Alienware m16 R2 ZDNET's key takeaways Alienware m16 R2 aims to be the perfect laptop for gamers and professionals alike, and it succeeds.
It delivers high-level performance and a 2K display that'll make both groups smile, while giving users a way to tone down the RGB lighting via Stealth Mode.
You'll need to keep that charger close by, as the M16 R2's battery doesn't last very long. $1,899.99 at Best Buy $2,099 at Amazon more buying choices
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Gaming laptops are often on the cutting edge of technology, housing some of the industry's best hardware. Powerful Meteor Lake processors, visually stunning RTX 40-series GPUs, the works. With that in mind, you'd think that professionals looking for high-end machines would be clamoring to buy one of these machines for themselves, but that's not really the case.
Gaming laptops aren't exactly ubiquitous, but why? Well, it might have to do with their flashy RGB lights that light up like Disney's Electrical Parade.
Also: How much RAM does your PC really need in 2025? I did the math for Windows and Mac users
Gaming devices often come equipped with RGB lighting, which looks cool, but can be pretty distracting, especially when you're in a work meeting trying to look serious and have a laptop lit up like a Christmas tree in front of you. Subtlety is the name of the game here.
Thankfully, manufacturers are taking notice of this potential shift in customer preference. Dell, for one, has come up with a solution in a new gaming laptop that also has the working professional in mind: the Alienware m16 R2.
I am a big fan of Dell's design choices here. The m16 R2 strikes a good balance of looking aesthetically cool while also maintaining practicality. On the outside, you have a shiny dark gray exterior with a stylized number 16 and an Alienware logo at the top. You'll notice there isn't a big thermal shelf jutting out; the heat vents are flush with the display when positioned upright.
... continue reading