Alienware m17 R4vsAlienware m15 R6

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

Alienware
Alienware m17 R4
m17 R4

Quick Stats

The Alienware M17 R4 delivers impressive performance, exceeding expectations with smooth gameplay and reliable processing capabilities always.
The M17 R4 boasts top-notch build quality, solid feel, and attention to detail, a major strength of the laptop overall.
The standout feature of Alienware M17 R4 is its high-quality display options with seamless gaming experience.
The Alienware M17 R4 boasts impressive features including high-end display and GPU options.
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.
Key Differences

No significant specification differences found between these devices.

Rank
Alienware m17 R4
#607
Alienware m15 R6
Winner
#606
Scores by Category
Rankings
Connectivity
Alienware m17 R4
#448
Winner
Alienware m15 R6
#600
Display
Alienware m17 R4
#589
Alienware m15 R6
#582
Winner
Performance
Alienware m17 R4
#183
Alienware m15 R6
#179
Winner
Build
Alienware m17 R4
#430
Alienware m15 R6
#416
Winner
Features
Alienware m17 R4
#684
Alienware m15 R6
#679
Winner

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

Specifications Comparison
Specification
Alienware Alienware m17 R4
Alienware Alienware m15 R6
up to 32GB
up to 64GB
up to 8000GB SSD
up to 4000GB SSD
Intel Core i9-10980HK
Intel Core i7-11800H
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (Laptop, 165W)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (Laptop)

Note: Highlighted specifications show differences between the two devices.

Pros and Cons

Alienware m17 R4

Strengths

The Alienware M17 R4 has impressive performance and cooling, which was a surprise given its previous reputation for overheating.
The new 360Hz display is a nice addition, offering smoother visuals and more syncing options for content creators.
The build quality of the laptop is solid, with a distinctive style that feels premium and well-made.
The thermals on this model were actually pretty darn good, which was a pleasant surprise considering Alienware's usual thermal issues.

Weaknesses

The battery life of the M17 R4 is short, especially when using the 360Hz display, with around 2 hours of battery life.
The lack of ram slots and soldered-on RAM is a drawback for users who need to upgrade their memory.
The Wi-Fi card is also soldered on board, which limits flexibility for users who want to upgrade or replace it.
The higher-end model's 330W charger is bulky and unwieldy, making it a hassle to carry around.

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

Read Full Reviews

Alienware m17 R4

The Alienware M17 R4 is a powerhouse laptop that delivers exceptional performance, impressive cooling, and sleek design. Its distinctive style makes it stand out from the crowd, and the build quality is solid, despite some potential issues with quality control. The thermal management system impressively keeps the CPU in check, allowing for smooth gaming experiences. With options for 360Hz or 4K displays, this laptop caters to both gamers and content creators, making it a compelling choice for those seeking ultimate performance.

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.

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