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Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models
A full side-by-side comparison of reference models Surface Laptop 7 15-inch and Alienware 15 R3 within the same category.
Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models
| Specification | Surface Laptop 7 15-inch | Alienware 15 R3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not for sale | Not for sale |
| General | ||
| Brand | Microsoft | Dell |
| Product Family | Surface Laptop | Dell Alienware |
| Model | Surface Laptop 7 15-inch | Alienware 15 R3 |
| Model Number | 2037 | Alienware 15 R3 |
| Part Number / SKU | Surface_Laptop_7th_Edition_2037 | — |
| Launch Year | 2024 year | 2017 year |
| Form Factor | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Laptop Category | Premium / Ultraportable | Gaming |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 10 |
| Operating System Architecture | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Processor | ||
| Processor Manufacturer | Qualcomm | Intel |
| Processor Family | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite | Intel Core i5 |
| Processor Model | Snapdragon X Elite X1E80100 | Intel Core i5-7300HQ |
| Processor Generation | — | 7th Gen (Kaby Lake) |
| CPU Architecture | ARM64 | Kaby Lake-H |
| CPU Process Node | 4 nm | 14 nm |
| CPU Cores | 12 cores | 4 cores |
| Efficiency Cores | — | 0 cores |
| CPU Threads | — | 4 threads |
| CPU Base Clock | — | 2.5 GHz |
| CPU Max Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB |
| L3 Cache | — | 6 MB |
| Processor Base Power | — | 45 W |
| Maximum Processor Power | — | 45 W |
| CPU Manageability Technology | — | Intel Standard Manageability; Intel vPro not supported |
| AI / NPU | ||
| NPU | Yes | — |
| NPU Model | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU | — |
| NPU Performance | 45 TOPS | — |
| Copilot+ PC | Yes | — |
| Graphics | ||
| Graphics Type | Integrated | Discrete |
| GPU Manufacturer | Qualcomm | NVIDIA |
| GPU Model | Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 |
| GPU Architecture | — | Pascal |
| VRAM Capacity | 0 GB | 6 GB |
| VRAM Type | Shared system memory | GDDR5 |
| GPU TGP | — | 80 W |
| GPU Boost Clock | 1250 MHz | 1670 MHz |
| Maximum External Displays | 2 displays | 4 displays |
| Maximum External Resolution | 5120 x 2880 @ 60 Hz (single); 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz each (dual) | 7680 x 4320 @ 60 Hz |
| Memory | ||
| Installed Memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Maximum Memory | 64 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5X | DDR4 |
| Memory Speed | 8448 MT/s | 2400 MT/s |
| Memory Form Factor | Soldered | SO-DIMM |
| Memory Slots | 0 slots | 2 slots |
| Memory Slots Used | 0 slots | 2 slots |
| Memory Upgradeable | No | Yes |
| Memory Channels | — | Dual-channel |
| Storage | ||
| Primary Storage Type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage Capacity | 512 GB | 128 GB |
| Storage Interface | PCIe NVMe | SATA III / PCIe NVMe |
| Storage PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | — |
| Storage Form Factor | Removable SSD | 3 x M.2 + 2.5-inch |
| Installed Storage Drives | 1 drives | 2 drives |
| Maximum Storage Drives | 1 drives | 4 drives |
| M.2 Storage Slots | 1 slots | 3 slots |
| 2.5-inch Drive Bay | — | Yes |
| RAID Support | — | RAID capable |
| Card Reader | Yes | — |
| Card Reader Formats | microSDXC | — |
| Card Reader Standard | microSDXC | — |
| Display | ||
| Display Size | 15 inch | 15.6 inch |
| Display Resolution | 2496 x 1664 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Resolution Class | Custom | FHD |
| Display Technology | — | LED-backlit LCD |
| Panel Type | PixelSense Flow | IPS |
| Touchscreen | Yes | — |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Variable Refresh Rate | Yes | — |
| Display Brightness | 600 nits | 300 nits |
| Peak HDR Brightness | 600 nits | — |
| Color Depth | — | 8-bit |
| Contrast Ratio | 1300:1 | — |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 | 16:9 |
| Display Finish | Glossy | Anti-glare |
| HDR Support | Yes | — |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | — |
| Viewing Angle | 178° x 178° degree | 160° degree |
| Flicker-Free | — | Yes |
| Camera & Biometrics | ||
| Webcam Resolution | 1080p FHD | HD webcam |
| Webcam Frame Rate | — | 30 fps |
| IR Camera | Yes | — |
| Windows Hello Face | Yes | — |
| Camera Features | Windows Studio Effects | — |
| Audio | ||
| Speaker Configuration | Omnisonic speakers | 2 speakers + subwoofer |
| Audio Technology | Dolby Atmos | Alienware Sound Center |
| Microphone Configuration | Dual Studio Mics | Digital-array microphone |
| Audio Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard & Input | ||
| Keyboard Type | Mechanical keyboard | Full-size island-style keyboard |
| Keyboard Backlight | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard RGB | — | Yes |
| Keyboard RGB Zones | — | — |
| Numeric Keypad | Yes | — |
| Copilot Key | Yes | — |
| Touchpad Type | Precision Haptic touchpad | Multi-touch precision touchpad |
| Touchpad Material | Glass | — |
| Wireless & Networking | ||
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Wi-Fi IEEE Standard | 802.11be | 802.11ac |
| Wi-Fi Bands | Tri-band | 2.4 GHz; 5 GHz |
| Wi-Fi Spatial Streams | 2x2 | 2x2 |
| Wi-Fi Module | — | Killer Wireless-AC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| Ethernet | — | Yes |
| Ethernet Speed | — | 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WWAN | No | No |
| SIM Slot | — | — |
| Ports & Expansion | ||
| USB Type-A Port Count | 1 ports | 2 ports |
| USB Type-A Specifications | USB-A 3.1 | USB 3.x Type-A |
| USB Type-C Port Count | 2 ports | 2 ports |
| USB Type-C Specifications | USB-C / USB4 / charging / DisplayPort 1.4a | USB 3.x Type-C; DisplayPort Alt Mode where supported |
| USB4 Port Count | 2 ports | 0 ports |
| USB4 Speed | 40 Gbps | — |
| Thunderbolt Port Count | 0 ports | 1 ports |
| HDMI Port Count | 0 ports | 1 ports |
| HDMI Version | — | HDMI 2.0 |
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort 1.4a via USB-C | Mini DisplayPort / USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode |
| RJ-45 Port Count | 0 ports | 1 ports |
| 3.5 mm Audio Combo Port Count | 1 ports | 1 ports |
| SD Card Slot Count | 0 ports | 0 ports |
| microSD Card Slot Count | 1 ports | 0 ports |
| Smart Card Reader | No | No |
| Security Lock Slot | — | Yes |
| Dedicated Docking Connector | Yes | — |
| Internal PCIe Slots | 1x removable PCIe 4.0 SSD | 3 M.2 storage slot(s) |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Battery Capacity | 66 Wh | 99 Wh |
| Battery Cells | — | 6 cells |
| Battery Chemistry | Li-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Life | 22 hours | — |
| Battery Life Test Method | Microsoft local video playback test | — |
| Fast Charging | Yes | — |
| Fast Charge Level | 80 % | — |
| Fast Charge Time | 60 min | — |
| Power Adapter | 65 W | 240 W |
| Power Connector | Surface Connect | Barrel power connector |
| USB-C Charging | Yes | — |
| Maximum USB-C Charging Power | 65 W | — |
| Dimensions & Build | ||
| Width | 329 mm | 389 mm |
| Depth | 239 mm | 305 mm |
| Thickness | 18.29 mm | 25.4 mm |
| Weight | 1.66 kg | 3.21 kg |
| Chassis Material | Anodized aluminum | Aluminum; magnesium alloy; plastic |
| Lid Material | Anodized aluminum | Aluminum |
| Base Material | Anodized aluminum | Magnesium alloy |
| Hinge Opening Angle | — | 135 degree |
| MIL-STD Testing | MIL-STD-810H tested | Not claimed |
| IP Rating | — | — |
| Security & Manageability | ||
| TPM | Pluton TPM 2.0 | TPM 2.0 |
| Microsoft Pluton | Yes | — |
| BIOS / UEFI Password Support | — | Yes |
| Drive Password Support | — | Yes |
| Secure Boot | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Manageability | — | Consumer BIOS/UEFI management |
| Smart Card Support | No | No |
| BIOS Recovery / Self-Healing | — | BIOS recovery supported |
| Sensors | ||
| Ambient Light Sensor | Yes | — |
| Color / Color Temperature Sensor | Yes | — |
| Certifications & Sustainability | ||
| ENERGY STAR | ENERGY STAR | Not claimed |
| EPEAT | Gold | Not claimed |
| TCO Certified | TCO Certified | Not claimed |
| RoHS Compliance | — | Yes |
| Recycled Materials | Enclosure: minimum 67.2% recycled content; includes 100% recycled aluminum alloy and 100% recycled rare earth metals | Not claimed |
| Product Carbon Footprint | 225 kg CO2e | — |
| Environment & Warranty | ||
| Operating Temperature | — | 5 to 35 °C |
| Operating Humidity | — | 10 to 90 (non-condensing) % RH |
| Storage Temperature | — | -20 to 60 °C |
| Warranty | 1 years | 1 years |
| Warranty Type | Limited hardware warranty | Limited hardware warranty; region dependent |
Surface Laptop 7 15-inch and Alienware 15 R3 share specifications such as Installed Memory (16 GB), Form Factor (Clamshell), Operating System Architecture (64-bit), Primary Storage Type (SSD).
The main differences: Processor Model (Surface Laptop 7 15-inch: Snapdragon X Elite X1E80100, Alienware 15 R3: Intel Core i5-7300HQ); GPU Model (Surface Laptop 7 15-inch: Qualcomm Adreno X1-85, Alienware 15 R3: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060); Storage Capacity (Surface Laptop 7 15-inch: 512 GB, Alienware 15 R3: 128 GB); Display Size (Surface Laptop 7 15-inch: 15 inch, Alienware 15 R3: 15.6 inch).
Surface Laptop 7 15-inch may suit users who need its differing values, while Alienware 15 R3 benefits those who need its paired strengths. Review the specs table above before deciding.
