Alienware m15 Review
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £2040.83
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max Q GPU
- Intel Core i7-8750H
- Up to 32GB DDR4 RAM
- 15.6-inch Full HD 144Hz display
- 512GB SSD + 512GB SSD
- Dimensions: 363 x 275 x 21mm
- Weight: 2.16kg
What is the Alienware m15?
The Alienware m15 is Dell’s latest flagship gaming laptop. While previous Alienware portables have sported bulky bezels and have weighed a little on the heavier side, the new m15 range leaps into the modern day with a bang-up-to-date design and the latest mobile Nvidia graphics cards.
With options including a Nvidia GTX 1060 and GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU, you’re getting beefcake performance – no matter the configuration you plump for. Both cards are easily powerful enough to run the majority of PC games in Full HD at 60fps. Dell is even squeezing in an 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8750H processor and the option of a frankly frightening 32GB of RAM.
Alienware m15 – Design
I’m a big fan of the Alienware m15’s design. It’s come a long way from previous Alienware laptops that bordered on tacky with their chunky chassis’ and excessive lights.
The m15 is one of the sleekest gaming laptops I’ve had the privilege to use –especially one that packs in this much power. Weighing in at just 2.16kg, the Alienware m15 is light enough to pick up with a single hand. It’s a doddle to carry around and will easily slip into your backpack or satchel.
Finally, Alienware has also chosen to reduce the size of the bezel on each side of the screen. It’s about time, too; anything thicker would look ugly when compared to other such devices these days. The bezel to the north of the display, which arches up slightly in the centre, is bigger than the others, ostensibly thanks to the camera and sensors.
Weighing in at just 2.16kg, the Alienware m15 is super-light for a gaming laptop
I’m not really sure about Alienware’s reasoning for this, if this is the case – other gaming laptops sport the same webcam and sensor configuration up top, yet have still managed to squeeze down the bezel to a couple of millimetres. I prefer the minimalist look of the HP Omen 15 and the Razer Blade 15.
The glossy surround of the panel is a mixed bag. It’s nice to look at, but it’s also highly reflective, to the point where it can prove distracting when in the heat of a battle.
On a more positive note, the lid feels reassuringly sturdy. Despite being such a thin laptop, the lid has some weight behind it – even a spinach-overdosed Popeye would struggle to tear the screen from its hinge. In fact, the whole laptop looks and feels premium.
Whatever your feelings about bezels and glossy black plastic are, the m15 can’t be accused of lacking in personality, though. The Alienware logo looks stylish above the keyboard and can be customised to pulse various colours. The ‘Nebula Red’ finish on the lid also looks rather lush, as does the alternative ‘Epic Silver’ option.
The Alienware m15 has every port you need, including HDMI, DisplayPort and mini-DisplayPort
I’m glad to see that Alienware hasn’t used the m15’s skinny frame as an excuse to skimp on ports. On the rear you’ll find HDMI, DisplayPort, mini-DisplayPort, USB-C ports and, of course, the power cable. On the right sit two USB-A ports. An additional USB-A port can be found on the left side, along with an Ethernet port and headphone jack. There isn’t much more you could ask for in a gaming laptop.
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