By Robin Owens 8 days ago, Hardware
Thin and powerful Alienware gaming laptops at a modest price.
Alienware is a well-known company in the gaming industry. It was founded in 1996. Back in 2009, the company upgraded its series of gaming laptops and now it offers three decent models. In this article, you will find an overview of different options available, which will help you choose the best Alienware gaming laptop for your needs.
Until recently, a user who wanted to buy a gaming laptop had to choose either a portable model with low performance or a powerful device that would be rather heavyweight. Now, you don’t need to compromise to get a truly decent gaming laptop. This became possible due to the rapid advancement of technology in recent years.
Nvidia has played a significant role in the improvement of laptop production with its GeForce graphics cards based on the Pascal architecture. Thanks to these cards, modern laptops boast high graphics performance, which is especially important for gaming devices.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.78 pound
⊕ Ultra-slim
⊕ 144Hz display
⊕ High HD gaming performance
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊖ Thick top and bottom bezels
⊖ Ho-hum touchpad
The Alienware M15 is the next-generation laptop that is quite different from the Alienware 15 R3 released in 2017. It differs from the predecessor in its design and portability. The starting price of the model is $1,379.99. I tested the upgraded version that costs $2,179.99. The M15 features the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics. It's worth noting that if you're specifically looking for gaming laptops for $700, there are other options available that can meet your budget requirements. These laptops may offer slightly less powerful graphics cards or other hardware specifications but can still provide an enjoyable gaming experience.
Combined with a 144Hz display, the graphics chip delivers high frame rates and strong performance. The device has extended battery life. The M15 is a quite portable gaming device thanks to its compact body. This small Alienware laptop is the most convenient choice for travel-lovers.
CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 2070 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1000GB | Display: 17-inch | Weight: 8.33 pound
⊕ High speed
⊕ Nice design
⊕ Decent screen, clear speakers
⊕ Convenient keyboard
⊖ Not worth the money
⊖ Poor build quality for this price
The M17 is a decent Alienware laptop with a high-quality build, great power and performance, which is perfect for gaming. Plus, it features a comfortable keyboard and a crisp, bright screen. But it’s worth noting that the M17 is not the best gaming laptop you’ll find on the market, as many competitors offer better specs for less money. The Alienware M17 includes premium components to keep a laptop running fast. While it has a good build quality and delivers powerful performance, it is far less than more budget alternatives can offer.
CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Super | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1000GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.65 pound
⊕ Unique visual design
⊕ Thin and solid body
⊕ Great 4K OLED display
⊖ Upscale device is high-priced
⊖ No Nvidia G-Sync support
⊖ Poor battery
The upgraded Alienware M15 R2 laptop has a new refreshing design and several advanced features if you compare it to the original version. It boasts a premium 4K OLED display, high frame rates and various advanced options. A lot of gamers prefer heavier Alienware models with huge displays, so it’s might be difficult for them to get used to a more compact version. The first M15 was a slim laptop without any distinctive features. The new Alienware M15 R2 features the latest technologies and advanced options. Its starting price is $1,499.99, but I tested the model that costs $2,659.99. Not every user will be ready to purchase this laptop with a bold new design.
The 4K OLED panel looks great. Plus, the laptop comes with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 2070 Max-Q GPU that ensures 60 frames per minute at maximum settings. While the M15 R2 is the best Alienware gaming laptop, I still like the $2,599 Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model more as it has an unrivaled build quality.
CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Super | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1000GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.3 pound
⊕ A great new design
⊕ Slim and strong chassis
⊕ Perfect 4K OLED display
⊕ Too expensive
⊖ Lacks Nvidia G-Sync support
⊖ Weak battery
The Dell Alienware laptop M15 300Hz comes with the latest 4K OLED display. If you compare it to the previous version, the model has updated features and design. Though its predecessor also had a slim body, it did not have any outstanding features. This small Alienware laptop is still not very popular among gamers as users accustomed to massive gaming laptops are wary of compact models. The device has a fixed starting price of $1,499.99, but I tested the $2,659.99 version.
The Alienware M15 300Hz was significantly redesigned and upgraded with the latest components and innovative technologies. One of such features is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 2070 Max-Q GPU, which offers 60 frames per second at most settings and resolutions. You will also be pleasantly surprised by the high-quality 4K OLED panel.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.78 pound
⊕ Ultra-thin
⊕ Great keyboard
⊕ Attractive 4K OLED display
⊖ Low-quality build for this price
⊖ Lacks Nvidia G-Sync support
⊖ Poor battery life
The new $1,500 Alienware M15 FHD can easily beat the Dell G5 15 thanks to its processor, GPU, memory, storage and display. It is also known for its excellent cooling system. It utilizes advanced thermal management technologies to dissipate heat effectively, keeping the laptop cool even during extended gaming sessions. This ensures optimal performance and prevents thermal throttling, which can affect gameplay performance. Since Alienware has a wide variety of models to choose from, I recommend paying attention to this device. Dual PCIe M.2 SSDs are perhaps the only thing that this model lacks. Dell sells both the new M15 and its older version, and the latter is a better option for users.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Alienware M15
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Alienware m17
Professional |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Alienware m15 Lunar Light
Budget |
CHECK PRICE → |
If you compare a regular laptop to a gaming model, the latter costs more as it comes with a graphics chip that delivers high-quality visuals and higher frame rates. However, you shouldn’t shell out your money on an overpriced gaming device. Users can find great budget laptops for gaming for under $1000, one of such options is the Dell G3 Gaming Laptop. However, while you can find some good models for an affordable price, gaming laptops under 500 dollars can disappoint you over time. The best laptops equipped with the latest technology and premium components cost over $2,000.
Those who prefer intense gaming will need a dedicated graphics chip. You don’t need to buy the best chip, AMD’s budget APU with Vega graphics will do the job. If you need high frame rates for games, then Intel integrated GPUs are not your option. Besides, I recommend buying laptops that come with displays with a high refresh rate. When it comes to gaming laptops, a refresh rate is a more important indicator than high resolution. Plus, these displays are affordable. Battery life is another aspect to consider if you want to play games without plugging your device in. Unfortunately, you can hardly find a gaming device that will last more than a few hours without recharging.
In general, gaming laptops are great for everyday use. While you don’t need a dedicated chip to solve work-related tasks, the high performance and fast RAM that gaming devices offer will perfectly cope with spreadsheets and documents. Gaming laptops usually come with high-resolution displays, offering vibrant colors and sharp visuals. This makes them well-suited for tasks that involve image or video editing, as well as detailed data analysis.
The larger screen size and immersive display can enhance the overall work experience, allowing for better multitasking and easier access to multiple windows or applications.
However, it's important to note that gaming laptops may have some drawbacks for work purposes. They tend to be bulkier and heavier than traditional ultrabooks or business laptops, which can affect portability. Additionally, their powerful hardware often leads to reduced battery life, so frequent access to power outlets may be necessary.
Obviously, a large and heavy RGB gaming laptop under 1500 may not be quite suitable for the work environment, but smaller laptops like Acer Aspire, a gaming laptop under 400 dollars, are perfect for office use.
Not all MacBooks are great for gaming, as Apple ads dedicated graphics chips only to its 15-inch MacBook Pro models. At the same time, such models are significantly inferior in power to more budget Windows laptops. Don’t forget that Windows is compatible with a lot of software, which will allow you to get access to a large number of games. Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t offer you similar variety even with the addition of Apple Arcade. Only Fortnite fans can freely use the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but it does not fall into the category of gaming devices. However, if Apple is your choice, I recommend using the dual-boot option in Boot Camp so that you can run Windows 10 games on your MacBook.
If you’re ready to spend over $1,000 on a gaming laptop, you can get a decent device with a good GPU and CPU. Such models allow you to upgrade RAM and storage space. If you are going to buy a laptop under 300 dollars to play games, you are likely to be disappointed.
The updated version of the AMD gaming laptop is designed with the AMD Ryzen R7 4800H processor and AMD Radeon RX 5600M GPU. The latter ensures the powerful performance of the Alienware Command Center. This is a great gaming device that features a long-lasting battery and multiple ports.
No, it isn’t. Dell laptops deliver a powerful performance that is hard to compete with. Razer offers lower performance due to the slower CPU clock rates. Under high CPU use, its processor stabilizes at just 2.8 GHz, while the Alienware laptop stabilizes at 3.5-3.6 GHz.
On average, a gaming laptop can last from 3 to 6 years of active use. It also depends on the manufacturer and the model. After 3-6 years, at best, a laptop will become outdated, and it won’t be able to run the newest games. You might also face a hardware failure.
