Best Alienware laptops for gaming 2025

It’s a testomony to the standard of this laptop computer that it not solely sits on the prime of this record, but additionally on the prime of our record of one of the best laptops general. Our reviewer, Zak Storey, mentioned “Alienware’s M16 R2 is a well-built, quick gaming laptop computer for a surprisingly beneficiant worth” and scored it a formidable 9/10. That’s an ideal abstract, however let’s go into extra element.

From its unbelievable display screen to its upgradeable elements, and its respectable spec record, there are a variety of causes to like the M16 R2. With the Core Extremely 155H CPU, it averaged out at 102fps even when taking part in Cyberpunk 2077 on the extremely ray-tracking preset. Cyberpunk is a processing-intensive recreation, so these outcomes are fairly spectacular.  Sadly, it does wrestle past 1080p, however contemplating all that it encompasses, that’s a small factor to be bothered by.

Exterior of gaming, its 240Hz panel can present a crystal clear 2560 x 1600 decision. The image high quality on the display screen is just about one of the best you will get with out going for an OLED mannequin. In fact, that’s not a lot good to you if you wish to play video games at 1600p, however it nonetheless makes the whole lot look fairly nice throughout normal day-to-day use.

One other function we notably appreciated about this laptop computer was its use of normal SODIMM slots for reminiscence. As an alternative of soldering the elements to the motherboard like a variety of different gaming laptops do, it makes use of two M.2 SSD connectors. This leaves the doorways large open for personalisation, which is sweet information for anybody who likes a little bit of tinkering (like we do). Even earlier than you improve it, it comes with an ideal 32GB of RAM, so it’s not prefer it desperately must be enhanced.

When you’re deadset on an OLED mannequin, then this received’t be the laptop computer for you. Nevertheless, if that’s not important for you, then it’s very laborious to seek out fault with the Alienware M16 R2.

Learn our full Alienware M16 R2 evaluation.

When you don’t frequently transfer your gaming laptop computer and wish as a lot display screen actual property as potential you then could be hard-pressed to do higher than the Alienware M18 R2, which is one of the best 18-inch Alienware laptop computer. Not solely does it pack highly effective specs however its dimension means you additionally get a full-size keyboard with a numpad.

Accessible with actually ludicrous specs equivalent to a monstrous Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, a 24-core Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU, 64GB of RAM, and two 4TB SSD in RAID 0 (the place they’re joined collectively into one extremely quick 8TB drive), this machine is an absolute powerhouse. Not that we’d advocate that configuration for almost all of consumers. Even should you want a really highly effective machine, an RTX 4080, 32GB of RAM, and a single 4TB SSD is a extra smart and inexpensive providing.

In any other case, the massive potential level of competition with this laptop computer is its restricted display screen choices. Its 18-inch QHD+ panel – that’s 2,560 x 1,600 pixels – can solely go as much as 165Hz and is IPS LCD somewhat than OLED. After we’re used to seeing laptops with 240Hz+ OLED panels with 2,880 x 1,880 resolutions, the one right here feels a bit left behind, although it’s really nonetheless excellent high quality.

Alienware’s X lineup is all about slim, premium design and the X16 R2 is the proper exemplar of that. Its wonderful aluminum chassis is simply 18.6mm (0.73-inch) thick and weighs simply 2.72kg (6lbs), regardless of bundle in a great deal of options. It additionally incorporates a great deal of RGB areas, together with the Alienware emblem, the glass trackpad, and a 100-LED strip of sunshine on the laptop computer’s again edge.

All of it combines to create a extremely putting look that isn’t precisely refined however nonetheless maintains a clear high quality that doesn’t really feel overly garish or tacky.

In fact, energy is plentiful right here too, even should you can’t fairly spec this machine up as excessive because the M18 R2. You’ll be able to nonetheless pack in an RTX 4090, 32GB of RAM and the identical 2x4TB RAID 0 SSD configuration for pointlessly blazing quick storage.

Crucially, actually upping the ante over the M18 is the addition of an OLED show. The 16-inch panel has a 2,560 x 1,600 decision and may run at as much as 240Hz producing a surprising picture. What’s extra, this laptop computer has a six-speaker audio system for nice sound. It actually is a particular laptop computer.