Alienware m18 R2 review: A gaming juggernaut with speed to spare

Price When Reviewed

$3,549.99

Best Prices Today: Alienware m18 R2

Alienware made its title by providing innovative gaming {hardware} in a clear, refined bundle. It hasn’t all the time provided the most effective worth, however you’ll by no means be wanting for energy. The new Alienware m18 R2 gaming laptop computer could be very a lot in that vein—it has higher specs than most desktop gaming PCs, and it’s technically transportable. You gained’t essentially need to hold round this almost 10-pound behemoth, however you’ll be able to.

The Alienware m18 R2 has a beginning value each bit as hefty as the pc itself, however the $1,900 base mannequin pales compared to the staggering $4,500 totally souped-up model. The laptop computer I examined is a little more modest (and $1,000 cheaper), nevertheless it nonetheless has the most effective Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU you’ll discover in a laptop computer, and the 18-inch show gained’t go away you feeling claustrophobic. If gaming is your main use case, it’s onerous to discover a extra succesful laptop computer, however the value will probably be onerous to swallow for informal avid gamers.

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

Alienware m18 R2: Specs and options

Even the bottom mannequin m18 R2 is a beast of a laptop computer, with an Intel Core i7 14650HX and an Nvidia RTX 4060. My take a look at unit is priced at $3,550 with a Core i9 14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (16GB), 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB NVMe SSD, and a backlit mechanical keyboard.

Dell presents two 18-inch show choices that cater to completely different sorts of avid gamers. There’s a 2560×1600 LCD with a 165Hz refresh price or a 1920×1200 LCD with a sooner 480Hz refresh. I examined the previous. For folks enjoying fast-paced aggressive shooters, the speedy low-resolution show may be preferable.

All of the peripherals are best-in-class, as effectively. You’ve received an Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 card, Dolby Atmos audio system, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. Here’s the complete spec sheet for the evaluate unit.

• CPU: Intel Core i9 14900HX
• Memory: 32GB DDR5, 5600 MT/s
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (16GB GDDR6)
• Display: 18-inch QHD (2560×1600) LCD, 165Hz refresh with G-Sync
• Storage: 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe
• Webcam: 1080p at 30fps with HDR
• Connectivity: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 Type-C (alt show supported), 1x RJ45 Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x mini-Display Port, 1x energy adapter
• Battery: 6 Cell, 97 Wh
• Dimensions: 16.15 x 12.59 x 1.05 inches
• Weight: 9.32 lb
• MSRP: Starting at $1,899.99 ($3,549.99 as examined)

Alienware m18 R2: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

The exterior of the Alienware m18 R2 is clad in anodized aluminum, and it’s out there in a single colour known as Dark Metallic Moon. The lid has the enduring glowing alien brand, and there’s one other one inside (above the keyboard) that serves as the facility button. Not sufficient RGB for a gaming laptop computer? The keyboard can be totally backlit with RGB LEDs, and there’s a glowing ring across the rear thermal shelf. All the RGB is managed by way of the bundled Alienware Command Center app, which additionally manages your efficiency profiles. .

As you’ll be able to inform from the measurements above, it is a large laptop computer. Unlike the marginally smaller Alienware m16 R2, the m18 R2 retains the thermal shelf on the again, which blasts warmth away from the internals with the help of 4 cooling followers. That additionally makes the machine even bigger than the 18-inch show measurement may counsel. It nearly feels incorrect to name it a laptop computer as you’ll by no means willingly apply it to your lap—that is the epitome of a “desktop replacement” machine.

The Alienware m18 R2 does have aggressively tapered edges, which helps disguise its substantial girth. The hinge, fan grilles, and general construction really feel utterly stable. Even with below sustained load, the followers produce a easy drone with no rattling or clicks.

Alienware m18 R2: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

The trackpad on the most recent Alienware machine is responsive and huge—correctly on a laptop computer with a lot actual property. The floor is soft-touch plastic as an alternative of glass, which is frequent on high-end laptops. The rubbery end attracts finger smudges, however my finger glides easily, and faucets are detected effectively. It’s completely good for productiveness, however let’s face it, you’ll need to use an actual mouse for gaming.

The Alienware m18 R2 comes with a normal laptop computer keyboard by default, however you’ll be able to (and may) improve to an ultra-low-profile mechanical keyboard for simply $50 additional. The switches had been co-designed with Cherry, they usually present a way more exact typing expertise than different laptop computer keys. Because it is a laptop computer, the switches don’t have very a lot journey in comparison with a standalone keyboard, however the constant really feel is a big improve over conventional laptop computer keys.

Noise may be a difficulty for those who’re doing loads of typing or gaming in a room with different folks. These switches do have an audible click on that’s louder than non-mechanical laptop computer keyboards. That stated, the added tactility and stability makes up for the racket.

Alienware m18 R2: Display and audio

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Laptops with 4K OLED shows have develop into more and more mainstream, however the Alienware m18 R2 doesn’t go that far. I examined the sharper of two choices, a 2560×1600 IPS LCD with a 165Hz refresh price. At 18 inches, that decision works out to 157 pixels per inch. The picture is sharp sufficient at regular viewing distances, and the viewing angles are glorious. There are two video outputs (DisplayPort and HDMI) if you wish to join a sharper 4K show—this machine has sufficient energy to play any present recreation at 4K.

The panel brightness tops out at 300 nits, which is a bit missing for such an costly laptop computer. It doesn’t get shiny sufficient to help any HDR requirements—once more, that seems like a missed alternative for a high-end gaming machine. On the plus aspect, there’s no ugly backlight bleed across the edges even with the brightness maxed out.

If the laptop computer by no means leaves your desk, you gained’t thoughts the middling brightness an excessive amount of. I largely used this machine at almost most brightness, and it regarded good in all indoor lighting situations. The anti-glare display screen will beat back ugly reflections indoors, however you’ll in all probability discover the panel too dim to be used outdoor. A laptop computer this dimension in all probability isn’t going with you to the park, however I’d nonetheless like greater peak brightness.

You may assume the grilles above the keyboard are audio system, however that’s really a part of the cooling system. The audio system are on the left and proper edges, in order that they don’t venture sound immediately at you. Regardless, they’re clear and loud, at the least for a laptop computer. Even cranking the quantity near most, there’s no detectable distortion.

Alienware m18 R2: Performance

There isn’t any purpose to buy a 10-pound gaming laptop computer until you plan to utilize all that energy. This machine packs essentially the most succesful Intel Raptor Lake CPU and Nvidia’s top-of-the-line RTX GPU, so sure, it may well run any recreation possible at most settings in 2024.

I’ve examined the Alienware m18 R2 with titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Armored Core VI, and Diablo IV, all of which ran completely. It was additionally capable of run Cyberpunk 2077 in RT Overdrive mode, which isn’t any joke even on essentially the most succesful desktop gaming PCs.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Our first benchmark take a look at is PCMark 10, which is designed to measure system efficiency throughout a wide range of metrics. It focuses extra on CPU efficiency than GPU, although. The Alienware m18 R2 eked out a win right here, besting even the MSI Raider GE78 gaming laptop computer. Core Ultra 7 and Core i7 chips naturally take a step down in efficiency, however all these fashions are usually speedy.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Cinebench R20 is one other CPU-focused take a look at, this time demonstrating multithreaded efficiency briefly bursts. The encode take a look at solely takes a couple of minutes, so warmth isn’t a priority.

The m18’s Core i9 14900HX chip with its 24-core design tears by this benchmark, outdoing even the MSI Raider, which has the identical CPU. The 16-core Ultra 7 155H falls behind, which is anticipated regardless of it being a more moderen chip.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Our subsequent take a look at is in the identical vein, a Handbrake encoding job on a 35GB file. This is one other CPU take a look at that favors multithreaded operations. The Core i9 14900HX places up quantity right here, beating each different laptop computer CPU.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Our first graphical benchmark is 3DMark Time Spy, which runs DirectX 12 for correct testing of recent GPUs. Here, we see large efficiency gaps between extra modest gaming laptops with RTX 4060 or 4070 GPUs and the 4090-based Alienware m18 R2. This laptop computer squeaked previous the MSI Raider, which has the identical RTX 4090 GPU.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a couple of years outdated, nevertheless it has a built-in benchmark that provides comparability of real-world recreation efficiency. The Alienware m18 R2 manages 205 fps on common. Again, that is only a bit greater than the MSI Raider and much forward of machines just like the Alienware m16 R2 with its RTX 4070 GPU.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

Lastly, we’ve the Metro Exodus benchmark, which we run at 1080p with the “Extreme” element setting. This is extra demanding than Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and it exhibits. The Alienware m18 R2 clocks in with a 97 fps common, which is among the greatest we’ve seen. It’s up there with the $5,400 MSI Raider, and extra modest gaming laptops just like the HP Omen Transcend 14 are left within the mud.

All of the above checks had been carried out with the laptop computer plugged in, permitting it to run at full pace. By default, the machine drops all the way down to balanced mode on battery, and that’s nonetheless sufficient to play trendy video games with medium-high settings. When the GPU flips on and the followers spin up, this laptop computer feels like a tiny jet taking off. It’s noisy sufficient that you simply may need to use headphones when enjoying a recreation with loads of dialog. If the sport isn’t too demanding, you may think about using the aforementioned balanced mode, which trades some efficiency for much less noise.

During my testing, I observed that switching from the built-in graphics to the GPU causes the system to hiccup for a second, hanging for a few seconds. That’s not the top of the world, however it may be annoying for those who aren’t anticipating a program to ping the GPU. I’ve hope this may be smoothed over, although. While I used to be testing the machine, Alienware firmware and Nvidia drivers updates improved the switch-over.

Alienware m18 R2: Battery life

In case the hefty measurements didn’t tip you off, the Alienware m18 R2 is tuned for efficiency, not portability. When plugged in, the machine can draw as much as 360 watts of energy, which is within the vary of a modest desktop PC. The battery is as beefy as the remainder of the machine, with a 97 Wh capability. That’s one of many largest you’ll discover in a laptop computer. Still, it doesn’t run for lengthy in our battery life take a look at.

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

IDG / Ryan Whitwam

This take a look at consists of working a 4K video loop at 250 nits of brightness, however that’s close to the utmost for the show. We run this take a look at in airplane mode with all of the LEDs turned off. Even with these benefits, this laptop computer doesn’t handle an enormous quantity, clocking in at 278 minutes (just below 5 hours) earlier than the battery ran dry. That’s a bit stronger than different super-powerful gaming laptops just like the MSI Raider GE78, nevertheless it’s a far cry from extra mainstream gaming methods just like the Alienware m16 R2, which runs for nearly three hours longer on a cost.

The battery life is even worse for those who attempt to play video games on the go. Alienware configured the machine to modify the GeForce GPU on solely when wanted, and the distinction is instantly noticeable. When the RTX 4090 runs, you’ll be able to see the battery gauge begin to drop. You’ll get perhaps an hour of gaming between fees.

None of it is a shock—laptops with super-high-end {hardware} simply don’t final lengthy on battery energy. Still, it’s one thing to contemplate earlier than choosing up the m18 R2 over one thing extra environment friendly.

Alienware m18 R2: Conclusion

The Alienware m18 R2 is an extremely {powerful} laptop computer—it may well max the settings on any present PC recreation, and it’ll in all probability be capable of run any title at native decision for at the least a couple of years. The mechanical keyboard is unbelievable, and for a 10-pound laptop computer, the design is slightly glossy. Just don’t anticipate to recreation for hours on battery energy. The RTX 4090 will bleed the large 97 Wh battery dry in below two hours.

The Core i9 CPU and RTX 4090 inside bump the worth of my take a look at unit to $3,550, however even the bottom mannequin with a Core i7 and RTX 4060 is nearly $2,000. This is an objectively costly laptop computer, however each laptop computer with this type of {hardware} comes with an enormous price ticket. It’s a matter of priorities. If high-fidelity gaming is what you need out of your laptop computer, it’s onerous to do higher than the Alienware m18 R2.