The Alienware X14 R2 is Dell’s premium 14-inch gaming laptop computer providing. It continues to be the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop computer available on the market, making this a transportable and compact machine that may simply accompany you anyplace for some on-the-go gaming. Regardless of the scale, the Alienware X14 R2 is packing the newest thirteenth gen Intel Core i7 processor which is paired with an RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. With a price tag of Rs 2,51,490, the Alienware X14 R2 actually is not low-cost; we have seen laptops at related costs with significantly better specs and laptops with related or higher specs at a lot decrease price factors. Nevertheless, none of them affords the identical degree of construct high quality or portability that the X14 R2 does. That mentioned, let’s check out how nicely the Alienware X14 R2 performs and if it really is well worth the premium you are paying for it.
Alienware X14 R2 specs
Processor: Intel Core i7-13620H | 10 Cores (6P, 4E) | 16 Threads
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, TGP: 85 W
RAM: 32GB-LPDDR5-4800, Built-in
Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Show: 14-inch, QHD+ (2560×1600), 165Hz, LCD
Dimensions: 14.50 mm x 321.08 mm x 260.41 mm
Weight: 1.91 kg
Alienware X14 R2 Construct and Design
Persevering with Alienware’s custom of delivering premium gaming machines with glossy and engaging designs, the Alienware X14 R2 encompasses a futuristic and eye-catching design that units it other than conventional gaming laptops.
The very first thing you’ll discover is the color. The ‘Lunar Silver’ color variant is the one one out there, and it’s extremely eye-catching. In contrast to final 12 months’s mannequin, the lid encompasses a extra metallic end, versus the egg-shell matte end. You may have the signature alien head brand illuminated on the lid and an embossed X on the lid representing the sequence. At 14.5 mm the Alienware X14 R2 continues to be the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop computer you may get your palms on and it’s really spectacular that they managed to suit a discrete GPU into this machine.
The Alienware X14 R2 felt extremely sturdy and well-built in our palms. They actually didn’t maintain again in any respect in terms of construct high quality. The hinge mechanism additionally feels very sturdy and permits for easy opening and closing of the laptop computer lid with little to no wobbling.
The keyboard affords a cushty typing expertise with good key journey and tactile suggestions. Moreover, it consists of anti-ghosting and N-key rollover options, which is fairly important for any gaming laptop computer. The 14-inch type issue does imply that you’ve a smaller keyboard and no numpad, but the general spacing remains to be good and snug.
The trackpad is fairly small, and as such, doesn’t get in the way in which a lot when you’re typing. You’re most probably going to be utilizing an exterior mouse for gaming anyway.
Alienware X14 R2 I/O
So far as 14-inch type issue laptops are involved, the Alienware X14 R2 does fairly nicely within the I/O division. You may have a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with PD and DP, a combo audio jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare (this can be a function in Dell laptops which lets you cost units even when the laptop computer is off so long as it’s plugged in), two Thunderbolt 4 ports with PD and DP and a microSD-card slot. Very good.
Alienware X14 R2 efficiency
With that, we come to the efficiency. The X14 R2 encompasses a thirteenth gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor which is paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Having examined a number of laptops this 12 months that includes varied CPU and GPU mixtures, the specs on the Alienware X14 R2 are fairly frankly underwhelming, particularly for the price. Whereas the X14 R2 actually has the higher hand in terms of construct high quality and portability, when it comes to efficiency it falls quick. For this assessment, we’ll be evaluating the Alienware X14 R2 to the 2023 variant of the Razer Blade 14 (which sadly, is not out there in India), and the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 we examined lately. The Razer Blade 14, being one other 14-inch skinny and light gaming laptop computer is direct competitors to the Alienware X14, whereas the Helios Neo 16 is a laptop computer that options related specs to the X14 R2 whereas costing half as a lot. The Razer Blade 14 comes with the newest 7000 sequence AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, whereas the Helios Neo 16 encompasses a barely higher processor within the thirteenth gen Intel Core i7-13700HX. As for the GPUs, we’ll be evaluating the RTX 4070 with a TGP of 140W within the Razer Blade 14, and the RTX 4050 with a TGP of 115W within the Neo 16, to the RTX 4060 with a TGP of 85W within the Alienware X14 R2 to indicate you ways a lot of a distinction simply the TGP could make.
Gaming efficiency
Beginning issues off with the artificial GPU benchmarks. Whereas the scores between the X14 R2 and the Neo 16 are very shut, the Razer Blade 14 understandably takes an enormous lead over the opposite two laptops. Nevertheless, the RTX 4050 on the Neo 16 truly manages to drag larger scores than the RTX 4060 within the X14 R2 within the majority of the benchmarks.
This pattern continues with real-world gaming benchmarks as nicely, the place for probably the most half, the Razer Blade 14 pulls larger FPS numbers. Nevertheless, you may discover that the Neo 16 nonetheless manages to drag the best numbers in just a few video games. Additionally, you will discover that it scores higher numbers than the X14 R2 virtually throughout the board.
This pattern continues within the medium preset of real-world gaming benchmarks as nicely. We will perceive the RTX 4070 pulling excessive numbers, but finally, all of it comes all the way down to the TGP with the opposite two laptops. With the next TGP of 115 W on the RTX 4050 within the Predator Neo 16, you truly get higher numbers than an RTX 4060 with a a lot decrease TGP of 85 W. As soon as once more, that is fairly disappointing, particularly contemplating the price of the X14 R2. That mentioned, the RTX 4060 remains to be a reasonably highly effective GPU, and you’ll be able to comfortably recreation at excessive settings so long as you are taking part in at FHD resolutions. At QHD resolutions you’ll be able to bump the settings all the way down to medium and nonetheless get first rate numbers.
Processor efficiency
Coming to processor efficiency, the processors in each the Razer Blade 14 and the Neo 16 are higher than what now we have on the X14 R2. We use the PCMark 10 benchmark to check productiveness and it comes as no shock that the Razer Blade 14 and Neo 16 pull forward fairly simply. The brand new 7000 sequence Ryzen 9 7940HS particularly shines right here.
We take a look at single-thread and multi-thread efficiency utilizing the Cinebench R23 benchmark. Right here, we are able to see that every one three processors have very related single-thread efficiency with the X14 R2 popping out on high for as soon as. Come multi-thread efficiency, nevertheless, each the Ryen 9 7940HS and the Intel Core i7-13700HX take the cake; each processors have extra cores and due to this fact present far superior multi-thread efficiency, virtually double that of the X14 R2.
Alienware X14 R2 show
If there’s one factor the Alienware X14 R2 has going for it, it’s the show. The show on the Alienware X14 R2 is improbable. You may have a 16:10 14-inch QHD+ (2560×1600) show with a refresh price of 165 Hz. The laptop computer comes with an marketed brightness of 300 nits, and throughout our testing, we received a peak common brightness of 335 nits. We examined 99.9 per cent sRGB protection and 98.8 per cent DCI-P3 protection, making this among the best laptop computer shows we have examined this 12 months. Contemplating the shape issue, the 16:10 facet ratio, and the specs on board, the Alienware X14 R2 makes for a wonderful transportable content-creation machine.
Alienware X14 R2 Warmth and Noise
Compact machines do not do too nicely in terms of thermals. The Alienware X14 R2 will get fairly sizzling throughout intensive workloads but it does appear to handle inner warmth pretty nicely. Throughout our processor stress take a look at, we recorded temperatures of round 80 levels Celsius on the processor, which isn’t dangerous. The processor did not throttle a lot both regardless of rising floor temps. Floor temps can get uncomfortably excessive, particularly on the centre of the laptop computer the place we noticed temps north of 45 levels Celsius after lengthy gaming periods.
When it comes to noise, final 12 months’s Alienware X14 received fairly loud, to the purpose that we in contrast it to a aircraft taking off. This time across the noise is much more manageable. It would nonetheless get pretty loud throughout intensive workloads.
Alienware X14 R2 verdict
The Alienware X14 R2 will be the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop computer you may get your palms on, but it’s finally fairly disappointing. The specs are too weak for the price, which we don’t assume the construct high quality or show alone can justify. The X14 R2 is outperformed by the 2023 variant of the Razer Blade 14, which options each an identical compact 14-inch skinny and light construct, and pricing as nicely in case you contemplate the price after conversion since you’ll be able to’t choose the laptop computer up in India. The Razer Blade 14 comes with far superior internals which is obvious from the benchmark and gaming scores. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 encompasses a brighter show that’s virtually pretty much as good, with the next refresh price besides. It additionally outperforms the Alienware X14 in most processor and GPU benchmarks, all whereas costing half as a lot. Certain, it doesn’t function the identical construct high quality or portability, but I don’t assume that warrants 2x the price in any respect.
