly stretch their legs and it’s a genuine 1440p beast.
Lenovo Legion 7i Pro | RTX 4080 | Core i9 14900HX | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 32 GB DDR5-5600 | 1 TB SSD |$2,649$1,999 at B&H Photo save ($650)This is almost the same spec as theLegion 7i Pro we reviewedearlier this year and it’s one heck of a gaming laptop. The CPU and GPU combination are able to properly stretch their legs and it’s a genuine 1440p beast.
View Deal
View Deal
View Deal
I know it might seem unfair to pitch two laptops against each other when there’s a $700 difference between the two, but the Lenovo’s strengths aren’t just about money.
You see that RTX 4080 is a far better fit for a gaming laptop than an RTX 4090. Yes, it’s less powerful, but it consumes less power and thus produces less heat. That in turn means the laptop doesn’t need to blast your eyes with ultra-noisy fans all the time.
The Core i9 14900HX is also a better processor for gaming than the Core Ultra 9 185H. I won’t bore you with all the reasons why (it’s all down to the tiled nature of the Meteor Lake architecture in the latter) but rest assured, theLegion 7i Pro is a better laptop in gamesthan, say, theAsusROG Zephyrus G16 (which uses the 185H and 4090).
While the RAM and SSD aren’t as impressive as those in the Alienware, the Lenovo laptop more than makes up for it with the screen. It’s the same size at 16 inches but it has a 1600p resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate. That lends itself perfectly for a spot of 1440p gaming and the RTX 4080 copes with that just fine.
But the biggest reason for choosing the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro over the Alienware x16 R2, other than price, is that it will just be a much nicer laptop to live with. The higher resolution will be kinder to your eyes and the lower heat output will be gentler to your ears.
Not every Black Friday deal choice is tricky!
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Today’s best Gaming Laptops deals85 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$589View DealLow Stock$605View Deal$899.99$699.99View DealShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Gaming Laptops deals
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