Alienware 13 R2

Specifications

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Reviews for the Alienware 13 R2

83% Alienware 13
Source: CNet Archive.org version
Topping my wish list for a future incarnation of this product is access to higher-end GPUs (or an OLED screen in a larger laptop that can more easily fit a GeForce 980M card). But for an eye-catching new technology that's hard to find -- Samsung, HP and Lenovo each offer a single OLED PC product, and none for gaming -- the price for this Alienware 13 is surprisingly modest.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/20/2016
Rating: Total score: 83% performance: 70% mobility: 80%

Alienware 13 OLED
Source: Hot Hardware Archive.org version
Finally, in more general purpose use, the Alienware 13 OLED feels great, looks great and offers responsive performance for power users and the mainstream alike. For content creation or other work-related high image fidelity requirements, the color reproduction, contrast and pop of this machine's OLED panel is second to none currently.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/24/2016

80% Alienware 13 OLED
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
If you've been using a regular display for your laptop gaming and entertainment, I'm here to tell you that you're doing it wrong. The $1,299 Alienware 13's OLED screen is a vibrant revelation of where gaming notebooks are going. But once I stopped peering into the panel trying to see my future, there was the rest of the notebook to consider.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/13/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%

60% Alienware 13
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
There's a lot to like about the Alienware 13. Its design is distinct and super-compact, its lighting is insanely customizable and its speakers are loud enough to fill your room. However, with a low-res 1366 x 768 display and gaming performance that's "meh" at best, you shouldn't settle for the lowest-end version of Alienware's slick laptop.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/28/2016
Rating: Total score: 60%

It gets things done during the day and lets you game during the night
Source: Laptop Media Archive.org version
You’d probably expect top-notch performance in a tiny 13-inch form factor with the label Alienware on it and you are probably right to do so but in reality, the Alienware 13 is everything but a gaming powerhouse. Yes, we are once again met with impeccable build quality with excellent choice of materials – typically for an Alienware product – slightly bulky and a bit hefty for a 13-incher but nothing too alarming, especially for a gaming machine that is. We are still pretty impressed by the horsepower, storage options, and battery that the engineers were able to stick inside the small chassis. For example, you can get a hold of two M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD slots along with a 51Wh battery that will last for nearly a day with normal usage. That’s more than some other premium notebooks and ultrabooks can offer. And to be honest, that was the last thing we were expecting from a gaming-oriented notebook. Oh, and the touchpad and keyboard are pretty comfortable as well.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/22/2016

Alienware 13 R2
Source: Hot Hardware Archive.org version
The bottom line? If you fit the profile -- you mostly play games at home but want a powerful laptop when traveling -- the combination of an Alienware 13 R2 and Alienware Graphics Amplifier may be the solution you've been waiting for. If you're not interested in the AMP, take pause to consider if you can be content with a GeForce GTX 960M, as it's the only option available at this time.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/12/2016

60% Alienware 13 R2
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
Just because it's the smallest, that doesn't mean that the Alienware 13 R2 can't play with the big boys. It's the perfect size to curl up with on the couch or stow in a book bag for a long trip. The lovely superhigh-res display and powerful speakers make the 13 R2 a veritable multimedia powerhouse.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/08/2015
Rating: Total score: 60%

Foreign Reviews

60% Test : Dell Alienware 13 R2, un ultraportable gaming sexy... et bancal
Source: 01Net FR→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/22/2016
Rating: Total score: 60%

Ревю на Alienware 13 R2 – удобен за работа през деня, гейминг звяр през нощта
Source: Laptop.bg BU→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/27/2016

Comment

Model: The Alienware gaming series laptop by DELL is the smaller version of the Alienware 17. The 13 in the name suggests a screen size of 13 inch. While it is the more "affordable" option for serious gamers, it is still designed the same as the other Alienware laptops with the customizable backlight. The computer has a very slick gray color with the alien head in the center of the lid. In addition, the computer features a keyboard with blue backlight. The laptop comes with three USB ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an HDMI output. The laptop is also very light at 2.09 kg (4.6 pounds). Moreover,, it is the slimmest Alienware laptop available in the market. One of the best features is that the laptop has a very responsive touchscreen.

4 GB of RAM makes it a nice computer for multitasking and 500 GB of hard drive space are available. The computer also features an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M with 2 GB of VRAM, which makes the most demanding video settings a piece of cake on the Full HD display. Another good thing about the laptop is that it is very durable and its battery lasts up to 10.5 hours while idle. However, the battery life is only 3.5 hours while gaming with high settings. The computer also sports an Intel i5 processor. While isn't the best, the computer is a smaller version so it doesn't necessarily need an i7 processor. The Windows 10 system comes with two Klipsch speakers, which are very powerful for movies and music.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M: Upper mid-range graphics card of the GeForce GTX 900M series.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.  

6500U: Skylake-based ULV dual-core processor for thin notebooks and ultrabooks. Offers an integrated HD Graphics 520 GPU and is manufactured in 14 nm.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

13.30":

There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.

The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.

Alienware: Alienware was founded in the USA in 1996. The European headquarters is located in Ireland. Alienware has been part of the Dell Group since 2006. The product range mainly focuses on gaming laptops and desktops, which are developed and manufactured by Dell. The trademark is a slightly futuristic design with an Alien as the logo. Additionally, workstations for private and business customers are sold.

As with every brand, there are also some points of criticism with Alienware. Some customers have complained about the high prices of the products, while others have criticized the quality of customer services. There have also been some reports of problems with the reliability and durability of some Alienware products. However, many customers have also had positive experiences with the brand and appreciate the powerful gaming computers.

68.6%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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