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When it comes to gaming laptops, Alienware has a reputation for producing the very top-of-the-line devices, and their offerings of the M15 R6, and M15 R5, do nothing to buck that trend. These are for the person who wants it all: enough power to play the latest ray-traced games, the ability to carry one’s gaming rig with one, and even use it for something as mundane as word-processing. If this sounds like the mix of features you’re looking for, then either of these laptops can be easily recommended.
Along with plenty of grunt under the hood, both laptops share the same basic chassis, with Tron inspired RGB lighting, RGB keyboards, and well thought-out cooling system. They both feature excellent, high-speed, bright and clear 15.6” monitors. While 1920x1080 mightn’t sound like much of a resolution in today’s 4K obsessed market, it actually doesn’t matter, as the pixel pitch (size of individual pixels) is small enough that the image is crisp and clear. They also have actual mechanical switches on the keyboard, making them the first laptops I’ve tried which actually feel good to type on, and something that’s a definite bonus for someone who’s looking to use the computer not just for gaming, but for university or even their work. There’s also a complement of full-sized ports, including audio, USB-C/Display Port and a full sized HDMI port, meaning you can easily use either of these machines to drive a larger monitor, if you wish.
So the question is not whether you should be considering one of these for your next gaming laptop (the answer, of course, being a definite ‘yes’), but ‘which one should you get?’ And the answer to that, really comes down to how much power you want, and the depth of your wallet.
The M15 R6, is the beefier (and more expensive) of the two, featuring an Intel Core i7-11800H and an RTX 3080 graphics card, letting it run the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark, with ray-tracing maxed and GPU intensive features like Pure Hair turned on, at an average 76fps (and when hooked up to a monitor running at 1440p, it could still manage a respectable average of 57fps). In comparison, the R5, with its Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and RTX 3070, came in slightly slower as expected, with an average of 63fps. There is also some interesting differences in terms of monitors and keyboards. Regarding screens, while there is a difference in speed (with the R6 featuring a blazingly fast G-sync screen running at 360Hz, and the R5 running a still incredibly fast 165Hz), I didn’t find any appreciable difference in terms of smoothness of motion. What I did notice, however, was the R6’s screen produced warmer and more pleasing colours.
In terms of keyboards, while both have mechanical switches, the R6’s keyboard (at least on the model I tested) was quieter than the R5’s, which made a distinct clicking sound when used. While this auditory feedback can make touch-typing easier and more pleasurable and is preferred by many typists, be aware that it can drive anyone you’re near, to distraction. All of this added up to the R6 both performing, and feeling, like the higher-quality machine of the two.
Before you run off to the store and purchase one of these machines, there are some things to be aware of, though these are issues common to gaming laptops in general. Firstly, and for anyone whose eyes have lit up at the prospect of getting their hands on an RTX 3080, be aware that this is the laptop version of that card. So while it will quite happily out-perform other laptops, a last-generation desktop RTX 2080 Ti will still run faster, and cooler. Secondly, to get maximum performance you need to be plugged into the mains. Running off battery power will see performance drop by up to 70%. Lastly, when under load, they run loud. Very loud. And I would strongly recommend using headphones if you actually want to hear what characters in the games are saying. (Actually, I’d recommend that anyway, as the speaker system on both machines tends to sound a bit tinny - but this will go for pretty much any laptop).
One thing which isn’t an issue here is the heat. Yes, they can run quite hot when under load, but thanks to Alienware’s carefully thought-out cooling solutions, including plenty of heat-pipes, fans, and a generous clearance underneath the laptop to ensure good air flow, this doesn’t become too much of a problem. The design also ensures that the keyboard doesn’t get hot, and that no part of the case gets too hot (flaws I’ve encountered with other gaming laptops, where the keyboard would get uncomfortably toasty, and the area just behind the keyboard could fry eggs).
While other laptops feature extended battery life, touch screens, super slim and light design or even 4K OLED displays, what the R6 and R5 have is sheer portable power, topped off with excellent screens and the first laptop keyboards I’ve actually enjoyed using. For anyone looking for a gaming laptop, and a great one at that, Alienware’s M15 R5 or M15 R6 could fit the bill . ■