Dell Alienware x15 R1 (15.6-inch, 2021)

Slim, sturdy and good-looking exterior ; Great gaming and processing performance ; A fast, high-quality display ; Excellent keyboard

Mediocre battery life ; Not many ports ; Small trackpad ; Tinny speakers

The Alienware x15 R1 gaming laptop is very fast, very good-looking and very well built – and it features a market-leading screen and great keyboard. It isn’t cheap, though, plus battery life and connectivity could be better.

Best in class gaming performance ; Silky smooth display ; Distinctive design ; Surprisingly portable

Runs very hot ; Plastic construction ; Very expensive ; Laughable battery life ; Runs very hot

Sleek, slim design ; High-frame-rate gaming with RTX 3070 GPU ; 240Hz screen with 1440p resolution

Thinner than, but not as light as, some high-end competitors ; Insufficient storage in test unit and base model ; Hot and loud while gaming

The Alienware x15 is a thinner (but no lighter) redesign of the m15, sleek and still packed with top-end parts and features for hardcore gaming.

Sleeker dimensions, revamped design, strong performance, crisp 1440p 240Hz display, healthy port selection, good keyboard

+ Thin, attractive design ; + Beautiful 1440p display ; + Good selection of ports

- Runs hot ; - Some thermal throttling

The Alienware x15 is a thin laptop with an excellent display and lots of ports along the back, but it can run hot, which sometimes leads to thermal throttling.