Alienware m15 R6vsAcer Swift 3x

We compare these two popular phones to help you decide which one fits your needs and budget better.

Alienware
Alienware m15 R6
m15 R6

Quick Stats

The Alienware m15 R6 delivers decent gaming performance, despite inconsistent frame rates and memory bottlenecks limiting results.
The Alienware m15 R6's build has a mixed bag of pros and cons with decent cooling and display options.
The display on the Alienware m15 R6 is decent but not exceptional despite its premium price tag.
The Alienware m15 R6 boasts decent brightness and color gamut with advanced Optimus and MUX capabilities.
Acer
Acer Swift 3x
Swift 3x

Quick Stats

Acer Swift 3x boasts enhanced performance with Intel's dedicated GPU, particularly in Adobe Photoshop and transcoding tasks.
The Acer Swift 3x's build quality is subpar due to a squishy deck and inaccurate touchpad.
The Acer Swift 3x's display falls short of expectations at this price point due to lackluster brightness and color accuracy.
The Acer Swift 3x features Intel's first dedicated GPU, Iris Xe Max, with integrated GPU.
Key Differences

No significant specification differences found between these devices.

Rank
Alienware m15 R6
#606
Acer Swift 3x
Winner
#603
Scores by Category
Rankings
Connectivity
Alienware m15 R6
#600
Acer Swift 3x
#429
Winner
Display
Alienware m15 R6
#582
Acer Swift 3x
#562
Winner
Performance
Alienware m15 R6
#179
Winner
Acer Swift 3x
#719
Build
Alienware m15 R6
#416
Acer Swift 3x
#123
Winner
Features
Alienware m15 R6
#679
Acer Swift 3x
#8
Winner

Note: Lower rank number indicates a better position in category.

Specifications Comparison
Specification
Alienware Alienware m15 R6
Acer Acer Swift 3x
up to 64GB
up to 16GB
up to 4000GB SSD
up to 2000GB SSD
Intel Core i7-11800H
Intel Core i7-1165G7
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (Laptop)
Intel Iris Xe Max
N/A
2x 2280 PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 See photo

Note: Highlighted specifications show differences between the two devices.

Pros and Cons

Alienware m15 R6

Strengths

The screen had decent brightness, color gamut and advanced Optimus with MUX switch.
I was impressed that it wasn’t getting as hot on the internals compared to other Dell/Alienware models, I didn’t even have to adjust the TCC offset which could be used to control temperatures at the expense of performance.
The keyboard and touchpad were decent, though I can’t see myself paying $150 USD more for the upgrade to Cherry keys.
Gaming on an external screen with HDMI plus Optimus off was slower than Optimus on for some reason, hopefully that’s just some sort of buy that can be fixed.
DisplayPort output over Type-C wasn’t working in my unit, hopefully that’s just mine.
The keyboard and touchpad were decent, though I can’t see myself paying $150 USD more for the upgrade to Cherry keys.

Weaknesses

No specific cons listed for this device

Acer Swift 3x

Strengths

The dedicated GPU works well with integrated GPU to provide better performance
Tons of ports, including HDMI, USB, and Thunderbolt 4
This laptop can handle streaming at 1080p at 60 FPS without dropping frames
Heat management is great, with minimal overheating
Iris XC Max provides a good performance increase in applications that utilize it properly
Transcoding and rendering tasks are significantly faster with both GPUs working together
This laptop has tons of ports, including HDMI, USB, and Thunderbolt 4
The keyboard is very comfortable to type on
It's great for actual streaming, thanks to its Iris XC Max GPU

Weaknesses

The build quality and materials used are not in line with the competition
The deck feels squishy, and the touchpad is inaccurate
The display is only 1080p, which is not ideal at this price point
It doesn't come close to the screen brightness or color accuracy of a MacBook Air at the same price
The webcam is only 720p, which is not great for working from home
Fan noise can be very loud when in performance mode
Battery life is limited, with around 5 hours of use before needing to charge (advertised as 17 hours)
Not much of a performance increase compared to the standard Iris XC GPU
The price point is high at $1200, considering it's not a gaming laptop
Read Full Reviews

Alienware m15 R6

The Alienware M15 R6 is a high-performance gaming laptop that promises to deliver exceptional power and portability. With its Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics, and up to 64GB of RAM, this machine is designed to tackle the most demanding games and applications. However, at a starting price of $1380, it's clear that this laptop isn't cheap. But is the added cost worth it for the premium features and performance? We'll dive into the details to find out.

Acer Swift 3x

The Acer Swift 3X is Intel's first laptop to feature their dedicated GPU in 20 years. This innovation aims to improve performance in certain applications by combining the integrated Iris Xe and dedicated GPUs. While it offers some benefits, such as increased performance in transcoding and streaming, its effectiveness varies depending on the application. We'll explore whether this laptop delivers on its promise of enhanced power without breaking the bank.

Need help choosing?

Read our detailed reviews to understand which device is better for your specific needs and budget.

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