Gaming laptops generate a lot of heat, and Dell has long offered its Alienware gaming laptops, like the Alienware X16 R2 and Alienware M18, with large “butts,” or more formally cooling racks, to help dissipate it. But the problem with a large back on a laptop is that it looks a bit funny and makes it a bit more difficult to pack, so the Alienware M16 R2 has taken a slight step back in terms of “booty.”
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If you don't like big butts, Alienware has a new gaming laptop for you.
Alienware's latest gaming laptop, the M16 R2, has reduced its bulk
It limits itself a bit on GPU power to deliver an experience that whispers "gamer," rather than shouts it.
Compared to the previous generation, the Alienware M16 R1, the M16 R2 is just 9.82 inches deep, which is 1.58 inches less, or a 14% reduction in depth. It lacks the large cooling rack that is characteristic of Alienware. This should make it easier to use on your lap or in a crowded student dining room.
The M16 R2 also features a new “Stealth Mode” that will let you quickly switch the RGB keyboard lighting to a more muted white, turning off any extra RGB and setting the performance profile to Quiet mode . All to go along with that less obtrusive backplate (officially dubbed a “thermal shelf” by Dell) and just by pressing the Fn and F2 keys.
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The idea here is that the Alienware M16 R2 is aimed at people who want to play a lot of games, but also want to sometimes use their gaming laptop as a regular laptop and not worry about strange looks as their laptop glows like a Las Vegas night and sounds like the engines of a 737.
Along these lines, the M16 R2 will only be available with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070.
In addition to being equipped with a 4050, 4060, or 4070, the M16 R2 also comes with a 16-inch display , 240Hz refresh rate , 2500 x 1600 resolution , up to 64GB of RAM , up to 4TB of SSD storage (or 8TB if you choose dual storage in a RAID 0 array), a 280W AC charger (although there is an option for a smaller 240W GaN charger), and an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor (the Ultra 9 185H will be optional at a later time).
The Alienware M16 R2 will be available on January 11th and will start at $1,649.99.
Sometime later this year a cheaper entry-level model will be available starting at $1,499.99.
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If you want more GPU power, you should step up to the Alienware X16 R2.
Alienware isn't getting rid of the "butt" in general - it's just keeping the display for more demanding laptops. The higher-end Alienware X16 R2 retains its cooling rack, which means it's a much larger laptop but can fit up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090.
In terms of processor and storage, it offers the same options as the Alienware M16 R2, but curiously it tops out at 32GB of RAM . On the display front, it has also been upgraded to a 16″ QHD+ display with an impressive 240Hz refresh rate . Also, while per-key RGB lighting is optional on the M16 R2, it will be standard on the X16 R2.
As for the power adapter, it's typically bundled with a 240W GaN charger, but there's also an option for a faster 360W GaN if you opt for the more powerful version of the X16 R2. Essentially, it's the 16-inch Alienware laptop to choose if power and healthy RGB lighting are more important to you than portability and stealth.
The Alienware X16 R2 doesn't have a release date yet, but it will start at $2,099.99.
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As for the Alienware M18, that laptop is still around. This year's M18 R2 hasn't undergone a radical redesign, but it does get upgrades to the latest 14th-generation Intel processors. You can get it with an i7 14650HX, i7 14700HX, or i9 14900HX. It will feature up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, up to 64GB of RAM , and the same storage options as Alienware's other new laptops.
As for the display, you can choose between an 18″ QHD+ display with a 165Hz refresh rate or a lower resolution 1920 x 1200 display with impressive numbers up to a 480Hz refresh rate . It also features a FHD IR webcam with HDR for better live streams on Twitch and Zoom calls. The Alienware M18 R2 with a 4060 or 4070 GPU will have a 240W charger bundled in , while the more powerful laptops will get a 360W GaN charger .
The Alienware M18 R2 launches on January 11th with a starting price of $1,899.99, but you'll have to wait if you want the 4080 or 4090 configurations. Those won't be available until later in the year.
Source: theverge
