Dell Alienware m15 R4 15.6" Gaming Laptop
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Dell Alienware m15 R4 is the early-2021 iteration of the 15.6-inch Alienware gaming laptop. It adds RTX 30-series graphics but shares its chassis with the R3 model from 2020. Further, the 300Hz IPS panel becomes the standard, with the 144Hz panel dropping out. Like the m15 R3, the 4K OLED panel retains an option.
Also like the R3, the m15 R4 still retains the 10th-gen Intel Comet Lake H-series processors.
The premium magnesium alloy chassis of the Alienware m15 R4 is significantly lighter than the R2 model while being stiffer and sturdier. Inside the thin chassis, the same thermal and power-delivery solutions, including Vapor Chamber Technology, from the R3 are carried over.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Comfortable keyboard
- Good battery life
Cons
- Mediocre graphics performance
- Key travel is shallow
What external reviewers found***
External score 71% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Incredible performance
- Solid performance
- Gorgeous 4K OLED display
- Great battery life
Cons
- Poor webcam
- Poor battery life
- High power consumption
- More expensive than its predecessor
- Short battery life
Price Comparison
Specifications
| OLED | IPS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Connectivity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ports | 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 + 1x HDMI 2.1b + 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 + 1x Thunderbolt 3 + 1x RJ45 (Killer Networks E3100x) + 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 + 1x Headphone + 1x MicroSD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireless Connectivity | Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2x2) 802.11ax Wireless and Bluetooth 5.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Camera | Front | 720p HD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colors | Dark Side of the Moon or Lunar Light | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Material | Magnesium Alloy exterior shell and copper alloy thermal components | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microphone | Digital-array microphones | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speakers | 4-Way (Woofer/Tweeter) Stereo Speaker Design, 8W in total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dimensions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | Depth | 10.87" (276.2 mm) | 10.86" (276 mm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | Height | 0.807" (20.5 mm) | 0.783" (19.9 mm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | Width | 14.19" (360.3 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 4.65 lbs (2.11 kg) - 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Display | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brightness | 400 nits | 300 nits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Display Diagonal | 15.6 inch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Display Type | IPS or OLED | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gamut | 100% DCI-P3 | 100% sRGB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 300 Hz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | FHD (1920x1080) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response Time | 1 ms | 3 ms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Function | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6 or RTX 3080 8GB GDDR6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keyboard Backlight | 4-Zone AlienFX RGB lighting or per-key AlienFX RGB keyboard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10870H or i9-10980HK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RGB Lighting | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable Framerate | NVIDIA G-SYNC available for IPS 144Hz panel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memory | Capacity | 16 or 32 GB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memory | Type | DDR4 2933MHz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Storage | Up to 4TB (2x 2TB) + 512MB PCIe M.2 SSD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debut | 2021-01 (CES 2021) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
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3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
laptopmag[1]
Reviewer score 60%, 1080p), which overpowered the category average (55 fps) as well as the Aorus 15G (59 fps), Strix Scar G15 (60 fps) and Predator Triton 500 (61 fps) On the Geekbench 5.2 overall performance test, the Alienware m15 scored 7,636, whipping past the premium gaming laptop average (7,378) For as many good components as this machine has, Alienware copped out on the webcam. The 720p shooter takes ridiculously fuzzy photos with poor contrast balance.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Beautiful 4K display
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Short battery life
notebookcheck[2]
Reviewer score 63%The Alienware m15 R4 remains unchanged in terms of looks, and that's a good thing. The materials are of the usual high quality, and the ports and input devices fulfill their purpose very well. The hardware upgrade to the powerful Intel Core i-HK and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile raise performance to the latest standard. While the internal temperatures are still extremely high, the cooling system has still been improved.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Matte IPS display
- High-quality materials
- Good battery life
Cons
- High temperatures
- Short battery life
notebookcheck[3]
Reviewer score 62%The Alienware m15 R4 is a monster in its class, but it doesn't solve the problems associated with its performance. The laptop has to deal with consistently very high CPU core temperatures in exchange for its rather high performance. Another shortcoming is almost unacceptable battery life compared to the competition.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Very high CPU performance
- Very good battery life
- Decent keyboard
Cons
- High power consumption
- High surface temperatures
pcmag[4]
Reviewer score 80%The Alienware m15 R4 shares its design with its predecessor, but adds more power. The frame rates on display here are top-notch, especially if you're looking to play at higher resolutions. Look for more high-refresh 1440p notebook screen options to arrive as the new GPUs take over the market.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Top-notch 4K gaming performance
- High-refresh 1440p display
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- No built-in ray tracing
- More expensive than its predecessor
t3[5]
Reviewer score 81%Alienware talks a big game when it comes to its cooling technology. This laptop has yet to experience any thermal throttling even tackling the most demanding games at the highest settings. The Alienware Command Center app is a surprisingly intuitive app that allow you to adjust various settings of the R4 to your liking. This is not a cheap gaming machine but if you can afford it or are able to save up for it, the Alienware m15 R4 is definitely worth every penny.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Incredible performance
- Sleek design
- Great battery life
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
tomsguide[6]
Reviewer score 71%The Alienware m15 R4 is an incredibly loud device, and its default settings are not good at finding a balance between noise and temperature. While running productivity software, the touchpad hovers around 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and the keyboard seldom exceeds 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The OLED screen supports a gorgeous, vibrant palette (remember: 211% of the sRGB spectrum), and no other medium shows this off as beautifully as gaming does.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Beautiful OLED screen
- Gorgeous, vibrant colors
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Extremely loud fan
- Poor battery life
tomshardware[7]
Reviewer score 81%The Alienware m15 R4's 720p resolution webcam captures pictures that were color-accurate but noisy. The laptop lasted 4 hours and 1 minute on our battery test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. As with many thin gaming laptops, the skin temperature can get uncomfortably warm.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Gorgeous 4K OLED display
- Sleek design
- Solid performance
Cons
- Mediocre battery life
- Poor webcam
User Reviews
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References
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 (RTX 3070) review. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/alienware-m15-r4. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 gaming laptop in review: Lots of power, short battery life. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-m15-R4-gaming-laptop-in-review-Lots-of-power-short-battery-life.531030.0.html. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 laptop in review: Now also with a mechanical keyboard. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-m15-R4-laptop-in-review-Now-also-with-a-mechanical-keyboard.543671.0.html. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/alienware-m15-r4. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 review: a premium gaming machine. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/alienware-m15-r4-review. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 (2021) review. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/alienware-m15-r4-2021. 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Alienware m15 R4 Gaming Laptop Review: RTX 30-Series Performance, Eye-Popping Color. [tomshardware]. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/alienware-m15-r4-rtx-30-series. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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