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The best Alienware laptops you can buy in 2022
Alienware has been among the top gaming PC makers since the company’s launch in 1996. Its alien theme and powerful specs have long been some of the most desired on the market. Alienware has continuously refined its lineup of gaming laptops since 2009 and currently offers four models. We’ve broken down the best Alienware laptops you can get right now to help you choose the right one.
Although there are just four models, each is available in a few different configurations. We’ll touch on the differences and help to explain how to choose your next laptop.
Buying guidelines
When looking for the best Alienware laptops, it’s paramount that you decide what you want the laptop for. If it’s a desktop replacement, you’ll want a computer with a large display, powerful specs, and plenty of ports. Going mobile will require a smaller screen and more portability. There are plenty of hybrid options that fall in between, too.
Also, take a close look at the specs each computer offers. You’ll want the latest generation processor, for starters. Right now, that would be 12th-generation Intel Core chips. There are very few options if you’re a fan of AMD’s processors, but some Alienware laptops have them. We’ve listed one in this post.
Take a look at RAM and figure out how much you need. We believe the sweet spot is at 16GB, but you might want to upgrade to 32GB, or downgrade to 8GB if you don’t think you need that much multi-tasking power and would rather save some cash.
Talking about money, we know that’s an essential factor. Let’s kick things off by telling you Alienware laptops are not cheap. You’re paying a premium for the Alienware branding and design. The most affordable laptop on this list costs $1,000, and that’s because it’s getting older.
The best Alienware laptops:
Editor’s note: We will regularly update our list of the best Alienware laptops as new devices launch.
Alienware m15 R7
All the latest Alienware laptops follow a similar design language, offering a slim body with a flip-up display and a light ring on the back, along with most ports. It looks both futuristic and more modest than previous iterations.
15-inch laptops seem to find the perfect balance between screen size and portability, making the Alienware m15 R7 one of the best options from Dell’s gaming brand. This is also one of the most affordable Alienware laptops, with a starting price of $1,499.99.
You can pick between AMD or 12th-gen Intel processors. The base versions offer an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. You’ll also get a 15.6-inch Full HD screen with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. You can upgrade quite a bit and take that price to nearly $4,000.
Alienware x17 R2
Gaming on a small laptop screen isn’t optimal. Those who want the biggest screen possible on Alienware laptops should look at the Alienware x17 R2. It has a large 17.3-inch screen, which can be upgraded to a 4K panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The base version starts at $2,249.99, but it’s a capable machine. Specs include a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. This more affordable model will also have a Full HD screen with a 165Hz refresh rate.
Alienware x15 R2
While the Alienware m15 R7 is an excellent option for those looking for a good 15-inch laptop, users can take things up a notch by upgrading to the Alienware x15 R2. Its starting price sits at $2,149.99, but it has significant improvements, even at its base configuration.
The lower-end version is plenty powerful, offering a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU, and 512GB of storage. These can be upgraded to an i9, 32GB of RAM, an RTX 3080 Ti, and a whopping 4TB of storage.
Alienware x14
Gaming laptops can be a bit too large. Those looking for the most portable Alienware laptop should look at the x14. It comes with a 14-inch Full HD screen with a 144Hz refresh rate. It still starts at $1,499.99, so don’t mistake this for a cheap laptop. It’s just smaller.
Specs are still powerful, considering the base version comes with a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, and 512GB of storage. Of course, you can upgrade it quite a bit, with options for as much as an Intel Core i7, 32GB of RAM, an RTX 3060, and 2TB of storage.
Specs aren’t as impressive as with the other Alienware laptops, but it’s the most portable and a very neat computer.
Alienware m15 R7 AMD version
If you found yourself drawn in by the size and speed of the Alienware m15 series, we’ve finally come to the first non-Intel version on this list. Alienware has infused its beast of a laptop with speedy Ryzen hardware in the R7 model. It’s the same size and weight as the classic m15, but the Dark Side of the Moon finish will turn heads.
On the inside, you can choose from Ryzen 7 6800H processor, or kick things up to the Ryzen 9 6900HX. Alienware tapped NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series GPUs for high-quality graphics, and you can pair it with up to 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz RAM. Storage can go as high as 4TB of onboard PCle M.2 SSD space.
Just like all newer Alienware laptops, you get multiple screen choices. The best one offers a 15.6-inch panel with a Full HD resolution, 360Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. The keyboard can also be had in a mechanical iteration.
Alienware m17 R5 AMD version
The x17 R2 is a stunning laptop but a bit expensive. Dell has another Alienware option for those who prefer a larger display, and you won’t have to pay as much for it. The Alienware m17 R5 starts at $1,399.99, and it is no lackluster.
This model allows you to pick an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H or a Ryzen 9 6900HX. You can also get up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti, and as much as 64GB of RAM. Storage tops off at a whopping 4TB, too.
This is a heck of a machine, sporting a large 17.3-inch Full HD or UHD display with 165Hz, 120Hz, or 360Hz refresh rates. As if all that wasn’t enough, you can also upgrade to an actual mechanical keyboard.
FAQs
It depends on your computer specs, but most of these come with pretty capable processors, RAM, and GPUs, which are the most critical factors for gaming performance. You should be able to play any game with these, but you may have to lower some settings, depending on the title and specs.
There are a lot of factors to consider when trying to edit photos and videos efficiently. Some laptops and hardware configurations will do better than others. Overall, these Alienware laptops should do very well editing and rendering content.
While 8GB of RAM is plenty for an Android phone, the same standards don’t apply to laptops. We believe 16GB is a sweet spot for most users, but extreme multi-tasker might want to upgrade to 32GB.
You’ll notice a prevalent trend in Alienware laptops and other gaming laptops. Most of these computers stick to 1080p resolutions, and this is because this is still an excellent resolution for laptop gaming on these smaller screens. Additionally, going above 1080p requires a lot of hardware power. Gamers usually prefer sticking with Full HD resolutions to get more frames per second and cooler component temperatures. You can upgrade to 4K and render games at 1080p, though. If you enjoy 4K content and want good gaming performance, this will be a good balance.
Hopefully, this helped you decide between the best Alienware laptops currently available. There aren’t many to choose from, but there are other vital components if you’re setting up your battle station.
If these are too expensive, you should also look at our list of the best cheap gaming laptops. You can also go mobile and get one of the best gaming phones.