Alienware, synonymous with high-performance gaming laptops, has always offered machines with distinctive aesthetics. In the last few years, Alienware Laptops are known for their sturdy build quality, powerful components, and customizable lighting, catering to the needs of avid gamers. And as technology evolved and consumer preferences changed, Alienware laptops also saw some changes. latest offering Dell TechnologiesThe alienware m16 r2Reflects this ‘change’.
Starting at Rs 1,49,999, the Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with high-performance hardware and gaming-centric features. The laptop has a slimmer profile and sophisticated appearance. At the time of launch, the company said that the Alienware m16 R2 has been redesigned based on community feedback, with a 15% smaller footprint, improved airflow, and a new Stealth Mode feature for discreet gaming in various settings. But is it versatile enough for everyday use – we’re here to find out.
Design and performance
As mentioned, the biggest change comes to the entire package – the laptop is more compact – due to the removal of the thermal shelf. It has an anodized gray colored metal lid with a centrally aligned Alienware logo (alien head) that shines. The lid of the Alienware m16 R2 also has the number 16 in a very large font size. The hexagonal vent design has been a regular feature in Alienware laptops, giving them a distinct identity. The aluminum chassis features a hexagonal-shaped grille and exhaust vents at the rear as well as on the sides.
These vents are also just above the keyboard and the alien head-shaped power button has been moved from the right side to the centre. The Alienware m16 R2’s keyboard supports RGB backlighting, and the keys have a soft rubber-finish. They have good travel distance and feel good when typing. There are soft-finish palm rests on either side of the touchpad, which is flanked by an LED light. Additionally, we would have liked a larger touchpad.
Talking about ports, there are two USB Type-A ports and a microSD card reader on the right side; There’s an RJ45 Ethernet port and a headphone jack on the right side, while the back has two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DC port. The hinge on the Alienware M16 R2 has a good feel when opening and closing and can be opened up to 180 degrees. Overall, the build quality is solid and the laptop weighs 2.6 kg.
The Alienware m16 R2 features a 16-inch QHD+ panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, G-Sync, FreeSync, and Dolby Vision HDR support. Although these features sound great, it’s worth noting that it’s an IPS panel, not OLED, which offers better color reproduction and saves battery life – which shouldn’t be a concern in the case of a gaming laptop.
The brightness of the display is rated at 300 nits, which some users may find a little low brightness, especially in well-lit environments. Colors are vibrant but after watching movies on the laptop we felt there was room for improvement in this regard. Having said that, the display is good enough for gaming and the quality is not a deal breaker.
The laptop’s dual speakers are loud enough for gaming, but we were a little disappointed if you wanted to use them for other purposes. There is no bass and the output is essentially flat. It is recommended that gamers use headphones for a better experience. Other features include a 1080p webcam with HDR, dual-array microphones, and an IR camera for Windows Hello facial recognition that works well in all power conditions.
Display
Our Alienware m16 R2 has an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. It runs Windows 11 Home and comes with Alienware tools like Command Center that allows detailed control over the display, configuring LED colors, and more. One such is ‘bloatware’.
The Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a “Stealth Mode” that disables the laptop’s lights and aims to give it a more traditional look. The company aims to make Alienware suitable for use in professional settings like coffee shops and meeting rooms, not just gaming environments. Stealth mode not only silences the fans but also turns off the flashing Alienware logo on the back.
When it comes to core performance, the hardware is capable of handling games with ease. Since it’s also supposed to be used as a daily driver, we tested some video editing software, which went fine. We played games like Starfield, Forza Horizon 5, and NFS Heat on the laptop. It automatically runs at the highest settings available, providing good performance with an average of 90 fps.
We mentioned that the company removed the thermal shelf to achieve a compact design, essentially reconfiguring the cooling system. We felt this was not a ‘job well done’. While gaming, the laptop got noticeably warm after a 30-35 minute gaming session, especially around the WASD keys. Around the same time, the fans kick in to dissipate heat generated during gaming – especially when we played Starfield – providing a few more minutes of session.
Despite not being officially branded as a CoPilot PC or having a dedicated CoPilot key, the Alienware m16 R2’s Intel Core Ultra processor, with its built-in NPU, makes it capable of effectively handling AI tasks through the CoPilot chatbot Makes.
Battery
The Alienware m16 R2 comes with a 90Wh battery and a 240W charging adapter. While it takes around 1 hour 30 minutes for a full charge, the quick charging feature provides 60% battery life in around 30 minutes. When gaming on battery power, expect about an hour of playtime for more demanding games and a little longer for less demanding games.
However, when using the laptop in Stealth mode for productivity tasks, the battery lasted about 3 hours, which meant we had to keep the charger in our bag. Our view has been that while choosing a gaming laptop to suit your needs, battery life should not be a priority.
decision
The Alienware m16 R2 moves away from the brand’s traditional design ethos, opting for a more streamlined and versatile approach. This 16-inch gaming laptop, while still capable of handling demanding AAA titles, makes a huge difference by choosing a GPU that’s a notch below the highest-end. We believe it is meant to meet the needs of a broader audience beyond dedicated gamers.
The Alienware m16 R2 blends gaming prowess with everyday utility, essentially challenging the traditional image of a bulky and unattractive gaming laptop. Priced at Rs 1.5 lakh, the laptop is a well-built machine from both a CPU and GPU perspective. The display is responsive and battery life is respectable. If you are also looking for a gaming laptop that can be used for more than just gaming, then the Alienware M16 R2 is a great option.
