Conclusion
Conclusion
After the Alienware M18 R1, which we found excellent in many respects but too cumbersome, the M16 R1 version has finally made us love gaming laptops. Here we have a graphics card with enough performance to suit most users, if the latest Steam readings are to be believed. The RTX 4070 is as good for gaming as it is for content creation and productivity. Coupled with the latest Ryzen 9 7845HX on Zen 4 architecture and a highly responsive SSD, this machine is a real find. The only drawback is the screen, which is truly magnificent and pleasant out of the box, but needs to be recalibrated.
In terms of possible configurations, we’d prefer the 2×16 Gb version for those who don’t want to get their hands dirty. And for others, a 2×8 Gb version with a RAM upgrade to 2×16 or 2×32 Gb at 5600Mt/s. All RAM and SSD options are expensive and should be avoided. On the other hand, upgrading the screen to 240 Hz (which also brings DCI-P3 to 100%) is a no-brainer, given its relatively low extra cost.
As a reminder, the Dell Alienware M16 R1 is available for €2,889. 50 in its R9-7845HX, RTX 4070 and 32 Gb RAM version, which we test here. The price has been revised downwards to €2,589.50 during this year’s sales.
The version with Radeon RX 7600M XT is of great interest to me because, on paper, it’s an RX 7600 running at the same frequencies. And the RX 7600 desktop seems to offer the same performance as the RTX 4070 powering the M16 R1. This choice could reduce the bill by an additional €200, which is not insignificant.
The Dell Alienware M18 R1
We liked:
- CPU performance
- GPU performance
- High-performance cooling for the GPU
- High-performance SSD
- Well-designed keyboard
- DLSS 3 gain
- 60 FPS in ultra Ray Tracing on all 1440p DLSS titles
- Build quality
We would have liked :
- A more open BIOS
- Faster RAM
- Proper calibration of the factory screen
- Less polluted Windows
- More VRAM
“I want the same” were the first words that came to mind when I unpacked this Alienware M16 R1 and put it to work for the first time. Has the verdict changed after this test? Well, no, even if the lack of VRAM doesn’t make it very future-proof or its screen could be even better. This laptop deserves our attention, if only for its ultra-high-performance Zen 4 CPU, its productivity results and its build quality.
