Just as expected, you can configure Dell laptops to suit your needs: and the Alienware M15 R6 is no exception. This model comes with the Intel 11th Gen 45-watt CPU, and I have chosen the 11800H in this laptop. This laptop has also been configured with an RTX 3070 Graphics card. And as usual with Dell, you can choose between the 3060, 3070, or 3080.
But how does this laptop contend with the other gaming machines out there? Let’s take a look at the Alienware M15 R6.
Design
What Makes it Work
The laptop feels lovely to the touch, although the build quality is not as sturdy as the Alienware X15 and Alienware X17. The laptop itself weighs 2.46kg, so it is not the lightest notebook available. But for a gaming laptop, it is excellent to hold in one hand
This laptop has a great selection of ports.
On the left side:
- a headphone jack
- a flip-out Ethernet jack
On the right side:
- two USB 3 ports
On the back:
- USB 3 port
- Thunderbolt 4 port
- an HDMI 2.1 port
- PSU jack
This selection of ports is better than the more expensive X15 counterpart.
Overall: COMPACT AND MIGHTY
Display
What Makes it Work
One of the main highlights of the Alienware M15 R6 is the 15.6-inch full HD display with a stretch 16×9 design. It is an absolute blinder for all of your gaming and movie-watching experiences. The visuals are sharp, with a full 100 percent of the RGB gamut, and 80 percent of the Adobe RGB. This laptop hits 240 nits of brightness, and that combined with the anti-glare cordon means you can comfortably use the laptop outdoors even on those rare sunny days. The display itself could make the Alienware the best selling laptop in the gaming sector this year.
It also supports a 360Hz refresh rate on supported games, rare for an expensive gaming laptop. Also included is the Nvidia G-sync support, so your gaming session is not ruined by any nasty tearing or horrible visual issues.
Overall: FULL SPECTRUM
Keyboard and Touchpad
What Makes it Work
The look from the keys on the keyboard really makes it standout. This keyboard is the same on all the models for the year. However, it comes with an entirely different layout from the M15 R5. You can get a great typing experience on this laptop, and the arrow keys have been changed and integrated into the keyboard, moving the Shift key over.
The touchpad is not large, but it is excellent and responsive. Gestures working great as usual.
What it’s Lacking
All the primary keys are lit, with you will notice all the multimedia functions along the top. However, your secondary functions keys are not lit at all.
Overall: FRESH NEW ORDER
Performance
What Makes it Work
The 11th Gen 11800h is an impressive CPU from Intel. Although in this model, it does not perform as you would expect. During Geekbench 5 test on CPU, we scored 1560 on the single-core test and 7,966 on a multi-core. During the OpenCL test, we got a 125,840 score, which is in line with what we will expect from a fully-fledged 3070. Benchmark tests got a score of 9,645 in Optimus and 10,346 in the dedicated graphics mode; making the gaming experience comfortable and smooth.
The M15 R6 comes with 32GB of DDR4 RAM stuffed inside. There is also a relatively up-front Alienware Command Center that you can use to check the CPU, GPU, and memory usage.
The Command Center can be used to switch between battery modes and different performance modes. You can also use it to customize the keyboard lighting.
Overall: DOES IT ALL
Battery
What it’s Lacking
Unfortunately, this is where this laptop falls short. During YouTube tests at 50 percent brightness, we got about 5 hours and 30 minutes before the battery died. Unlike the M15 R5, this machine comes with the Advanced Optimus. Although the Optimus can be buggy, it does not stop the battery life from being good.
By default, you will be getting a traditional 240-watt power brick, and it is perfect enough for supplying the GPU and CPU. And just like the R4, the power brick is long and wide. It is not precisely the charger you can carry around. It would have been better if the power brick was smaller since TGP is limited.
Overall: Not enough juice
Final Verdict
This computer is anyone’s entry-level gaming laptop. You will be getting a solid round gaming performance, average battery life and good port selection. It is an excellent, reliable machine. The excellent screens can be upgraded to the QHD panel to get better image quality and more brightness. It is more comfortable for coding, gaming, or content creation.
Should you Buy it?
If you want an intro to the Alienware experience, this is a no doubt of a purchase. Not only does it act as a great intro to gaming laptops, but it is built to last you for a while.
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