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Alienware 15 R4: A Bulky But Powerful Gaming Laptop

The Alienware 15 R4 leans hard into gaming power over portability—and it shows. It packs an overclocked full-size NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU (8GB GDDR5) and a bright G-Sync display, tearing through high-settings games like Middle-earth: Shadow of War (75-80 fps at 1080p Ultra) and earning a perfect 11/11 on SteamVR tests. It’s also easy to upgrade—RAM and storage only need basic tools—and has a comfortable keyboard with deep 2mm key travel. But it’s bulky (7.8 lbs, 15.3x12x1 inches) next to slimmer rivals like the Razer Blade 15, and its 8th Gen Core i7 lags behind competitors in productivity benchmarks.​

Design-wise, the Alienware 15 R4 sticks to its iconic “spaceship” look, now in a sleeker black finish (still chunky, though). The 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen is bright (311 nits) and covers 119% sRGB, great for gaming, but its bezels are noticeably large. RGB lighting adds flair—13 customizable options, including the alien-shaped power button and touchpad—and the deck has a soft-touch wrist rest. Ports are abundant: USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, Ethernet, and a graphics amp port (thanks to a forward-shifted hinge), though the touchpad is smaller than ideal (3.9x2.1 inches). Audio is loud enough to fill a room, with clear vocals, but lacks enhancement software like Waves MaxxAudio.​

Battery life hits 5 hours 15 minutes (better than the premium gaming average of 3:40) but requires hauling a big power brick. Heat is a downside, too—even light use (15 mins of YouTube) pushes the keyboard to 102°F, and gaming heats the bottom to 124°F. Dell includes useful tools: Alienware Command Center (game library, RGB control) and Killer Control Center (bandwidth prioritization), plus minimal bloatware (only McAfee preinstalled). With a 1-year warranty, it’s a solid pick for gamers who prioritize raw power over portability—but productivity users or anyone wanting a slim laptop should look elsewhere.

Dell Alienware 15 R4 Specifications

Display	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS (60Hz, G-Sync),HPJGK M2J38 For Dell Alienware 15 R4 FHD LCD Screen Assembly Complete Black
Processor	Intel Core i7-8750H
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5)
Memory	16GB DDR4-2400MHz
Storage	256GB PCIe m.2
Camera	FHD webcam
Networking	Killer 1435 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi, Ethernet jack
Battery	Optional 99Whr, 68Whr standard
Operating system	Windows 10 Home
Colours	Black
Weight	7.8 pounds