Alienware M15 R7 Pros & Cons: Should You Buy It?

Credit: Alienware

The Alienware M15 R7 is a formidable piece of hardware. The most recent addition to Alienware’s mid-range product line posts figures that can’t be fought with, and the screen looks amazing while it’s doing it. This comes at the expense of a more opulent form factor and the addition of a set of fans that might compete with the ventilation in a stadium. A word of caution, though: this is not a piece of equipment that you are going to want to throw in a backpack.

Within Dell’s portfolio of mid-range gaming laptops, the Alienware M15 R7 has established a foothold on the shelves and is poised to take the position of the M5 / M6 model. The preceding generation was largely viewed as one of the best gaming laptop alternatives available on the market, thanks to their inexpensive design considerations and concentration on power over fancy extras. This generation will have some big shoes to fill in order to live up to that reputation.

The Alienware M15 experience that we all know and love has been brought up to the standards of 2022 by the R7, which features the most recent CPUs from Intel’s 12th generation as well as additional room for graphics cards from RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti. The Alienware M15 R7 is a verified beast, and if you are committed to this brand’s excellent technology and distinctive look, it is the finest value for money among the current range of products.

Performance

If you’re searching for an all-in-one machine that doesn’t skimp on functionality, the Alienware M15 R7 isn’t going to let you down at all. This device gives you access to the most up-to-date generation of connections thanks to the inclusion of a Type-C connector with Thunderbolt 4 and Power Delivery, as well as three USB-Type A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and an HDMI 2.1 port. In addition to that, the bulk of these connections are positioned on the back, which means that anyone who struggles with cable management as much as I do will be really grateful for this feature. You will receive a set of two stereo speakers here, each of which is capable of producing a sound that is really clear and has a significant amount of volume.

The Fire Strike GPU scores also surpassed those of the M5 model from the previous year. The astounding score of 24,894 offered huge benefits over the figure of 22,883 that was provided by an RTX 3080 construct from the generation before this one. In addition to that, this central processing unit is more than capable of keeping up. Both of those scores—7,623 for PC Mark 10 and 15,897 for Cinebench core—easily place this system among the most capable that are currently available on the market. In application, this translates to incredibly fluid performance in all areas, including gaming as well as productivity.

Design

The Alienware M15 R7 maintains the same design language as its predecessor, with a plastic chassis and a higher overall profile than its predecessor. Because Dell places a higher priority on the value of its components in these machines, you sacrifice some of the more sturdy build qualities of the X-range. For instance, the Alienware x14 features a luxury aluminum and magnesium chassis but at the expense of a power level that is significantly reduced. This means that the R7 doesn’t feel nearly as robust as these more premium smartphones, but if you don’t plan on carrying it with you anywhere, you’ll like the R7’s substantial weight. However, if you are seeking a machine that is portable, you should search elsewhere. The Alienware M15 R7 clocks in at a weight of slightly under 6 pounds and ships with a power adapter that is truly gigantic in size.

 

 

Susan Kowal
Susan Kowal is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor/advisor, and health enthusiast.