X

A boxier but better Alienware 15

It lacks some of the rakish angularity of its predecessor, but that's a small tradeoff for better airflow and build quality.

LoriGruninNewHeadshot.jpg
LoriGruninNewHeadshot.jpg
Lori Grunin
Alienware 15 (2016)
1 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Redesigned

There are a lot of enhancements to the Alienware 15 over the previous models, both for style and substance. Especially substance -- it's got lots more metal.

Alienware 15 (2016)
2 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Less angular

The big angled edges have been replaced with a "front-forward" hinge.

Alienware 15 (2016)
3 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Back

The cover's essentially the same (although the reflection of the crossword in the alienhead here is a little freaky looking). Alienware has swapped some connectors and moved them around; in this case, more are on the back where they're less likely to get tangled up with your corded accessories, like the mouse. 

Alienware 15 (2016)
4 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Back connectors

We've lost the SD card slot. instead, there's a dedicated connector for the Alienware Accelerator, the company's external GPU unit. The Mini DisplayPort connector supports an external G-Sync monitor.

Alienware 15 (2016)
5 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Left side connectors

This USB-C/Thunderbolt connector supports an external display, though not with G-Sync. There's also a second Type-A USB 3, microphone and headphone/headset connectors.

Alienware 15 (2016)
6 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Side

Now the right side has just a single USB port.

Alienware 15 (2016)
7 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Same keyboard layout

However, it's now steel reinforced with better travel and more flexible programmable lighting. It's really quite nice to use for both gaming and writing, though it feels more membrane than mechanical.  And it seemed to handle concurrent input for running, jumping, firing and eviscerating pretty well.

Alienware 15 (2016)
8 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

New display

We tested the model with the 120Hz, G-Sync compatible TN+WVA HD display, which is bright and fast, with a tested 93 percent coverage of the sRGB color gamut.

Alienware 15 (2016)
9 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Glowing edges

It also retains the light-up strips along the sides.

Alienware 15 (2016)
10 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET
Alienware 15 (2016)
11 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET
Alienware 15 (2016)
12 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET
Alienware 15 (2016)
13 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Backlit touchpad

It's not an atypical or new feature, but it's one of my favorites since I work and play in the dark.

Alienware 15 (2016)
14 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Alienware 15

It weighs a hefty 7.8 pounds/3.5kg. 

Alienware 15 (2016)
15 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

VR ready

With its processor and GTX 1070 GPU, the laptop is VR ready. However, it doesn't have quite enough USB Type-A ports for the gear. You can use USB-C to Type-A adapters for that, though.

Alienware 15 (2016)
16 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Input

There's a built-in mic, IR camera for Windows Hello and a 75-degree 1,280x720 webcam. In addition, an IR emitter is used for sensing, and the Tobii Aware software uses it to detect your presence and change power-saving settings when you're not in front. The 15-inch doesn't have Tobii Eye Tracking, though; only the Alienware 17 does.

Alienware 15 (2016)
17 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Backlighting

The Alienware TactX software and keyboard supports more zones, and customizable profiles for supporting software.

Alienware 15 (2016)
18 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Touchpad

The touchpad is about average for a gaming laptop; that is, it's hit-or-miss for sensing gestures.

Alienware 15 (2016)
19 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Macro keys

LIke a lot of gaming laptops, the Alienware 15 has a set of programmable macro keys down the left side of the keyboard. 

Alienware 15 (2016)
20 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Travel

The keys are flat but still provide a decent amount of travel and bounce.

Alienware 15 (2016)
21 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Thick

Because it houses a full GTX 1070, it's a bit thick and requires a lot of airflow.

Alienware 15 (2016)
22 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Speakers

The front-firing speakers are more powerful than the earlier model's.

Alienware 15 (2016)
23 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lappable

It never got too hot to put on my lap.

Alienware 15 (2016)
24 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

More airflow

The updated model has a lot more venting for better airflow. The company also says it's been treated to resist fingerprints and smudges.

Alienware 15 (2016)
25 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

Power button

It retains the alienhead power button.

Alienware 15 (2016)
26 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET
Alienware 15 (2016)
27 of 27 Sarah Tew/CNET

More Galleries

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone

18 Photos
Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work
iphone 15 in different color from an angled view

Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work

21 Photos
Astronomy Photographer of the Year Winners Reveal Our Stunning Universe
andromeda

Astronomy Photographer of the Year Winners Reveal Our Stunning Universe

16 Photos
I Got an Early Look at Intel's Glass Packaging Tech for Faster Chips
Rahul Manepalli, right, Intel's module engineering leader, shows a glass substrate panel before it's sliced into the small rectangles that will be bonded to the undersides of hundreds of test processors. The technology, shown here at Intel's CH8 facility in Chandler, Arizona, stands to improve performance and power consumption of advanced processors arriving later this decade. Glass substrates should permit physically larger processors comprised of several small "chiplets" for AI and data center work, but Intel expects they'll trickle down to PCs, too.

I Got an Early Look at Intel's Glass Packaging Tech for Faster Chips

20 Photos
Check Out the iPhone 15's New Camera in Action
A photo of a silhouette of buildings on the water taken on the iPhone 15

Check Out the iPhone 15's New Camera in Action

12 Photos
Disney Treasure Cruise Ship: Bookings Now Open for $9K+ Maiden Voyage
disney-treasure-tomorrow-tower-suite-3

Disney Treasure Cruise Ship: Bookings Now Open for $9K+ Maiden Voyage

16 Photos
Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos