If you’re in the market for a high-performance gaming laptop, Alienware is a name that likely comes to mind. The latest addition to the Alienware family, the Dell Alienware M18, certainly lives up to this reputation. But what really sets it apart is, its impressive upgradeability, efficient cooling system, and advanced power controls.
In this review, we’ll delve into details of what makes the Alienware M18 such a powerful and customizable gaming laptop.
Also Read: Google Pixel 6 Pro in 2023: Review, Performance, and Drawbacks
The Design
Similar to other top-of-the-line Alienware laptops, the new Alienware M18 exudes the signature Alienware vibe. Boasting a sturdy aluminum lid and solid build quality with no flex, it’s clear that attention to detail was a priority during the design process.
The laptop is also adorned with customizable RGB lighting, featuring an RGB Alienware logo, an RGB Alienware power button, and a striking RGB strip on the back. Overall, the Alienware M18 offers a combination of sleek design and customizable features that is sure to appeal to gamers and tech enthusiasts alike.
The selection of ports on this laptop is impressive. On the left side, there is an RJ45 port, a USB-A port, and a combo jack. At the back, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, a power in, a miniDisplay port, HDMI 2.1, and an SD card reader.
On the right side, there is only one USB-C port. The battery on this laptop is massive, with a capacity of 97Whr. However, given the powerful specs, the battery life is not exceptional. With the display set to iGPU mode using the MUX Switch, we got around 4 to 4.5 hours of battery life.
Dell Alienware M18 Specs
The Alienware M18 R1 is a high-performance gaming laptop that truly stands out when it comes to specs. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features.
The laptop is customizable with Core i9 HX CPUs, including the powerful 4080 and 4090 variants. The model we’re reviewing boasts a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU with an impressive 24 cores, 32 threads, and 180W of turbo power.
The GPU is also top-notch, featuring the new NVIDIA RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB of fast GDDR6 VRAM, up to 175W of TGP, and more. In terms of storage and memory, the Alienware M18 doesn’t disappoint either. It’s equipped with 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, boasting a speed of 4800MHz, and 2TB of Gen4 SSD storage, configured in Raid 0 for insanely fast speeds.
While there may be doubts about Raid 0 due to the risk of data loss if either drive fails, it’s important to note that this is a premium laptop with built-in safeguards to minimize the risk. Overall, the specs of the Alienware M18 are truly impressive and make it a top contender for anyone seeking a high-performance gaming laptop.
Upgrade
The Alienware M18 offers an impressive level of upgradeability, with a total of 4 SSD slots that can accommodate up to 9TB of storage. It’s worth noting that two of these slots are smaller 2280-type slots. The laptop’s two RAM slots support up to 64GB RAM, with XMP memory support of up to 5600MHz.
Additionally, the WiFi card can be upgraded for those who need even faster connectivity. Overall, the Alienware M18 provides ample room for customization and upgrades, making it a great choice for gamers and tech enthusiasts who value flexibility and scalability.
Gaming Performance
Given the high-end specifications, you might be wondering about the gaming performance of the Alienware M18. As a gaming laptop, it certainly delivers impressive performance that lives up to its top-of-the-line reputation. With its powerful components and advanced features, the Alienware M18 delivers a truly immersive gaming experience that is sure to satisfy even the most demanding gamers.
| Game Title | Settings | Resolution | FPS (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk | Maxed Out | QHD | 20-30 (without DLSS) 80-90 (with DLSS) |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake Chainsaw Demo | Ultra | QHD | 75-120 |
| Ghostwire Tokyo | Maxed Out | QHD | Around 80 |
As you can see from the table, the Alienware M18 delivers impressive performance for a range of AAA titles. For example, Cyberpunk runs at around 20-30 FPS at QHD resolution and maxed out settings, but thanks to the new feature in RTX 40 series GPUs, DLSS 3 AI Frame Generation, we got an FPS in the range of 80-90, which is incredible. Resident Evil 4 Remake Chainsaw Demo runs at 75-120 FPS at QHD resolution and ultra settings, while Ghostwire Tokyo runs at around 80 FPS at QHD resolution with maxed-out settings and DLSS on.
Overall, the Alienware M18 can handle any game at 4K/1440p ultra settings and its benchmark scores are also impressive.
Also Read: Google Pixel 7A Price in India, Full Specs & Release Date Confirm
Dell Alienware M18 Display
The Alienware M18 R1 features a stunning 18-inch QHD+ WVA display that’s perfect for gaming. With a 165Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, this IPS-level panel delivers sharp, colorful visuals that make movies and games come alive.
The display also boasts a fast 3ms response time and a deep 1000:1 contrast ratio, which is especially noticeable in graphics-intensive games like Cyberpunk. While the brightness level of 300 nits is decent, some users may find it lacking.
It’s worth noting that the 480Hz variant of this display is not currently available in India.
Dell Alienware M18 Thermals
When it comes to cooling, the Alienware M18 R1 exceeded expectations. The Cyro-tech cooling system boasts four fans and seven heat pipes, as well as an extended vapor chamber and the use of Element 31 liquid metal.
Additionally, the laptop features grills on the back and front for heat dissipation. All of these elements work together to provide exceptional thermal management, with no thermal throttling. Although the CPU occasionally reaches temperatures of 100 degrees, this is expected for i9 CPUs and does not affect performance.
However, it should be noted that the fans can be quite loud, particularly when using the Overdrive mode, and the use of headphones is recommended.
Some Features
The Alienware M18 has a new Alienware Command Center that allows you to personalize performance and thermals according to your preferences.
Additionally, the laptop comes with a high-quality mechanical keyboard from Cherry that has a full-size layout with a Numpad. The mechanical switches provide great stability, and key response, and have a lot of travel. However, the top function row is not mechanical.
The trackpad is also responsive and smooth, with no issues. The laptop’s dual 4W bottom-firing speakers produce a wide soundstage with decent loudness, but no bass. The 2MP FHD webcam is of good quality for a gaming laptop and supports Windows Hello login.
Also Read: Nothing Phone 1 Review In 2023, Price, Specs, Performance
Dell Alienware M18 Price
Let’s discuss the pricing now.
The Alienware M18 will be released in two variants in India, with the model we possess priced at Rs. 3,59,990. The 4090 variant of the laptop is priced at Rs. 4,39,990. Additionally, Dell’s Back to School campaign offers various deals that you can benefit from. You may scan the QR code provided here to see all the offers after pausing the video.
While the price may be somewhat higher, the significant selling point of the Alienware M18 is that it is an Alienware and includes all the high-end specifications and features that you anticipate.
Also Read: Google Pixel 6a In 2023, Price, Specs, Launch Date