Alienware M15 R2 - Review

I do enjoy reviewing laptops, because there are so many ways to make, what has become a very core piece of daily life, you have some that focus on style over function and others that are all about the function, but look like a giant slate of stone, Alienware refreshed everything with their Legend design ID, but is that, along with some decent specs enough for make you invest in their latest M15?

For a number of years, Alienware have been developing hardware that aims to put the sexy back into laptops and for good reason, there are a lot of plain looking ones around already, in 2019 they launched the Legend design ID, which is their company wide look and feel for their entire range and while the M15 does not sport it in a very obvious way, it is there. Before you open the lid, the black section of the laptop, or the rear portion where the power plugs in, contains a nice rounded strip, which is part of the id, and on either end of the device, there is a considerable amount of hexagons, which cover the exhaust vents, which in turn allow for more stability in the case, without the need for excess plastic, the same idea is behind bee hives. When you look at the top of the case, you can make out the numbers 1 and 5 for the branding, but other than that, the only additional element is the Alienware logo, which lights up when the device is on. Flipping the laptop over, you will see more of those same hexagons, giving a large vent space for airflow, but again, making sure the laptop does not collapse under the weight it carries around.

Once you open up the case, things start to get a little more familiar, below the screen are some more hexagons and another light up Alienware logo, which is also the power button. These parts are really the only thing that remains exclusive to them, as the rest is very much standard and that is a nice thing. The screen is a nice 15.6inches, making it on the large side of gaming on the go, but when you can enjoy the latest games on it, it is a trade off that works. The keyboard is a little squished in, compared to other laptops of similar dimensions, but its maybe by a few millimetres at most, so a little adjustment in how you use it and then you are fine, plus it has per key RGB illumination, which is nice. The trackpad falls to the smaller side, which is strange given how many are going to larger dimensions for them, but it still functions without issue, the only problem that I have with the inputs is there is no hamburger key, you can use the included function key to make changes on the go, but that is about it. Most of the important assets are actually at the top of the monitor, in the camera array, the top features the standard webcam, and where the camera maxes out at 0.9mp and 720p, but the bottom, beneath the screen is where the good stuff takes place.

Inbuilt is what a little piece of tech called Tobbi eye tracking and it is amazing, the software, as the name implies, tracks your eyes and what that means is that the machine adapts to you, rather than you making it adapt. It works by putting out infrared light, that kind that we humans can’t see with our own eyes, then using the camera attached to it, tracks where we are looking, which means that if you look away from the screen, even for a  few seconds, the screen will dim, but as the camera is always looking, when your eyes line back up to the screen, the brightness comes back up as well. You don’t have to be looking front on as well, even some glances are enough to activate it, meaning that if something needs your attention in the middle of a conversation, the laptop will respond. The technology is not Alienware’s, but the integration in the laptop is one of the coolest parts about it, there is a lot more that it can do over time, but for the limited time I had the laptop, this is what I liked about it most.

Now with any laptop aimed at gamers, there is a host of requirements to be met, in order to consider it as a true gaming laptop, mostly around the graphics options. Now the M15 series can sport the modest 1060 GTX cards, but the one I reviewed contained a GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design, which when combined with the 512Gb SSD, that had some pretty impressive read and write speeds, it meant I was able to play a game like DOOM Eternal on Ultra and not encounter any lag issues, or even a more newer game like Gears Tactics and still not have any issues. Plus combine it with the 16Gb of Ram and the core i7 2.6GHz CPU, meant it was a powerhouse at the best of times, thankfully it was quiet, thanks to the decent amount of ventilation and the fans on the inside. Those looking for ports will find a nice selection, with two USB-A’s on the right side, another on the left, with a 3.5mm and lan adapter as well. On the rear of the device is where things get a little more useful, you will locate a HDMI and Display port adapter, as well a USB-C port, which is also a Thunderbolt 3 port, next to that you will find the Alienware graphics amplifier port and the power cable point. While I would have liked to have see a USB-C accessible, without needing to reach around the machine or close the lid, it is nice to see have one.

Having talked about all that though, we need to address the problem with the M15 and that is the weight and overall size of the machine, which as a laptop are crucial elements, but this is not a laptop for your daily commute, this is a beast with a different purpose. Yes, as a laptop it is available for transport, just don’t forget the very long and large power pack, but the dimensions of it are so large, that carrying it with you on a daily basis would leave you very sore as it does weigh quite a bit, around 2.1kg and that is without the power brick or any other accessories you take with you. The other problem with the size is said dimensions, it is just over 2cm thick at its widest point, which is not too bad, but the width comes in at a staggering 36cm, which is insane and then almost 28cm deep, this is one beefy laptop. With a laptop that size, you would imagine that there is not much of an issue with the heat and for the most part you would be right, the vents and fans do a great job of keeping things cool and even when running a game like DOOM Eternal, when the fans kicked in, they still managed to maintain a decent level of noise, but the problem is that if the laptop runs to hot for too long, things start to skip, it is not an issue in a single player game, but the multiplayer ones, it will be a concern for anyone who considers themselves a pro gamer.

The other consideration is price, the basic model, without any tacked on extra is not cheap, not by a long shot, just under $3000 at the time of this reviewing being written. Of course, you do get a really powerful laptop and with the graphics amplifier, there is many ways in which you can keep it updated going forward, but with the RAM being locked to whatever is installed when you get it, it does limit future use. If you want to get the model that I am reviewing, you are looking at $5,299, which is simply crazy, given that its portability is questionable, that amount of money can get a genuinely nice desktop setup.

If you want a dedicated gaming laptop that looks very stylish then this is one laptop that is easily one of the best around for you, the Legend design id is stunning across the board, but on the laptop, it just looks so much nicer. The basic models will handle almost all things that you throw at it, but the size and weight will deter most gamers, though if you don’t aim to travel with it that much, then you should look at this, budget allowing of course.

Laptop provided for review by Alienware