Alienware m16 R2 review: This gaming laptop can be your daily driver

Price When Reviewed

$1,849.99

Best Prices Today: Alienware m16 R2

The Alienware m16 R2 isn’t precisely the kind of PC I’d count on from Alienware. This 16-inch laptop computer delivers strong gaming efficiency, but it surely’s additionally targeted on being compact and providing lengthy battery life. It doesn’t even supply the highest-end GPUs as an improve possibility. It really caps out at an RTX 4070, and also you’ll should get one other laptop computer if you would like an RTX 4080 or RTX 4090.

The trademark glowing alien head logos are nonetheless right here, however Alienware advised me its target market for this laptop computer was players who desire a PC for extra than simply gaming — one that may go to high school or to the workplace as properly. Alienware delivered, however there’s only one factor I want was completely different. Read on to be taught extra.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming laptops accessible proper now.

Alienware m16 R2: Specs

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Alienware m16 R2 is obtainable in quite a lot of completely different {hardware} configurations. The machine we reviewed is priced at $1,849 and had an Intel Core Ultra 7 155 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

You may get a mannequin with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics for $200 much less. Alienware advised us that you simply’ll quickly have the ability to purchase fashions with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics and that these can be even inexpensive.

Additionally, Alienware says it is going to supply fashions with the choice of an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, as much as 64 GB of RAM, and as much as 8 TB of storage. On high of that, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 can be accessible as an possibility — the bottom machine comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 radios.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

Memory: 16GB DDR5 5600MHz

Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070

Display: 2560×1600 IPS 240Hz (300 nits)

Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD

Webcam: 1080p webcam with HDR

Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C 4 Gen 2 with 15W Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C / USB 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Ethernet, 1x headphone jack, 1x microSD card reader

Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition

Battery capability: 90 Watt-hour

Dimensions: 14.33 inches x 9.82 inches x 0.93 inches

Weight: 5.62 kilos

MSRP: $1,849 as examined ($1,649 base)

Alienware m16 R2: Design and construct high quality

Alienware was proud to inform me that the m16 R2 is now 15 % extra compact than the earlier m16 laptop computer due to the removing of the “thermal shelf” behind the laptop computer.

The Alienware m16 R2’s cooling nonetheless works properly. The keyboard stayed a really affordable temperature in lengthy gaming periods and many of the sizzling air appeared prefer it was being expelled from the again of the laptop computer slightly than blowing instantly out the proper vent and onto my mouse hand — an issue with some gaming laptops.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The aesthetics really feel smooth: It’s very Alienware, but it surely’s additionally pretty restrained. You’ve received a steel lid (anodized aluminum) with extra of a grey shade, that includes as a centered Alienware emblem that glows whereas the laptop computer is on.

Inside, a glowing Alienware emblem that features as an influence button sits above the keyboard, in the midst of some vents. The keyboard helps RGB backlighting, and the touchpad is surrounded by a pleasant LED gentle bar. The keyboard deck has a pleasant, rubbery-feeling “soft-touch” floor — not laborious, chilly steel or low cost, creaky plastic.

The construct high quality is strong. You most likely shouldn’t be choosing up this laptop computer from the nook and holding it often — it’s a little bit heavy for that — however I did just a few instances, and it was strong with none unusual flexing. The hinge feels good to open and shut, and it opens to 180 levels if you wish to lie the laptop computer flat. There’s nothing unhealthy to report right here — the construct high quality is principally nearly as good as I may hope to see.

Alienware advised me that they need the m16 R2 to be a laptop computer that may be comfortably used exterior of gaming environments like espresso outlets and assembly rooms, too. The laptop computer has a “Stealth Mode” that quiets the followers and turns off the glowing Alienware emblem on the again. You can tone down the gamer aesthetic when needed.

Of course, that is nonetheless an Alienware laptop computer — even for those who flip off that glowing alien head emblem, it’ll nonetheless be sitting there on the again of your laptop computer. That’s not essentially unhealthy, however anybody who provides this machine a second look will know that it isn’t simply a typical enterprise laptop computer.

Even the charger is good: Our assessment mannequin got here with a small type issue GaN charger, additional boosting the laptop computer’s portability.

The laptop computer has just a few helpful utilities, just like the Alienware Command Center for configuring the LED colours and accessing different settings like these, however the included purposes are very streamlined. It isn’t full of junk software program, and that’s at all times good to see.

Alienware m16 R2: Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard feels nice to sort on, too. There’s loads of journey, and whether or not I had my fingers glued to the WASD keys for motion in a sport or I used to be really typing, I used to be very proud of the keyboard.

If you’re a mechanical keyboard fan and that’s a must have function for you, bear in mind that this isn’t a mechanical keyboard. But you possibly can have an important typing expertise with any sort of keyboard, and this can be a good keyboard.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The touchpad may be very good to make use of, too. (These days, we PC customers are spoiled for good touchpads.) It’s responsive and feels good to slip your finger over. It’s lots huge, and I do love the look of the LED gentle bar. I’ve had barely higher expertise with glass touchpads — the rubbery-feeling coating right here isn’t fairly as good as a few of these glass touchpads I’ve used — however that is good. For gaming, you’ll most likely be utilizing a mouse or a gamepad, anyway.

Alienware m16 R2: Display and audio system

This is a really affordable show for the worth level. You’re getting a 16-inch QHD+ (2560×1600 decision) show with a speedy 240Hz refresh charge. It helps NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, and Dolby Vision HDR.

That’s all fairly nice on paper, and it seems good. But that is an IPS panel, not an OLED panel. That’s not a shock — that is far more within the “affordable” vary so far as gaming laptops go. But extra gaming laptops are coming with OLED shows, so it’s value noting. Some individuals will need to hunt down a laptop computer with an OLED show as a substitute, and that’s comprehensible — however you’ll most likely spend more cash for a laptop computer with that function.

Personally, I exploit a laptop computer with an IPS show daily and I’m completely advantageous with it. Still, there’s no denying a few of these OLEDs I’ve been currently are extremely lovely. (But they’re additionally dearer!) In abstract: This is a wonderfully good show, however it’s an IPS show.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The primary concern I’ve is the brightness of the m16 R2’s show — it’s fairly dim. Alienware says it has 300 nits of brightness, and I needed to crank it up excessive for PCWorld’s normal battery take a look at. I gamed at 100 % brightness in a darkish room at night time, and even at 100 % brightness, it didn’t really feel overly vivid — I didn’t need to flip it down.

The show isn’t unhealthy, but it surely’s not the most effective you should buy — which is not any shock at this affordable worth level! Just concentrate on that.

The audio system appear lots loud, and you will get some gaming finished with out the followers drowning out the audio an excessive amount of. They’re not going to match with pair of headphones or exterior audio system, although.

Alienware m16 R2: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Alienware m16 R2 features a 1080p webcam with HDR, dual-array microphones, and an IR digicam for Windows Hello help — biometric logins along with your face.

The 1080p webcam seems advantageous. For a gaming laptop computer, it’s greater than advantageous. I’ve seen gaming laptops with a lot worse webcams — I’ve even seen gaming laptops with no webcams in any respect! And, as a result of this has an Intel Meteor Lake chip with a neural processing unit (NPU), you get entry to Windows Studio Effects. That bundle of results delivers tips that may make it appear to be you’re at all times making eye contact with the digicam, for instance.

The built-in microphone is definitely usable. I’ve been in on-line conferences the place professionals used a lot worse microphones. I wouldn’t say the microphone is wonderful: I made a decision to plug in an exterior USB microphone for my gaming session and my co-op associate thought the audio high quality was a lot improved. But for those who’re studying this, I’m certain you already count on that you simply’ll need to plug in a headset — or separate headphones and a microphone — for the most effective audio expertise.

This is a reasonably normal Windows Hello webcam that labored simply advantageous in my expertise, too. It’s good to have biometric login help.

Alienware m16 R2: Connectivity

On the again of the Alienware m16 R2, there’s the trusty energy port, and an HDMI 2.1 port. There are additionally two USB-C ports with completely different logos: One is a Thunderbolt 4 port (USB 4 Gen 2, 15W Power Delivery, and DisplayPort 1.4), and the opposite is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with DisplayPort 1.4.

The HDMI port and that USB 3.2 Gen 2 port are linked on to the discrete GPU (the Nvidia GeForce GPU) and never the built-in GPU. If you’re going to be gaming on an exterior show, you possibly can join it to both of those ports, skipping the built-in GPU for improved efficiency.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

On the proper aspect of the laptop computer, you’ll see two conventional USB-A ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1) and a microSD card slot. On the left aspect of the laptop computer, you’ve received an RJ-45 for wired Ethernet networking and a headset jack.

Overall, the connectivity choices are fairly intensive. There’s probability you possibly can go with no dongle or a port-packed laptop dock.

The laptop computer helps Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, so it’s received the usual fashionable wi-fi radios you’ll be on the lookout for. This is Intel Killer Wi-Fi {hardware} — particularly, Intel Killer AX1675 {hardware}. Intel talks up its Killer Wi-Fi technology, claiming it has “powerful gaming network technology to minimize lag, latency, and packet loss.” I’m unsure Killer Wi-Fi is a must have function, but it surely’s right here.

Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 {hardware} is obtainable as an optionally available improve, but it surely’s not accessible within the base model of the laptop computer. Wi-Fi 7 isn’t very widespread but — you nearly definitely don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 router but — so this isn’t an enormous deal.

Alienware m16 R2: Performance

Now let’s get all the way down to brass tacks. Sure, Alienware m16 R2 has good construct high quality, a wise design, and a aggressive choice of ports. But once I’m a gaming laptop computer, I’m at all times fascinated with the worth to efficiency ratio.

The Alienware m16 R2 we reviewed packed certainly one of Intel’s new Meteor Lake chips — the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. It’s more focused on power efficiency than performance than the previous Raptor Lake hardware. It’s additionally received an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 — not the highest-end GeForce chip for a laptop computer, however not the bottom one both. But we are able to speak on-paper specs all day — how properly does it really carry out in our normal benchmarks?

Before we even have a look at benchmark outcomes, we all know from the specs that we’re a extra mid-range, moveable gaming laptop computer. This doesn’t have the highest-end CPU or the beefiest GPU. It’s on the compact aspect, so it doesn’t have the craziest cooling setup. That’s advantageous: Laptops with extra excessive efficiency could also be considerably dearer and considerably bigger, with extra weight and worse battery life.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Our first test, PCMark 10 is designed to measure the system’s general efficiency — not simply gaming efficiency. It’s an all-around benchmark, but it surely’s far more targeted on the CPU than the GPU.

The outcomes have been about what we’d count on to see. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU helps the system pull forward of a laptop computer with a Intel Core i5 processor from the Raptor Lake era. Unsurprisingly, laptops with the higher-end Intel Core i9 Raptor Lake chips ship greater efficiency numbers.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run Cinebench R20, a closely multithreaded benchmark that appears at CPU efficiency. Cinebench R20 is a fast benchmark, so cooling isn’t a lot of an element.

Again, CPU efficiency pulled forward of the common previous-generation chips. The Alienware m16 R2’s CPU couldn’t ship the efficiency of the high-end gaming laptops with Intel Core i9-14900HX chips, nonetheless.

That’s no shock, both: The Core Ultra 7 155H chip on this laptop computer is a 16-core chip, whereas the Core i9-14900HX is a 24-core chip. In a multi-threaded CPU benchmark like this one, extra cores imply extra efficiency. And a closely optimized multithreaded benchmark doesn’t let you know how the laptop computer will carry out in precise video games.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally encode a video file with Handbrake. This benchmark can also be a closely multithreaded CPU benchmark, but it surely takes for much longer to run. It calls for the laptop computer’s cooling does some critical work. If a laptop computer’s cooling system isn’t as much as snuff and the CPU efficiency goes down over time underneath heavy CPU masses, this benchmark reveals that.

Again, the Alienware delivered a strong outcome, behind solely the high-end Core i9 chips with further cores.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Now let’s get to the graphics benchmarks. The Alienware m16 R2 delivers strong efficiency in 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that’s very GPU targeted. Here, it’s in spitting distance of the Razer Blade 16, each of which have Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPUs. This illustrates how the GPU is far more essential than the CPU in most video games.

The m16 R2 is crushed by the MSI Raider GE78 — that system has a high-end, power-hungry, costly RTX 4090 GPU. But that MSI machine is a $5400 laptop computer that weighs nearly eight kilos! The Alienware mannequin we’re benchmarking right here is lower than $2,000 and weighs about 5 and a half kilos.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Now, let’s get to some sport benchmarks. We run the benchmark in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It’s an older title, however a wonderful technique to evaluate efficiency throughout completely different PCs. The Alienware m16 R2 averages 144 frames per second within the benchmark, proper consistent with different RTX 4070-powered laptops.

It’s solely 4 frames per second slower than that Razer Blade 16 that was pulling forward of it within the CPU benchmarks, as soon as once more exhibiting simply how essential the GPU alone is to many video games. And that Razer Blade begins at $3,000.

As at all times, that MSI with the RTX 4090 takes the crown. At 203 frames per second, it’s 41 % sooner than this Alienware laptop computer. But it’s additionally practically 3 times the worth.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Finally, we end up with the benchmark in Metro Exodus, a extra demanding sport the place we run the benchmark at 1080p decision on the Extreme element setting. The Alienware m16 R2 was as soon as once more proper consistent with the opposite RTX 4070 laptops at 50 frames per second, exhibiting much-improved efficiency over an RTX 4050-powered laptop computer. That MSI delivered 80 % extra frames per second right here — however once more, it did so at practically 3 times the worth.

This is a strong Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070-powered laptop computer. The cooling is doing its job very properly, and the GPU doesn’t appear to be held again. Obviously, this laptop computer can’t sustain with a no-expense-spared, heavier, and extra power-hungry RTX 4090-powered system, however we knew that getting in.

The CPU performs properly, and it’s solely overwhelmed in multi-threaded CPU efficiency by extra power-hungry chips which have extra cores. But these further cores don’t essentially translate to important efficiency positive factors in most video games.

Alienware m16 R2: Battery life

Gaming laptops normally don’t have nice battery life. The high concern is commonly most efficiency whereas plugged in. But this Alienware aspires to be not only a gaming laptop computer, but additionally a “daily driver.” It’s additionally helped by Intel’s new, extra power-efficient Meteor Lake chips right here.

The Alienware m16 R2 packs a 90-Watt-hour battery. That’s among the many highest you’ll discover — the U.S. Transportation Security Administration requires batteries be 100 Watt hours or much less if you wish to take them on an airplane.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

To take a look at the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat within the Movies & TV app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled and keyboard backlighting disabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. This is a best-case situation for the laptop computer — native video playback may be very environment friendly, and battery life in the true world can be much less as you open browser tabs and use purposes.

We at all times set the display screen to 250 nits of brightness for this, and with the dim show, that meant actually cranking up the laptop computer’s brightness.

The Alienware m16 R2 delivered very spectacular outcomes, enjoying the video for 435 minutes on common — that’s seven hours and fifteen minutes. It’s very respectable and for a gaming laptop computer, it’s fairly spectacular.

Here, the Alienware m16 R2 crushed these power-hungry Core i9 laptops. Those laptops aren’t higher at every little thing — they’re higher at uncooked energy, however they solely lasted about 4 hours and eighteen minutes — and that’s in an supreme scenario.

The Alienware delivers on its promise right here, offering longer battery life that maximum-performance-at-all-costs gaming laptops don’t match.

Alienware m16 R2: Conclusion

The Alienware m16 R2 is a superb laptop computer. It delivers sturdy graphics efficiency due to its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 together with first rate CPU efficiency. And it delivers all that whereas providing lengthy battery life away from an outlet — lengthy battery life for a gaming laptop computer, anyway. However, the show is an efficient IPS show, but it surely’s on the dim aspect, and I can see that being a problem for some individuals.

This Alienware machine is a superb worth for its specs, its retail worth beats comparable techniques just like the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 and the HP Victus 16 (2023). If you discover an RTX 4070 laptop computer with a good cheaper retail worth, it could make some sacrifices. For instance, it could have a lower-resolution display screen with a decrease refresh charge. If you’re purchasing for a laptop computer on this worth vary and also you desire a machine that may do extra than simply be tethered to a desk and play video games, it’s an important match. I simply want its show could possibly be a bit brighter – however that’s not a deal-breaker contemplating every little thing else this laptop computer will get proper.