Alienware m18 Series
Processor: AMD Dragon Range (Zen 4, Ryzen 7045) R9 7945HX, Intel Raptor Lake-HX i9-13900HX, Intel Raptor Lake-HX i9-13980HX, Intel Raptor Lake-HX i9-14900HXGraphics Adapter: AMD Radeon RX 7900M, NVIDIA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
Display: 18.00 inch
Weight: 3.891kg, 3.894kg, 3.955kg, 4.23kg
Price: 2300, 2900, 3300 euro
Average of 46 scores (from 78 reviews)
Alienware m18 R1
Specifications
Notebook: Alienware m18 R1Processor: Intel Raptor Lake-HX i9-13980HX
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU 16384 MB
Display: 18.00 inch, 16:10, 1920 x 1200 pixels
Weight: 3.891kg
Price: 2900 euro
Links: Alienware homepage Alienware notebook section
Price comparison
Average Score:
Reviews
Dell is reviving its 18-inch Alienware laptop with almost every feature we can think of under the sun: 4x M.2 SSDs, 480 Hz refresh rate, 175 W GPU, liquid metal cooling, vapor chamber cooling, Advanced Optimus, and even optional CherryMX mechanical keys. At almost 9 pounds, however, the Alienware m18 R1 is one of the heaviest laptops in recent memory.
Source: Techradar
The Alienware m18, in terms of pure gaming performance, is above its competition while maintaining a decent price point for the desktop replacement market. It also has an excellent mechanical keyboard and great sound, though CPU performance suffers a little.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/29/2024
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 100% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
Source: Techradar
The Alienware m18, in terms of pure gaming performance, is above its competition while maintaining a decent price point for the desktop replacement market. It also has an excellent mechanical keyboard and great sound, though CPU performance suffers a little.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/29/2024
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 100% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
Source: Techlusive
If you Googled that question and landed on that page, let me give you a short and quick answer. Buy the Alienware M18 R1 if you want a heavy-duty, high quality, work horse of a laptop. It is a versatile machine and the specs and upgradeability means you can keep it going for years to come. And if you’re looking for Alienware M18 R1 limitations, there are three of them. First, 14th gen Intel chips are already out and the performance to power consumption is far better than the 13th gen in the Alienware. Secondly, we don’t have the maxxed out spec variant here, which means third-party parts if you want to upgrade And lastly, there are lighter laptops with similar screen size and specifications if you’re looking for a more portable option. I think that should give you a clear idea of whether you are someone who should invest in the Alienware M18 R1 in 2024 or not. We’ve also done a video on this laptop, so if you skipped the whole article and came to the conclusion directly, maybe have a look at the video here.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/12/2024
Source: Techlusive
If you Googled that question and landed on that page, let me give you a short and quick answer. Buy the Alienware M18 R1 if you want a heavy-duty, high quality, work horse of a laptop. It is a versatile machine and the specs and upgradeability means you can keep it going for years to come. And if you’re looking for Alienware M18 R1 limitations, there are three of them. First, 14th gen Intel chips are already out and the performance to power consumption is far better than the 13th gen in the Alienware. Secondly, we don’t have the maxxed out spec variant here, which means third-party parts if you want to upgrade And lastly, there are lighter laptops with similar screen size and specifications if you’re looking for a more portable option. I think that should give you a clear idea of whether you are someone who should invest in the Alienware M18 R1 in 2024 or not. We’ve also done a video on this laptop, so if you skipped the whole article and came to the conclusion directly, maybe have a look at the video here.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/12/2024
Source: T3
Honestly, you probably already know if this is the laptop for you. Are you an ordinary person? Buy a cheaper gaming laptop that is less cutting-edge. Are you a gaming legend in your own lunchtime? Do you spend more time streaming on Twitch than watching it? Then this might be a good pick: it’ll run any game you throw at it, providing the high-frame-rate, smooth gaming beauty that you need and offering enough processing power to run OBS in the background at the same time. There is no such thing as a future-proof laptop, but the M18 has enough power, memory, and storage to handle rapidly expanding games for a few years to come, while that massive 18-inch screen generally looks excellent. As long as you don’t need to move it too often, because it’s bloody heavy – which is hardly a surprise at this scale, but that's the biggest strength and weakness of the M18 all rolled into one, really.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/03/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: T3
Honestly, you probably already know if this is the laptop for you. Are you an ordinary person? Buy a cheaper gaming laptop that is less cutting-edge. Are you a gaming legend in your own lunchtime? Do you spend more time streaming on Twitch than watching it? Then this might be a good pick: it’ll run any game you throw at it, providing the high-frame-rate, smooth gaming beauty that you need and offering enough processing power to run OBS in the background at the same time. There is no such thing as a future-proof laptop, but the M18 has enough power, memory, and storage to handle rapidly expanding games for a few years to come, while that massive 18-inch screen generally looks excellent. As long as you don’t need to move it too often, because it’s bloody heavy – which is hardly a surprise at this scale, but that's the biggest strength and weakness of the M18 all rolled into one, really.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/03/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Mag
Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive. In that context, this is the best 18-inch gaming laptop we've tested yet. Just going toe-to-toe with the pricier Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and topping the sleeker Razer Blade 18 in performance weren't enough. Dell topped that off with a restrained but high-end design that is loaded with top-end extras, like a 1080p webcam and just enough RGB lights to play with.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/31/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Mag
Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive. In that context, this is the best 18-inch gaming laptop we've tested yet. Just going toe-to-toe with the pricier Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and topping the sleeker Razer Blade 18 in performance weren't enough. Dell topped that off with a restrained but high-end design that is loaded with top-end extras, like a 1080p webcam and just enough RGB lights to play with.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/31/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Hot Hardware
Unfortunately for the Alienware m18 R1, it doesn't quite have top-shelf gaming performance as it stands currently. It's not slow, not by any means. It's just that other laptops we've tested with GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs can offer superior gaming performance in many scenarios. Because of that, we struggle to recommend the Alienware m18 R1, which is a shame because it definitely has a fair degree of untapped potential it seems, along with good looks and some great features.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/23/2023
Source: Hot Hardware
Unfortunately for the Alienware m18 R1, it doesn't quite have top-shelf gaming performance as it stands currently. It's not slow, not by any means. It's just that other laptops we've tested with GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs can offer superior gaming performance in many scenarios. Because of that, we struggle to recommend the Alienware m18 R1, which is a shame because it definitely has a fair degree of untapped potential it seems, along with good looks and some great features.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/23/2023
Source: Techradar
The Alienware m18, in terms of pure gaming performance, is above its competition while maintaining a decent price point for the desktop replacement market. It also has an excellent mechanical keyboard and great sound, though CPU performance suffers a little.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/15/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 100% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
Source: Techradar
The Alienware m18, in terms of pure gaming performance, is above its competition while maintaining a decent price point for the desktop replacement market. It also has an excellent mechanical keyboard and great sound, though CPU performance suffers a little.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/15/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 100% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
Source: Tom's Guide
The Alienware m18 is the biggest, most powerful gaming laptop we've tested to date. It's too heavy, hot and loud to be of much use on the go, but when plugged in it runs the latest games as well as some of the best gaming PCs, truly earning the term desktop replacement.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/14/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Mash IT
Support, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/14/2023
Source: Tom's Guide
The Alienware m18 is the biggest, most powerful gaming laptop we've tested to date. It's too heavy, hot and loud to be of much use on the go, but when plugged in it runs the latest games as well as some of the best gaming PCs, truly earning the term desktop replacement.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/14/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Mash IT
Support, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/14/2023
Source: Mash IT
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/12/2023
Source: Mash IT
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/12/2023
Source: CNet
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/04/2023
Source: CNet
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/04/2023
Source: Tom's Guide
The Alienware m18 screams “go big or go home” due to its massive size and 18-inch display. And while this gaming laptop won’t be cheap, I can see it being a big seller for Dell. That’s because, if it lives up to what the company promises, this machine could be an effective desktop replacement. It could be an ideal machine for those who want a beefy computer but may not have room for a traditional desktop.
Hands-On, online available, Short, Date: 01/04/2023
Source: Engadget
At CES 2023, Alienware is unveiling its first 18-inch gaming laptop, the m18. It’s also debuting two new 16-inch models, the powerful Alienware m16, and the sleeker x16. And of course, last year’s 14-inch x14 also makes a return. Clearly Dell is focusing on a wide variety of options this year, from people who demand the most power to style-conscious gamers who want the thinnest machines possible.
Hands-On, online available, Medium, Date: 01/04/2023
Source: Tom's Guide
The Alienware m18 screams “go big or go home” due to its massive size and 18-inch display. And while this gaming laptop won’t be cheap, I can see it being a big seller for Dell. That’s because, if it lives up to what the company promises, this machine could be an effective desktop replacement. It could be an ideal machine for those who want a beefy computer but may not have room for a traditional desktop.
Hands-On, online available, Short, Date: 01/04/2023
Source: Engadget
At CES 2023, Alienware is unveiling its first 18-inch gaming laptop, the m18. It’s also debuting two new 16-inch models, the powerful Alienware m16, and the sleeker x16. And of course, last year’s 14-inch x14 also makes a return. Clearly Dell is focusing on a wide variety of options this year, from people who demand the most power to style-conscious gamers who want the thinnest machines possible.
Hands-On, online available, Medium, Date: 01/04/2023
Source: Trusted Reviews
The Alienware m18 marks the beginning of a new generation for gaming laptops, featuring an 18-inch screen and cutting-edge components from AMD, Intel and Nvidia. It’s too early to judge performance, but all signs suggest this to be one of the leading desktop replacement options for eSport players in 2023.
Hands-On, online available, Medium, Date: 01/03/2023
Source: Trusted Reviews
The Alienware m18 marks the beginning of a new generation for gaming laptops, featuring an 18-inch screen and cutting-edge components from AMD, Intel and Nvidia. It’s too early to judge performance, but all signs suggest this to be one of the leading desktop replacement options for eSport players in 2023.
Hands-On, online available, Medium, Date: 01/03/2023
Foreign Reviews
Source: 01Net FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/02/2023
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 100% mobility: 40%
Source: 01Net FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/02/2023
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 100% mobility: 40%
Source: Charles Tech FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/01/2023
Rating: Total score: 73% performance: 90% display: 90% mobility: 60%
Source: Charles Tech FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/01/2023
Rating: Total score: 73% performance: 90% display: 90% mobility: 60%
Source: Co Nowego PL→EN
Positive: Big screen; powerful hardware; high gaming performance; premium design; solid workmanship. Negative: Expensive.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/07/2024
Source: Co Nowego PL→EN
Positive: Big screen; powerful hardware; high gaming performance; premium design; solid workmanship. Negative: Expensive.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/07/2024
Source: Pemmzchannel ID→EN
Positive: Powerful processor; high gaming performance; impressive dual display.
Hands-On, online available, Short, Date: 01/11/2023
Source: Pemmzchannel ID→EN
Positive: Powerful processor; high gaming performance; impressive dual display.
Hands-On, online available, Short, Date: 01/11/2023
Alienware m18 R1, RTX 4090
Specifications
Notebook: Alienware m18 R1, RTX 4090Processor: Intel Raptor Lake-HX i9-13900HX
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU 16384 MB
Display: 18.00 inch, 16:10, 2560 x 1600 pixels
Weight: 4.23kg
Links: Alienware homepage Alienware notebook section
Price comparison
Average Score:
Reviews
Source: Hitech Century
Massive and powerful in equal measure, the Alienware M18 R1 is a behemoth of a gaming laptop. It does not come cheap, is immensely heavy and runs hot but the sheer power and performance it has to offer makes it ideal for gamers who demand top tier gaming performance
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/02/2024
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 60% performance: 100% display: 100% mobility: 60% workmanship: 80%
Source: Trusted Reviews
Thanks to Alienware’s wide range of options, you can pick up an M18 for well under £2000/$2000, but let’s assume you are after a high-end model with an RTX 4080 or better GPU, then you will be spending around £3000/$3000 or more. For that sort of money, you can get the 17-inch Medion Erazer Beast X40, Razer’s Blade 18 or the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. The Medion is worth consideration because it represents excellent value and comes with a mechanical keyboard as standard. If a super-fast display is what you are after, don’t forget the Gigabyte Aorus 17H, which pairs an RTX 4080 GPU with a 360Hz display. For just over £2000/$2000, it’s an eSports laptop par excellence. None of those machines are as physically imposing and visually extreme as the new Alienware M18. Every time I took it down from the shelf and opened it up, the sheer over-the-top size and styling brought a cheese-eating grin to my face, and that’s what I want when spending this sort of money on a gaming laptop. Check out our Best Gaming Laptop list for even more options.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/07/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Expert Reviews
Considering the very high price, the m18 should have a much better display. For just shy of £3,500, a rather dull 165Hz QHD+ panel, frankly, takes the proverbial. Granted, the 480Hz screen is only £100 more, but the idea of a 1,920 x 1,080 matrix stretched across 18 inches – that’s still only 122dpi – fails to excite any more than 165Hz at QHD+. The keyboard is a bit mundane too, though it works well enough. However, the m18 is so breathtakingly powerful I’m prepared to give it a pass on the workaday display and keyboard. At the end of the day, no other gaming laptop can so effortlessly run even the most demanding titles with all the graphic bells and whistles turned on, and that is primarily what I want for my money. Hook this m18 up to a good gaming monitor, like the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM, and you will have a superb gaming rig and a good laptop.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/15/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Expert Reviews
Considering the very high price, the m18 should have a much better display. For just shy of £3,500, a rather dull 165Hz QHD+ panel, frankly, takes the proverbial. Granted, the 480Hz screen is only £100 more, but the idea of a 1,920 x 1,080 matrix stretched across 18 inches – that’s still only 122dpi – fails to excite any more than 165Hz at QHD+. The keyboard is a bit mundane too, though it works well enough. However, the m18 is so breathtakingly powerful I’m prepared to give it a pass on the workaday display and keyboard. At the end of the day, no other gaming laptop can so effortlessly run even the most demanding titles with all the graphic bells and whistles turned on, and that is primarily what I want for my money. Hook this m18 up to a good gaming monitor, like the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM, and you will have a superb gaming rig and a good laptop.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/18/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Log.com.tr TR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/01/2023
Rating: Total score: 87%
Alienware m18 R1 AMD
Specifications
Notebook: Alienware m18 R1 AMDProcessor: AMD Dragon Range (Zen 4, Ryzen 7045) R9 7945HX
Graphics Adapter: AMD Radeon RX 7900M 16384 MB
Display: 18.00 inch, 16:10, 1920 x 1200 pixels
Weight: 3.894kg
Price: 2300 euro
Links: Alienware homepage Alienware notebook section
Price comparison
Reviews
AMD knocked it out of the park with its Ryzen series of mobile CPUs, but there's no question that its discrete mobile GPUs have been falling behind. The Radeon RX 7900M rights the ship by being just as powerful as the mobile RTX 4080 for hundreds of dollars less.
Alienware m18 R2
Specifications
Notebook: Alienware m18 R2Processor: Intel Raptor Lake-HX i9-14900HX
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU 16384 MB
Display: 18.00 inch, 16:10, 2560 x 1600 pixels
Weight: 3.955kg
Price: 3300 euro
Links: Alienware homepage Alienware notebook section
Price comparison
Average Score:
Reviews
It may be called the Alienware m18 R2, but it's more like the Alienware m18 R1.1. The CPU and GPU perform identically to last year's model for no major year-over-year improvements. Save yourself a few hundred dollars by opting for the m18 R1 version instead.
Source: 91mobiles
So, at the end of the day, does the Dell Alienware m18 R2 justify its beefy price tag? Considering that it’s a desktop replacement, one can forgive the poor battery life to some extent, and make peace with the lack of an OLED display. Other than that, there’s hardly anything to complain about the laptop. It offers a premium design, an excellent keyboard, all possible connectivity ports you’d need, and flagship-grade performance which is complimented by a heavy-duty thermal solution. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, the m18 R2 is definitely worth considering.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/15/2024
Rating: Total score: 85% performance: 90% display: 80% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
Source: 91mobiles
So, at the end of the day, does the Dell Alienware m18 R2 justify its beefy price tag? Considering that it’s a desktop replacement, one can forgive the poor battery life to some extent, and make peace with the lack of an OLED display. Other than that, there’s hardly anything to complain about the laptop. It offers a premium design, an excellent keyboard, all possible connectivity ports you’d need, and flagship-grade performance which is complimented by a heavy-duty thermal solution. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, the m18 R2 is definitely worth considering.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/15/2024
Rating: Total score: 85% performance: 90% display: 80% mobility: 40% workmanship: 80%
Source: Zdnet.com
Dell's Alienware m18 R2 is right at the top of the line when it comes to the best gaming laptops. This is a powerful machine with a distinct identity that can handle virtually any game you want with vibrant graphics, blazing fast speeds, and can even get dressed for the office at the press of a button. However, this is also quite a large laptop, so although it's portable, it isn't exactly carry-and-go, and it isn't a machine that you can leave unplugged for hours at a time. Pricing can easily rise toward the higher end too, but the cutting-edge technology solidifies the m18 R2 as something that will be near the top of the laptop market for a while.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/10/2024
Source: Zdnet.com
Dell's Alienware m18 R2 is right at the top of the line when it comes to the best gaming laptops. This is a powerful machine with a distinct identity that can handle virtually any game you want with vibrant graphics, blazing fast speeds, and can even get dressed for the office at the press of a button. However, this is also quite a large laptop, so although it's portable, it isn't exactly carry-and-go, and it isn't a machine that you can leave unplugged for hours at a time. Pricing can easily rise toward the higher end too, but the cutting-edge technology solidifies the m18 R2 as something that will be near the top of the laptop market for a while.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/10/2024
Source: Stuff TV
The M18 R2 is a desktop replacement in every sense of the world. In top spec guise it has the 2D and gaming performance to rival pre-build tower PCs, and there are enough ports here to plug in almost every peripheral you could name. Alienware’s styling is as on point as ever, and the base price isn’t too outlandish if you’re prepared to make some sacrifices. A merely OK screen isn’t so much of a dealbreaker if you play on an external monitor, too. I can’t ignore that rivals such as the Acer Predator Helios 18 offer mini-LED panels for similar cash, though. The M18 R2 is also an especially heavy laptop, with pretty average battery life.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/09/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Stuff TV
The M18 R2 is a desktop replacement in every sense of the world. In top spec guise it has the 2D and gaming performance to rival pre-build tower PCs, and there are enough ports here to plug in almost every peripheral you could name. Alienware’s styling is as on point as ever, and the base price isn’t too outlandish if you’re prepared to make some sacrifices. A merely OK screen isn’t so much of a dealbreaker if you play on an external monitor, too. I can’t ignore that rivals such as the Acer Predator Helios 18 offer mini-LED panels for similar cash, though. The M18 R2 is also an especially heavy laptop, with pretty average battery life.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/09/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Tom's Guide
As far as gaming laptops go, you’d have a hard time finding another that performs as well as the Alienware m18 R2. While pricey, the m18 R2 doesn’t disappoint when playing the latest games at the highest settings on that huge 18-inch display. And if you’re a creator, the addition of a full HDMI port, Mini Display port, and an SD card, means you can quickly go from shooting to editing on large monitors in a matter of minutes — you can leave the stupid USB dongles/hubs at home where they belong. Granted, the m18 R2 is very big, so you’ll have to plan around that. That laptop bag you’re used to taking on flights may have to make way for a much bigger one, but that’s a small price to pay when you get a full-fledged desktop experience you can (kind of) take on the go.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/27/2024
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Tom's Guide
As far as gaming laptops go, you’d have a hard time finding another that performs as well as the Alienware m18 R2. While pricey, the m18 R2 doesn’t disappoint when playing the latest games at the highest settings on that huge 18-inch display. And if you’re a creator, the addition of a full HDMI port, Mini Display port, and an SD card, means you can quickly go from shooting to editing on large monitors in a matter of minutes — you can leave the stupid USB dongles/hubs at home where they belong. Granted, the m18 R2 is very big, so you’ll have to plan around that. That laptop bag you’re used to taking on flights may have to make way for a much bigger one, but that’s a small price to pay when you get a full-fledged desktop experience you can (kind of) take on the go.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/27/2024
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Laptop Media
Support, online available, Short, Date: 05/04/2024
Source: Laptop Media
Support, online available, Short, Date: 05/04/2024
Source: Laptop Media
There is no doubt that the Alienware m18 R2 is a capable gaming machine. We also like the design that easily stands out among the competition. The chassis is stable, well-built, and feels premium to the touch which corresponds to the high expectations of such an expensive piece of tech. Also, the input devices are comfortable. For the fans of RGB lighting, this device offers plenty of illuminated areas including the lid, the back, the Power button, and the keyboard. The overall performance is definitely on point. The cooling is potent and this leads to a high CPU and GPU clocks during long full system loads. Still, the observed frequencies aren’t unprecedented. Opening the laptop is pretty easy. Unfortunately, the CPU and GPU are placed on the other side of the board and you don’t have direct access to them.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/03/2024
Source: Laptop Media
There is no doubt that the Alienware m18 R2 is a capable gaming machine. We also like the design that easily stands out among the competition. The chassis is stable, well-built, and feels premium to the touch which corresponds to the high expectations of such an expensive piece of tech. Also, the input devices are comfortable. For the fans of RGB lighting, this device offers plenty of illuminated areas including the lid, the back, the Power button, and the keyboard. The overall performance is definitely on point. The cooling is potent and this leads to a high CPU and GPU clocks during long full system loads. Still, the observed frequencies aren’t unprecedented. Opening the laptop is pretty easy. Unfortunately, the CPU and GPU are placed on the other side of the board and you don’t have direct access to them.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/03/2024
Source: CNet
A simple refresh of the debut model, the Alienware m18 R1, the m18 R2's main differences from its predecessor are the 14th-gen Intel HX CPUs it now uses and updated networking. It's still a powerful gaming-laptop-slash-desktop-replacement, but I can't help be a little disappointed by the display choices. If you plan to use a standalone monitor most of the time, it's not that big a deal, though. The line starts at roughly $1,900, which is on the low side compared to competitors like the Asus ROG Strix G18, Acer Predator Helios Neo 18, Razer Blade 18 and more, but that's primarily because their base configurations are in some way higher-powered than the m18. The Alienware starts at a Core i7-14650HX and GeForce RTX 4060, while the rest start with a Core i9-14900HX and/or RTX 4070, along with the same display as the m18 or better.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/25/2024
Rating: Total score: 84%
Source: CNet
A simple refresh of the debut model, the Alienware m18 R1, the m18 R2's main differences from its predecessor are the 14th-gen Intel HX CPUs it now uses and updated networking. It's still a powerful gaming-laptop-slash-desktop-replacement, but I can't help be a little disappointed by the display choices. If you plan to use a standalone monitor most of the time, it's not that big a deal, though. The line starts at roughly $1,900, which is on the low side compared to competitors like the Asus ROG Strix G18, Acer Predator Helios Neo 18, Razer Blade 18 and more, but that's primarily because their base configurations are in some way higher-powered than the m18. The Alienware starts at a Core i7-14650HX and GeForce RTX 4060, while the rest start with a Core i9-14900HX and/or RTX 4070, along with the same display as the m18 or better.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/25/2024
Rating: Total score: 84%
Source: Jarrod'sTech
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/19/2024
Source: Jarrod'sTech
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/19/2024
Source: T3
The Alienware M18 R2 remains among the best large gaming laptops, with the improvements on this year's model underlining its success. There’s a definite speed bump from the 14th Gen Intel processor and the Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, while the cooling system deals admirably with the system's considerable heat. It’s still a noisy beast, though, and being an 18-inch model it inevitably weighs a lot. That’s the trade-off for high-end gaming laptops, though, but serious gamers will really enjoy all it offers.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/14/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: T3
The Alienware M18 R2 remains among the best large gaming laptops, with the improvements on this year's model underlining its success. There’s a definite speed bump from the 14th Gen Intel processor and the Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, while the cooling system deals admirably with the system's considerable heat. It’s still a noisy beast, though, and being an 18-inch model it inevitably weighs a lot. That’s the trade-off for high-end gaming laptops, though, but serious gamers will really enjoy all it offers.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/14/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC World
The Alienware m18 R2 is an incredibly powerful laptop—it can max the settings on any current PC game, and it will probably be able to run any title at native resolution for at least a few years. The mechanical keyboard is fantastic, and for a 10-pound laptop, the design is rather sleek. Just don’t expect to game for hours on battery power. The RTX 4090 will bleed the big 97 Wh battery dry in under two hours. The Core i9 CPU and RTX 4090 inside bump the price of my test unit to $3,550, but even the base model with a Core i7 and RTX 4060 is almost $2,000. This is an objectively expensive laptop, but every laptop with this kind of hardware comes with a big price tag. It’s a matter of priorities. If high-fidelity gaming is what you want from your laptop, it’s hard to do better than the Alienware m18 R2.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/11/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC World
The Alienware m18 R2 is an incredibly powerful laptop—it can max the settings on any current PC game, and it will probably be able to run any title at native resolution for at least a few years. The mechanical keyboard is fantastic, and for a 10-pound laptop, the design is rather sleek. Just don’t expect to game for hours on battery power. The RTX 4090 will bleed the big 97 Wh battery dry in under two hours. The Core i9 CPU and RTX 4090 inside bump the price of my test unit to $3,550, but even the base model with a Core i7 and RTX 4060 is almost $2,000. This is an objectively expensive laptop, but every laptop with this kind of hardware comes with a big price tag. It’s a matter of priorities. If high-fidelity gaming is what you want from your laptop, it’s hard to do better than the Alienware m18 R2.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/11/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Mag
The Alienware m18 R2 holds few surprises, pumping up an already fast enthusiast-grade gaming laptop with an even quicker chip. The generational gap is noticeable when put head-to-head, but it is not significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the R1 model or a similar recently purchased laptop. The 14th Gen Intel Core i9 HX CPU is still the fastest option around, though, if you’re upgrading from a much older system and looking for the highest possible speeds. On its own merits, this is a slick, well-made, and top-performing desktop-replacement system. Comparing the Alienware m18 R2 with the other 18-inch laptops profiled here doesn’t do it many favors—you may as well opt for getting maximum power out of the system rather than emphasizing thinness since none of these machines is all that portable, and the M18 R2 still weighs the most.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/02/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Mag
The Alienware m18 R2 holds few surprises, pumping up an already fast enthusiast-grade gaming laptop with an even quicker chip. The generational gap is noticeable when put head-to-head, but it is not significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the R1 model or a similar recently purchased laptop. The 14th Gen Intel Core i9 HX CPU is still the fastest option around, though, if you’re upgrading from a much older system and looking for the highest possible speeds. On its own merits, this is a slick, well-made, and top-performing desktop-replacement system. Comparing the Alienware m18 R2 with the other 18-inch laptops profiled here doesn’t do it many favors—you may as well opt for getting maximum power out of the system rather than emphasizing thinness since none of these machines is all that portable, and the M18 R2 still weighs the most.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/02/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Zdnet.com
Dell's Alienware m18 R2 is right at the top of the line when it comes to the best gaming laptops. This is a powerful machine with a distinct identity that can handle virtually any game you want with vibrant graphics, blazing fast speeds, and can even get dressed for the office at the press of a button. However, this is also quite a large laptop, so although it's portable, it isn't exactly carry-and-go, and it isn't a machine that you can leave unplugged for hours at a time. Pricing can easily rise toward the higher end too, but the cutting-edge technology solidifies the m18 R2 as something that will be near the top of the laptop market for a while.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/22/2024
Source: Zdnet.com
Dell's Alienware m18 R2 is right at the top of the line when it comes to the best gaming laptops. This is a powerful machine with a distinct identity that can handle virtually any game you want with vibrant graphics, blazing fast speeds, and can even get dressed for the office at the press of a button. However, this is also quite a large laptop, so although it's portable, it isn't exactly carry-and-go, and it isn't a machine that you can leave unplugged for hours at a time. Pricing can easily rise toward the higher end too, but the cutting-edge technology solidifies the m18 R2 as something that will be near the top of the laptop market for a while.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/22/2024
Source: Mash IT
The Alienware m18 r2 new for 2024 with the 14th gen intel processors and 270w of combined CPU and GPU power budget. A large desktop replacement laptop that easily could replace most desktops.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/16/2024
Source: Mash IT
The Alienware m18 r2 new for 2024 with the 14th gen intel processors and 270w of combined CPU and GPU power budget. A large desktop replacement laptop that easily could replace most desktops.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/16/2024
Foreign Reviews
Source: PC Welt DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/27/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Welt DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 04/27/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Clubic FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/10/2024
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 100% display: 70% mobility: 60% workmanship: 70%
Source: Clubic FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/10/2024
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 100% display: 70% mobility: 60% workmanship: 70%
Source: CNet France FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/28/2024
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: CNet France FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/28/2024
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Charles Tech FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/04/2024
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 100% display: 90% mobility: 70%
Source: Charles Tech FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/04/2024
Rating: Total score: 86% performance: 100% display: 90% mobility: 70%
Source: Laptopmedia CN zh-CN→EN
Positive: Slim size; light weight; good cooling system; powerful CPU & GPU; great ergonomics; rich set of ports; excellent display. Negative: Heavy; slow 15W charging; high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/03/2024
Source: Laptopmedia CN zh-CN→EN
Positive: Slim size; light weight; good cooling system; powerful CPU & GPU; great ergonomics; rich set of ports; excellent display. Negative: Heavy; slow 15W charging; high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/03/2024
Comment
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.
These graphics cards are able to play the latest and most demanding games in high resolutions and full detail settings with enabled Anti-Aliasing.
NVIDIA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU: High-end laptop graphics card based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. Offers 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM with a 256 Bit memory bus and can be configured with 80 - 150 TDP settings (+ Dynamic Boost).
AMD Radeon RX 7900M: Fast high-end mobile graphics card based on the RDNA 3 architecture. Offers 4,608 cores (72 CUs) at a TDP of up to 200 Watt (including SmartShift). Uses the Navi 31 chip that is manufactured in 5nm at TSMC.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Raptor Lake-HX:
i9-13980HX: Mobile CPU of the Raptor Lake series that offers 24 cores (8 performance, 16 efficiency cores) with a Boost core of up to 5.8 GHz for the P-cores. Similar to the Desktop i9-13900K but with reduced clock speeds and TDP.
i9-13900HX: Mobile CPU based on the Raptor Lake series that offers 24 cores (8 performance, 16 efficiency cores) with a Boost core of up to 5.8 GHz for the P-cores. Similar to the Desktop i9-13900K but with reduced clock speeds and TDP.
i9-14900HX: High-end mobile hybrid processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture with 24 cores and 32 threads. Clocks at a maximum of 5.8 GHz (P cores).
AMD Dragon Range (Zen 4, Ryzen 7045):
R9 7945HX: High-End mobile 16-core processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. The CPU cores clock at up to 5.4 GHz and execute 32 threads simultaneously. The TDP is configurable between 55 and 75 Watt.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
3.891 kg:
A laptop with this weight is comparatively heavy and less designed for mobility than for use at the desk. Therefore, the devices tend to shine less with battery life than with a large screen and higher performance.
4.23 kg:
A laptop in this weight range is a heavyweight that you rarely carry around. This is meant for desktops and the devices tend to score with a large display and high performance and replace desktop devices.
81.31%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.