Cannot agree more, the X17 was so good easily my most favorite gaming laptop that I have ever owned and I was hoped for a X18 but DELL has to turn me and all OG Alienware fan down, fck you DELL. VERY VERY DISSAPOINTED
I love your reviews. I love that you are critical of the alienware laptops but also bring up all the amazing features that they have to offer. I appreciate that you keep doing alienware reviews because I'm a big fan of their laptops despite their flaws.
Thank you mate. I also love alienware but I try really hard to also be subjective especially with how expensive these laptops are. Plus I must admit, when I bought them I expected to love and keep the x16 but I actually prefer the m18 so actually surprised myself 🤣
That’s awesome! I probably would have picked up the m18 except I just purchased the fully loaded 4K all AMD m17 r5. I’m actually very happy with it has amazing performance, screen resolution and color, and most of all I’m impressed with the thermals and how cool this thing stays.
I like X16 except soldered RAM. Again, what were they thinking? I know designers who need 64GB. M18 is great but it's definitely not a Lap top. If I can get X 16" under $3k, I'd probably get one.
Waiting on my m18. 16gb 1tb 4090 for 2847 with the 15% coupon. Ordered 64gb of ram and an additional 4tb drive for now. Plan on undervolting on first boot and hope it stays as reliable as my refurb a51 r1 with 2080 has been.
Very excited to see the thermals in the M16 vs X16. I don’t mind the soldered ram since 32gb is more than enough for me. I like the color options of both, and will likely spec whichever one I get the same way. My main concern is how hot do they get in the long gaming sessions. I’ll probably pick whichever stays cooler. I don’t mind the extra price of the x series if the thermals can match the m.
Love the improved screen size of the 16, between the size itself and the aspect ratio. But, last year's x15 looks 1000x better overall; not a fan of the different color/material/shape at the back. Just bought a clearance x15 and I'm not tempted at all by the new x16. The M18, on the other hand, is very tempting although I think I'll hold off a year and see what if any clearance deals pop up on that as I can't justify paying for something like a 4080 at full cost; I mostly play older games anyway, so running a year behind makes sense.
I loved my x16…. I think it was worth the extra few hundred compared to my M16. It has way better speakers and trackpad, is a lot less unwieldy feeling form factor and the fans have a more pleasing sound. Plus the power supply isn’t comically large like the M16 has. Except the screen on mine had horrible backlight bleed in the left corner so I kept the M16 in the end which was better in that regard and let’s you undervolt the cpu which is nice.
Mine has terrible bleed as well. Also the screen burnt the desktop wallpaper into the screen in the first few hours I had it. Waiting on the replacement from Alienware
@@Ernge_Juice it's goddamn trash is what it is. If there is even a hint of light bleed on the next one I'm sending it back and never buying Alienware again. Long story short, 2021 & 2022 I went through like 6 different models from Alienware, all of them either arrived damaged, had terrible light bleed or dead pixels in the RGB. My last X14 was perfect, 0 light bleed and ran phenomenally. I shouldn't have sold it, but I wanted something higher performance.
@@MashITTech Dave, if you have the ability to actually have feedback heard from Alienware support, you should give them my name (I'll even give you my customer ID) and let a DELL rep look through my order history. I've been purchasing Alienware systems since the M11x & Alpha days. The last 2 ish years, No joke I've had at least 5-7 computers show up that had to be returned for various reasons.
The screen on M18 seems too bright or maybe washed out compared to X16, is that correct? In your conclusion section when you have just a background the display on X16 seems dark blue and saturated which sounds right but on M18 it is too bright and washed out, even the taskbar on M18 seems too light. am I right? or it is just the way it looks on UA-cam?
Just going by videos so far (ie not the photos in Alienware's website), even if they were the same price and I didn't have to worry about the longer butt end on the X-series vs the equivalent screen size M-series, I'd get the M-series. That lighter color cooler shroud on the X-series just doesn't look right. Maybe it'd look better if I wasn't looking at it through a camera but I haven't seen one in a store.
Thank you for the review fami! I am really starting to like your channel bro. I am a desktop builder so I will always have my main as a desktop point blank period. But for my on the go I have been using an XPS 15 from a couple years back, and for the most part it has been very serviceable for my use case, I edit videos for churches, but my demand is getting greater and I was going to purchase an XPS 17 2023 since we partner with DELL, I love the XPS line they are my favorite, but I do a lot of fusion compositions in DA vinci and am worried about the performance of the XPS, but now I am looking into these gaming laptops as viable alternatives. So thank you for the content my man. Its a great work you are doing.
Thank you mate, really glad to be able to help. I also love there XPS range but the trouble with them is, dell have not improved the cooling for years but keep putting hotter and hotter components in them. Also, after using a gaming laptop with high refresh rate screen I really struggle to go back to 60hz! And for your use case, the x16 or even the x14r2 could be perfect (depending on if you need mobility). PS we use DaVinci Resolve and man can that software be resource hungry!
Getting my M18 r1 replacement tomorrow finally and hoping the thermals will be better this time with that P core throttling issue. I agree with your assessment a video ago on the rtx 4080 which I had and will have all and all the m18 is a powerful beast of a laptop for sure. Thanks for the comparisons
The M18 looks like a monster next to the X16. Such a shame they didn't give the M18 the same speaker setup and lighting as the X16. There is no reason they could not. I appreciate you making this video since I've been waiting to see them side by side. I decided to go with the X16 mostly due to the size.
yeah the m18 really is massive! I didn't think I would even like it but I really enjoyed my time using it. I don't think you can go wrong with either though, they are both great laptops, I just wish Dell would improve the AWCC though :(
Who’s Alienwares head now? I choose legion 8 this year after 9 years of Alienwares .. hopefully Alienware can improve their design with an x18 with hx cpu and space gray. Premium and performance go hand in hand yet we have this weird choice of m series with max performance and x series with lower performance.
Not sure about the 'single zone' tron ring on the M18. The color looks like it is flowing across at least a couple of zones. Is that an optical illusion of your video post-processing?
For right now, the x16 would only seem worth it if they had the i9 13900hx cpu or better tbh, because the 4090 chip is now available on the x16, so to maximize performance, a better CPU is required
Any reason not to go for the 18 if you are looking for a desktop replacement? It's a lil finicky about pulling the trigger on one because the only reason I say that is because they do not make the desktops with intel integrated graphics and they do not sell the desktop/laptop combo and I do not know how to pair them together very well yet..
I purchased the m18 the screen size, full size keyboard make it worth it for me. I'm a blender user and I'm able to animate and model pretty well. I do have a 3090 desktop, use the m18 (4090m) variant, as a mobile workstation at work in off time when I'm not home so a portable drive with all your content works wonders for me.
@@JoeRoganVOD If I had the money I would go bonkers on an m18. lol. I was considering losing home internet and trying to tether an unlimited plan but I believe thats actually more expensive. Verizon has a new "modem" thats literally just a data hotspot for $25/month.
Soldering on the RAM is something I'm on the fence about. The CPU and GPU have both been soldered on for ages. I feel like committing to a CPU/GPU/RAM configuration at the time of purchase is something I can probably live with. However, there's something in me that still resists it. I feel like every component that we accept being soldered on is one more thing we never get back in terms of repairability. Apple even solders on their SSDs now, which is NOT forgivable. Then they add a T2 security chip to spit in your face even if you do have the expertise to desolder their SSDs.
I'm ok with soldered on one condition, it's maxxed out and steeply discounted. Not about to pay like $400 extra for something I can buy for $100. Tempted by some NOS Apple Imacs today but they only have a 256GB SSD... like, even though it's a 2020 model, that's just absurdly low for something you can't change easily after the fact (especially with NVME that runs much much better when you have bigger drives with lots of room). All we can do is vote with our wallets... solid point about accepting it.
Thanks for the video. Great work! I’m struggling to see the difference between the X series and M series. Seems that the differences are getting smaller. Might go for the M18, but was wondering by if it will fit in the AW horizon utility backpack.
Used the 17 for a few yrs purchased the 18 recently. Idk the first few weeks I find alienware kinda take a bit to run fully functional. Seriously considering scar n titan 18
One year later, Area 51M R2 giving out, picked up an M18 R2, and there are three main issues. First, the screen in some units gives a yellowish tint requiring color tuning. Second, DPC is hideous with both Intel Rapid Storage and Nvidia drivers showing high latency; no amount of tweaking, driver updates, core parking etc seemed to correct it. Third, thermal throttling is just a fact of life unless you do a custom profile in AWCC and drop both the speed from 5.9 to 5.2 GHz, and also the voltage by 25. Even then some will occur. One last issue is many complain about models fans having an annoying whistle, turns out it’s the honeycomb grill design causing it when air comes in the bottom. This can be fixed however by covering (not ideal) the first two honeycomb rows on either side. Btw, I evaluated from past experience two units, definitely a lottery on thermals and screen color as the second of the two lacked the yellow screen and also ran cooler.
So if I am buying the X16, should I put the 4090 in it for that extra power? Or will a 4080 do just fine. I am thinking not just for right now, but a few years down the road. I am also mainly going to be connecting to a external Alienware monitor, 1440p 27 in. Only getting laptop because i am in the military and what something portable. This is just going to be used for gaming and media
the 4090 is a but of an overkill for gaming on 1440p and it's 400$-500- difference in price for an extra 15-20 FPS isn't really worth the bump in price, the 4080 would run anything u throw at it, and it's much cheaper. unless you're planning on getting a 4K monitor the 4090 would be the more favorable pick, Cheers.
@@evileye462 I have an LG C1 4UK 55inch TV could I utilize the 4090 on it from my X16 because I think I have the specs on my TV to use it but honestly I really do want to save 300+ instead..?
I thought the X16 would have had the brighter screen, my X16 shipped a few days ago so I’ll get to try it for myself. Also I had a bit of trouble with Dells site regarding the £90 worth of points I got for buying my X16, it wouldn’t let me redeem the full £90 worth unless my order totalled £200 ended up going half’s with a friend, I got a mouse and we each got a backpack for £100 total then we split the cost evenly, it also helped that I seem to have the devils luck at the moment as just like the day I ordered my X16 the day my points came through was the day when most of Alienwares accessories went on sale.
I think you must have my share of luck as I have had no points come through for my x16 or m18 :( Let me know how you get on when your x16 arrives. and 325nits still isn't bad, a year ago no one would even be talking about it, its only this year companies have started using brighter panels.
@@MashITTech my previous laptop was 300nits at least thats what it said when I looked up the specs so I doubt it’s going to make a difference to me. The laptops not the only thing I’ve been buying though I just bought a new desk now I just need to find a chair, was looking at the Razer Iskur I don’t suppose you review gaming chairs lol
I don't review them at the moment but I have been thinking about it. I have the Razer Iskur, its the chair I present from, it is a good chair, I have used it solidly for 2+ years but I don't think its worth the price. If I was buying one today I would get a secret labs titan evo :)
@@MashITTech I looked at a review of the titan EVO and it looks like there quality control is crap as well as there customer service the one the reviewer got wasn’t even sealed when it arrived and there weren’t any signs that the tape he’d been removed so it had probably been shipped that way, it also had the gas lift mechanism broken, the chair had at least one dent in it from being in the box as well as the stitching being really bad and not up to the standard of a chair that costs that amount of money and to top it all off if you want to return it you have to do so within 14 days and you have to pay for it to be shipped back yourself which was over 100 euros, the reviewer was in Europe and most of the time the UK has the same rules
oh no way, I hadn't heard they had bad CS! I have a couple of friends that bought them and love them but guess they got lucky not having to deal with the CS
My M18 R2 was factory set to RAID0 with 2 1TB drives. Just after setting up all my apps, one of the SSDs failed, resulting in BSOD. Sent it back to Dell and, to their credit, it was returned inside of a week with new SSDs. After initial setup of a few apps, I realized Dell didn't configure the new SSDs in RAID0. I'm at a crossroads - do I start over and set the Bios back to RAID0 or continue on with the extra memory? Is RAID0 really faster? Looking for advice on what is the best setup.
Whilst it is faster it is risky as you have already found out. I have a video showing the performance of RAID and how to set up windows with it. Let me dig it out
Thanks Mash. Whilst RAID0 tests faster than conventional setup, does this translate to real world performance benefits? I'm a little hesitant to go back to RAID0 if the benefits are incremental. If I do go back to RAID0, does mean a full reinstall?
In all honesty I dont think you will notice the difference in day to day use. Large file copies would be much faster but who is really doing that regularly. Me personally, I would go non raid for the safety/flexibility
Great reviews mate, Cheers! That’s very helpful when I decide between the x16 and the m18! Just wondering if the M18 could fit in the AW523p utility bag?
Great answer - thanks alot. Last question - in order to utilized the dual AW3418DW monitors along with wireless mouse & keyboard & closed laptop lit - do I have to set any power options to keep power on with lit closed?? thanks for any advise
Might try the m18 next, my m16 only lasted a week before the fans gave error codes and broke. Support said the laptop was no good anymore. Hoping the m18 has a better build to it.
This really helped me out on which direction I am going to go. One last question I would ask is if this laptop is going to be used for nothing else but gaming and streaming, would the 4080 be plenty to handle those loads or would you recommend I just bite the bullet and spring for the 4090?
If I was gaming at the screens 2560x1600 I would save the money and get the 4080, it really is an amazing card and a massive improvement on last years 3080ti but if you want to game at 4k using the laptop then I would get the 4090
There is a market for even larger laptops. As long as it can be carried on an airplane, as long as there's a bag for it, it's portable enough for my taste. Just fill it all with screen and cooling.
@@MashITTech M16 base 4080 is about $2,599 and X16 $2,999. The AMD model just drop last night for M16 and the price is a bit more expensive than Intel version. 🤣🤣🤣
haha it is the same in the UK! dell are so special :) I think the m16 is certainly worth the upgrade, $600 extra for much much better CPU and GPU performance. the x16 at $1000 extra is not worth it IMHO
@@MashITTech Thank you so much. I will have to return X17 R2 and get the M16 instead then. I got a pretty good deal 12900HK 3080 Ti 32GB Ram 2TB SSD and UHD display for $1,988 + Tax. But I felt there has some QC control here. Speaker, Back Light Bleed, and Thermal issues which is couldn't fix. I love the premium build and thinness but too many issues. Did you find any issues with the M16?
I’ve had my Alienware x17 R1 RTX 3070 for 3 years. It works great and I’ve beefed up the RAM and SSD. However, I want more power. Should I go X or M series in 2025?
Great reviews as always ❤️ But i’m just wondering if Alienware X17 R2, 1920 x 1080 Display, Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, GeForce RTX 3060 6GB Graphics , is quit good in gaming and programming .. montage ? Or this graphic cnfgrtn is not that good ? Thank you ❤️
I have one alienware X17 R1 and i love it! with RTX3070, 16GB RAM, 2TB SSD, it runs everything, just like my desktop with RTX3070. Next year i will buy a X16 for better portability! And sell my X17 R1.
Nicely done. I regret buying an older R2 with the soldered memory - out of warranty and just at three years of ownership, decided to start giving me issues. Is it worth repairing? Maybe, but I don’t know if taking the chance on a used mobo is worth it from YeetBay when they’re going for four-hundred-dollars. YMMV. Next model I get will have upgradable memory.
Hello, If I understand well, due to the memory amount, the RTX4090 is in reality an RTX4070 ? I'm looking for a beast in VR, I know that people on MSF2020 prefers the RTX4090 than RTX4080 So what do you think it could be in VR ? Thanks
Have you noticed a big difference between the M18 480Hz FHD and the 165Hz QHD in pixel density/perceived image quality within a reasonable sitting distance? Unfortunately, in my area we only have two flavors of the M18 - FHD with 13980HX/4090 and QHD with 13900HX/4090. I'm leaning towards the 13980HX option as every drop of compute counts using this machine for work while traveling.
yes, I can notice the difference easily. especially for work/photo editing/video editing. If its just gaming I am more than happy with the 1200p screen, sorry to be the bearer of bad news
Perhaps someone can answer a puzzle for me. The Alienware M18 allows a QHD 165-hz option but not a 240-hz option as on the M16. Why? Is there a technical reason why there should be a 165-hz limitation on the M18? Is the 165-hz acceptable, and would I really notice a difference with the 240-hz option if I could get it. On the M16 the cost difference option for the QHD 165-hz upgrade to 240-hz is $50.00. Fascinated to hear some commentary.
Hi, one help , actually i want a laptop only for gaming, Which one you. Recommend for me. Alienware m18 4080 or 4090 Rog strix 4080 around 2500 usd Rog strix scar with 7945hx with 4080 gpu. Or 4090 Msi raider 4080 Lenevo 7i pro with 4090 Lenevo 7i pro 4090 is 16 inch , small screen but 4090 gpu and alienware m18 4080 price is pretty close.. only screen is big in m18 with 4080 but lenevo provide 4090 with another 200 usd . Your recoomendation? Is 4090 16 gb worth for gaming in 2k, do we really need or 4080 is enough
Hello Sir, If i have alienware laptop and i buy alienware desktop (monitor) so if i connect latop to desktop then should i am able to Smooth gaming or any other work with screen delay in latop and desktop, means in that case screen delay will happen or not , i should buy or not desktop
it will work exactly as if it were a desktop. I do this all the time. In my alienware desktop setup I plug my m18r2 into a 34" OLED and it's flawless. Video in case you missed it: ua-cam.com/video/j7paGYoKJdU/v-deo.html
i am new to pc gaming, i just bought a Lenovo RTX 4050 and put 32 GM ram in it, I never heard of alienware gaming laptops, my question is, is Alienware laptops like top of the line gaming laptops and how expensive are they?
Wow the thermals on the M18 look absolutely deal breaking! 100°C on the CPU is not okay, as this is even new with fresh paste and not so dusty vents. I can imagine how bad this performs after a year, you'll basically have a 1050 ti for 3500€
For the same price the m18 is a better buy with that 4090 I have the m15 r5 Ryzen I think with the rtx 3070.. will the x series come With an 18 inch and 4090 can you spec it out like that ?
Connect 1 of them to mini display port to DP and you will need to buy a USBC to Displayport for the second. You could use HDMI but the 3418DW can only do 3440x1440 @ 60hz on hdmi
Hi, I want to make a decision between M18 with rtx4080 and rtx 4090, do you think it will have a big difference between 4080 and 4090 on this M18? Also which LCD would you prefer? 18 QHD 165 HZ or 18 FHD 240 HZ? Thanks.
Right now i am still consider which one to get. Alienware m18 4090 or Razer Blade 18 4090, the only thing i dislike about alienware is the screen. I've paid this high price butI can only get a 300nit screen, meanwhile Blade 18 has a 500nit one.
Yeah, Dell screens are a real disappointment this year. If this was a 2k machine then fair enough but at over 3k it should have the 500nit like the Razer
I had just got a x16 close to a month ago i think it mustve been defective it ran constantly over 100celcius while testing out wow classic on it. A game from 2004 couldnt even run without getting really hot and stutter lagging i was looking forward to trying out some new AAA titles but after seeing that i didnt even dare try it. I sent it back to dell after about 20 days of testing it trying resetting makong sure everything was up to date n doing hardware scans that said it was fine. So idk im debating on maybe trying to get a new x16 when my refund comes through or spend an extra 150$ for a m18 R2 seems like it shouldnt get as hot as x16 n better cpu and num pad is nice but no lit up touchpad which isnt the end of world but i did think it was a really cool feature. I just cant decide
Bro, between the two laptops, I live in Brazil, and my cousin will bring one of them for me. I'm really unsure about which one to buy. I know the x16 has integrated RAM and supports a maximum of 32GB of LPDDR5, which is faster than the DDR5 on the m18. However, the m18 has an 18" screen and a better, more powerful Core i9 processor. I can also upgrade the RAM on the m18, but I really love the color of the x16. Which one do you advise me to buy?
personally I would pick the m18 or m16 over the x16 unless you go for looks above performance. They have better cooling, cpu's with more cores and they are upgradable
Guarantee you the speakers in the 18 sound better than the 16 IF you turn off some of the nonsense sound profile nonsense. I am still rocking an Area 51m R1 and it had the same thin muffled sound out of the box.
I have the X18 but I noticed that in the power button it flashing red before turning on does anyone knows what that means ??! it’s my second time this has happened to me.
awesome so you recommend in canada i get the m18 amd version -- do i really need the top video card 4090 or can i go with 4080 or 4070 i think?? @@MashITTech
They should have made it the X18 and gave us a big chassis with X series build quality and lighting. That would have been amazing.
Yeah, to be fair I was actually expecting an x18 and was really disappointed that they only made a 14 and 16
1000% Agree I’m said there’s not an 18” premium Alienware laptop
Cannot agree more, the X17 was so good easily my most favorite gaming laptop that I have ever owned and I was hoped for a X18 but DELL has to turn me and all OG Alienware fan down, fck you DELL. VERY VERY DISSAPOINTED
@@thaibinh6585 and to top it on no Micro-Led panel option. All their competitors are having them in their laptop. So much for a “premium” laptop 🤦🏻♂️
@@ismail-hassan I assume you mean “Miniled” not micro but yeah, fck dell
Just got my 1st gaming laptop (x16 with 4080) on sale as a Xmas present to myself. Can’t wait to get into it!
The M18 in Canada with those specs actually gets you the 13980HX and costs 2,300 GBP. Crazy.
Wow that’s cheap, shows you how much we get shafted in the U.K. 😂
LITERALLY deciding on this and you created a new video covering exactly what I want, TYSM 🎉
Haha that was lucky! I nearly held it back for the weekend too 😂
I love your reviews. I love that you are critical of the alienware laptops but also bring up all the amazing features that they have to offer. I appreciate that you keep doing alienware reviews because I'm a big fan of their laptops despite their flaws.
Thank you mate. I also love alienware but I try really hard to also be subjective especially with how expensive these laptops are. Plus I must admit, when I bought them I expected to love and keep the x16 but I actually prefer the m18 so actually surprised myself 🤣
That’s awesome! I probably would have picked up the m18 except I just purchased the fully loaded 4K all AMD m17 r5. I’m actually very happy with it has amazing performance, screen resolution and color, and most of all I’m impressed with the thermals and how cool this thing stays.
I like X16 except soldered RAM. Again, what were they thinking? I know designers who need 64GB.
M18 is great but it's definitely not a Lap top.
If I can get X 16" under $3k, I'd probably get one.
Love this kind of comparisons, all about things that actually matter.
Glad you enjoy them as we love comparing them :)
Waiting on my m18. 16gb 1tb 4090 for 2847 with the 15% coupon. Ordered 64gb of ram and an additional 4tb drive for now. Plan on undervolting on first boot and hope it stays as reliable as my refurb a51 r1 with 2080 has been.
wow that is going to be a beast! Which 4tb did you choose? I loved my 51mr2 for a long time and this m18 finally feels like a successor
@@MashITTech crucial 4tb p3 plus. Once I can get 2tb 2230s I plan to put a couple of those in as well
@@MashITTech Also just found a SN740 2tb that I'm going to try. If it works I'll get a second one.
I was just about to tell you the sn740 2tb is out, typically just after I bought the 1tb. The sn740 1tb works perfectly so the 2tb should be fine
How did you get a coupon?
Very excited to see the thermals in the M16 vs X16. I don’t mind the soldered ram since 32gb is more than enough for me. I like the color options of both, and will likely spec whichever one I get the same way. My main concern is how hot do they get in the long gaming sessions. I’ll probably pick whichever stays cooler. I don’t mind the extra price of the x series if the thermals can match the m.
Love the improved screen size of the 16, between the size itself and the aspect ratio. But, last year's x15 looks 1000x better overall; not a fan of the different color/material/shape at the back. Just bought a clearance x15 and I'm not tempted at all by the new x16. The M18, on the other hand, is very tempting although I think I'll hold off a year and see what if any clearance deals pop up on that as I can't justify paying for something like a 4080 at full cost; I mostly play older games anyway, so running a year behind makes sense.
I loved my x16…. I think it was worth the extra few hundred compared to my M16. It has way better speakers and trackpad, is a lot less unwieldy feeling form factor and the fans have a more pleasing sound. Plus the power supply isn’t comically large like the M16 has.
Except the screen on mine had horrible backlight bleed in the left corner so I kept the M16 in the end which was better in that regard and let’s you undervolt the cpu which is nice.
Mine has terrible bleed as well. Also the screen burnt the desktop wallpaper into the screen in the first few hours I had it. Waiting on the replacement from Alienware
@@freemaysin5088 That's insane given the price of these
@@Ernge_Juice it's goddamn trash is what it is. If there is even a hint of light bleed on the next one I'm sending it back and never buying Alienware again. Long story short, 2021 & 2022 I went through like 6 different models from Alienware, all of them either arrived damaged, had terrible light bleed or dead pixels in the RGB. My last X14 was perfect, 0 light bleed and ran phenomenally. I shouldn't have sold it, but I wanted something higher performance.
sorry to hear that mate
@@MashITTech Dave, if you have the ability to actually have feedback heard from Alienware support, you should give them my name (I'll even give you my customer ID) and let a DELL rep look through my order history. I've been purchasing Alienware systems since the M11x & Alpha days. The last 2 ish years, No joke I've had at least 5-7 computers show up that had to be returned for various reasons.
The screen on M18 seems too bright or maybe washed out compared to X16, is that correct? In your conclusion section when you have just a background the display on X16 seems dark blue and saturated which sounds right but on M18 it is too bright and washed out, even the taskbar on M18 seems too light. am I right? or it is just the way it looks on UA-cam?
Just going by videos so far (ie not the photos in Alienware's website), even if they were the same price and I didn't have to worry about the longer butt end on the X-series vs the equivalent screen size M-series, I'd get the M-series. That lighter color cooler shroud on the X-series just doesn't look right. Maybe it'd look better if I wasn't looking at it through a camera but I haven't seen one in a store.
Thank you for the review fami! I am really starting to like your channel bro. I am a desktop builder so I will always have my main as a desktop point blank period. But for my on the go I have been using an XPS 15 from a couple years back, and for the most part it has been very serviceable for my use case, I edit videos for churches, but my demand is getting greater and I was going to purchase an XPS 17 2023 since we partner with DELL, I love the XPS line they are my favorite, but I do a lot of fusion compositions in DA vinci and am worried about the performance of the XPS, but now I am looking into these gaming laptops as viable alternatives. So thank you for the content my man. Its a great work you are doing.
Thank you mate, really glad to be able to help. I also love there XPS range but the trouble with them is, dell have not improved the cooling for years but keep putting hotter and hotter components in them. Also, after using a gaming laptop with high refresh rate screen I really struggle to go back to 60hz! And for your use case, the x16 or even the x14r2 could be perfect (depending on if you need mobility). PS we use DaVinci Resolve and man can that software be resource hungry!
@@MashITTech Thank you for the feedback sir. I will keep my eye on your channel until I am ready to pull the trigger on a purchase.
When are you going to review the new x14? I'm interested in buying it and there aren't any reviews for it out right now.
It is not out in the UK yet :( I will order it the second they put it on the website
@@MashITTech Gotcha, thanks for responding!
Getting my M18 r1 replacement tomorrow finally and hoping the thermals will be better this time with that P core throttling issue. I agree with your assessment a video ago on the rtx 4080 which I had and will have all and all the m18 is a powerful beast of a laptop for sure. Thanks for the comparisons
Hey Did you receive your new laptop and how did it go ? :) I am about to buy one
The M18 looks like a monster next to the X16. Such a shame they didn't give the M18 the same speaker setup and lighting as the X16. There is no reason they could not. I appreciate you making this video since I've been waiting to see them side by side. I decided to go with the X16 mostly due to the size.
yeah the m18 really is massive! I didn't think I would even like it but I really enjoyed my time using it. I don't think you can go wrong with either though, they are both great laptops, I just wish Dell would improve the AWCC though :(
Who’s Alienwares head now? I choose legion 8 this year after 9 years of Alienwares .. hopefully Alienware can improve their design with an x18 with hx cpu and space gray. Premium and performance go hand in hand yet we have this weird choice of m series with max performance and x series with lower performance.
Not sure about the 'single zone' tron ring on the M18. The color looks like it is flowing across at least a couple of zones. Is that an optical illusion of your video post-processing?
it was in mid change of colour in the video which the camera picks up
For right now, the x16 would only seem worth it if they had the i9 13900hx cpu or better tbh, because the 4090 chip is now available on the x16, so to maximize performance, a better CPU is required
Only at 1080p.
So there will be no x15 and x17 this year? I miss tilted tron ring and alien head power button to be honest.
I love your reviews, keep up
the X16 with a full size SD card is literally the perfect creator/gamer laptop. If Dell is reading this, please add an SD card on the X16.
No idea why they put a mini sd card other! and on the back, so difficult to access
Any reason not to go for the 18 if you are looking for a desktop replacement? It's a lil finicky about pulling the trigger on one because the only reason I say that is because they do not make the desktops with intel integrated graphics and they do not sell the desktop/laptop combo and I do not know how to pair them together very well yet..
I purchased the m18 the screen size, full size keyboard make it worth it for me. I'm a blender user and I'm able to animate and model pretty well. I do have a 3090 desktop, use the m18 (4090m) variant, as a mobile workstation at work in off time when I'm not home so a portable drive with all your content works wonders for me.
@@JoeRoganVOD If I had the money I would go bonkers on an m18. lol. I was considering losing home internet and trying to tether an unlimited plan but I believe thats actually more expensive. Verizon has a new "modem" thats literally just a data hotspot for $25/month.
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks dude! ❤
Soldering on the RAM is something I'm on the fence about. The CPU and GPU have both been soldered on for ages. I feel like committing to a CPU/GPU/RAM configuration at the time of purchase is something I can probably live with.
However, there's something in me that still resists it. I feel like every component that we accept being soldered on is one more thing we never get back in terms of repairability. Apple even solders on their SSDs now, which is NOT forgivable. Then they add a T2 security chip to spit in your face even if you do have the expertise to desolder their SSDs.
I'm ok with soldered on one condition, it's maxxed out and steeply discounted. Not about to pay like $400 extra for something I can buy for $100. Tempted by some NOS Apple Imacs today but they only have a 256GB SSD... like, even though it's a 2020 model, that's just absurdly low for something you can't change easily after the fact (especially with NVME that runs much much better when you have bigger drives with lots of room). All we can do is vote with our wallets... solid point about accepting it.
Thanks for the video. Great work!
I’m struggling to see the difference between the X series and M series. Seems that the differences are getting smaller.
Might go for the M18, but was wondering by if it will fit in the AW horizon utility backpack.
Did u get it? Can u tell me if it’s worth it. 🙏
@ramys3053
Need to do X17 r2 againt the M18
Great review. I just received my M18 a few days ago and its an awesome machine. The only downside is that I did receive the BIG brick charger.
oh no way, in the UK they are only shipping them with the slim adapters
@@MashITTech Better consumer protection in the UK.
Amazing review I also think m18 is pretty awesome ! Can u do 1 with x16 and compare to x17r2? Love your review
I do have that on my list :)
Are RAM and SSD Upgradable on this new X16? Thank you!
Used the 17 for a few yrs purchased the 18 recently. Idk the first few weeks I find alienware kinda take a bit to run fully functional. Seriously considering scar n titan 18
Great and indepth review pal. Highly appreciated. Tks for the great effort. Regards,
One year later, Area 51M R2 giving out, picked up an M18 R2, and there are three main issues. First, the screen in some units gives a yellowish tint requiring color tuning. Second, DPC is hideous with both Intel Rapid Storage and Nvidia drivers showing high latency; no amount of tweaking, driver updates, core parking etc seemed to correct it. Third, thermal throttling is just a fact of life unless you do a custom profile in AWCC and drop both the speed from 5.9 to 5.2 GHz, and also the voltage by 25. Even then some will occur.
One last issue is many complain about models fans having an annoying whistle, turns out it’s the honeycomb grill design causing it when air comes in the bottom. This can be fixed however by covering (not ideal) the first two honeycomb rows on either side. Btw, I evaluated from past experience two units, definitely a lottery on thermals and screen color as the second of the two lacked the yellow screen and also ran cooler.
So if I am buying the X16, should I put the 4090 in it for that extra power? Or will a 4080 do just fine. I am thinking not just for right now, but a few years down the road. I am also mainly going to be connecting to a external Alienware monitor, 1440p 27 in. Only getting laptop because i am in the military and what something portable. This is just going to be used for gaming and media
the 4090 is a but of an overkill for gaming on 1440p and it's 400$-500- difference in price for an extra 15-20 FPS isn't really worth the bump in price, the 4080 would run anything u throw at it, and it's much cheaper. unless you're planning on getting a 4K monitor the 4090 would be the more favorable pick, Cheers.
@@evileye462 cheers mate, you just saved me $400 then 🤙🏽🫡
@@evileye462 I have an LG C1 4UK 55inch TV could I utilize the 4090 on it from my X16 because I think I have the specs on my TV to use it but honestly I really do want to save 300+ instead..?
I thought the X16 would have had the brighter screen, my X16 shipped a few days ago so I’ll get to try it for myself. Also I had a bit of trouble with Dells site regarding the £90 worth of points I got for buying my X16, it wouldn’t let me redeem the full £90 worth unless my order totalled £200 ended up going half’s with a friend, I got a mouse and we each got a backpack for £100 total then we split the cost evenly, it also helped that I seem to have the devils luck at the moment as just like the day I ordered my X16 the day my points came through was the day when most of Alienwares accessories went on sale.
I think you must have my share of luck as I have had no points come through for my x16 or m18 :( Let me know how you get on when your x16 arrives. and 325nits still isn't bad, a year ago no one would even be talking about it, its only this year companies have started using brighter panels.
@@MashITTech my previous laptop was 300nits at least thats what it said when I looked up the specs so I doubt it’s going to make a difference to me. The laptops not the only thing I’ve been buying though I just bought a new desk now I just need to find a chair, was looking at the Razer Iskur I don’t suppose you review gaming chairs lol
I don't review them at the moment but I have been thinking about it. I have the Razer Iskur, its the chair I present from, it is a good chair, I have used it solidly for 2+ years but I don't think its worth the price. If I was buying one today I would get a secret labs titan evo :)
@@MashITTech I looked at a review of the titan EVO and it looks like there quality control is crap as well as there customer service the one the reviewer got wasn’t even sealed when it arrived and there weren’t any signs that the tape he’d been removed so it had probably been shipped that way, it also had the gas lift mechanism broken, the chair had at least one dent in it from being in the box as well as the stitching being really bad and not up to the standard of a chair that costs that amount of money and to top it all off if you want to return it you have to do so within 14 days and you have to pay for it to be shipped back yourself which was over 100 euros, the reviewer was in Europe and most of the time the UK has the same rules
oh no way, I hadn't heard they had bad CS! I have a couple of friends that bought them and love them but guess they got lucky not having to deal with the CS
Any idea about the release of Legion Pro 7 2023 AMD version. I mean how long it might take? Or did you hear anything from anyone?
They just released the Ryzen legion 5 yesterday in the UK so I have one on order :) fingers crossed the legion 7 won't be far behind
My M18 R2 was factory set to RAID0 with 2 1TB drives. Just after setting up all my apps, one of the SSDs failed, resulting in BSOD. Sent it back to Dell and, to their credit, it was returned inside of a week with new SSDs. After initial setup of a few apps, I realized Dell didn't configure the new SSDs in RAID0. I'm at a crossroads - do I start over and set the Bios back to RAID0 or continue on with the extra memory? Is RAID0 really faster? Looking for advice on what is the best setup.
Whilst it is faster it is risky as you have already found out. I have a video showing the performance of RAID and how to set up windows with it. Let me dig it out
Here you go, its an older model but should be almost the same process: ua-cam.com/video/fPRszKFi0YQ/v-deo.html
Thanks Mash. Whilst RAID0 tests faster than conventional setup, does this translate to real world performance benefits? I'm a little hesitant to go back to RAID0 if the benefits are incremental. If I do go back to RAID0, does mean a full reinstall?
In all honesty I dont think you will notice the difference in day to day use. Large file copies would be much faster but who is really doing that regularly. Me personally, I would go non raid for the safety/flexibility
Great reviews mate, Cheers! That’s very helpful when I decide between the x16 and the m18! Just wondering if the M18 could fit in the AW523p utility bag?
thank you! this was the exact video i needed!
Glad to be able to help 😀
Does the laptop wattage drop suddenly while Gaming for a couple of seconds ?
Great answer - thanks alot. Last question - in order to utilized the dual AW3418DW monitors along with wireless mouse & keyboard & closed laptop lit - do I have to set any power options to keep power on with lit closed?? thanks for any advise
Might try the m18 next, my m16 only lasted a week before the fans gave error codes and broke. Support said the laptop was no good anymore. Hoping the m18 has a better build to it.
great review. thanks!
This really helped me out on which direction I am going to go. One last question I would ask is if this laptop is going to be used for nothing else but gaming and streaming, would the 4080 be plenty to handle those loads or would you recommend I just bite the bullet and spring for the 4090?
If I was gaming at the screens 2560x1600 I would save the money and get the 4080, it really is an amazing card and a massive improvement on last years 3080ti but if you want to game at 4k using the laptop then I would get the 4090
@@MashITTech Makes sense, keep making amazing videos and I will pass this channel onto my friends to check out as well!
There is a market for even larger laptops. As long as it can be carried on an airplane, as long as there's a bag for it, it's portable enough for my taste. Just fill it all with screen and cooling.
Do you have plans on reviewing asus strix scar 16? I heard its the mini led panel is great and in that price point, it is a good alternative to x16
I will take look and see if I can get holds of it. Asus is a bit limited in the UK
Really nice review, thank you!
I really like you channel, congratulations for your work.
Thanks so much
I was considering getting the x16 but given its average screen and soldered ram, i think I'll pass.
I really enjoyed your video, keep up the good work mate
Thanks mate 😃
I was wondering if X17 R2 3080Ti vs X16 4080 and M16 4090 is the X17 R2 still worth if the price is around $2k+Tax.
how much more are the x16 and m16 in USA?
@@MashITTech M16 base 4080 is about $2,599 and X16 $2,999. The AMD model just drop last night for M16 and the price is a bit more expensive than Intel version. 🤣🤣🤣
haha it is the same in the UK! dell are so special :) I think the m16 is certainly worth the upgrade, $600 extra for much much better CPU and GPU performance. the x16 at $1000 extra is not worth it IMHO
@@MashITTech Thank you so much. I will have to return X17 R2 and get the M16 instead then. I got a pretty good deal 12900HK 3080 Ti 32GB Ram 2TB SSD and UHD display for $1,988 + Tax. But I felt there has some QC control here. Speaker, Back Light Bleed, and Thermal issues which is couldn't fix. I love the premium build and thinness but too many issues. Did you find any issues with the M16?
No 240hz 1600p display option on the m18. 😭
honestly saying if they provide 240hz and 500nit one the m18, i will no doubt buying this instead of buying Razer Blade 18
I’ve had my Alienware x17 R1 RTX 3070 for 3 years. It works great and I’ve beefed up the RAM and SSD. However, I want more power. Should I go X or M series in 2025?
Great reviews as always ❤️
But i’m just wondering if Alienware X17 R2, 1920 x 1080 Display, Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, GeForce RTX 3060 6GB Graphics , is quit good in gaming and programming .. montage ? Or this graphic cnfgrtn is not that good ?
Thank you ❤️
I have one alienware X17 R1 and i love it! with RTX3070, 16GB RAM, 2TB SSD, it runs everything, just like my desktop with RTX3070.
Next year i will buy a X16 for better portability! And sell my X17 R1.
can you please do m18 vs x17? i have both and i want to know what is better.
your review is really awesome
Nicely done. I regret buying an older R2 with the soldered memory - out of warranty and just at three years of ownership, decided to start giving me issues. Is it worth repairing? Maybe, but I don’t know if taking the chance on a used mobo is worth it from YeetBay when they’re going for four-hundred-dollars. YMMV. Next model I get will have upgradable memory.
Thank you for this video. i just cancelled the x16 order and ordered he m18 ($500 cheaper than the x16 as well)
Hi Mash IT, how many hours do you get with the AW M18 sir fully charged without it being plugged in? Regards
Hello,
If I understand well, due to the memory amount, the RTX4090 is in reality an RTX4070 ?
I'm looking for a beast in VR, I know that people on MSF2020 prefers the RTX4090 than RTX4080
So what do you think it could be in VR ?
Thanks
Have you noticed a big difference between the M18 480Hz FHD and the 165Hz QHD in pixel density/perceived image quality within a reasonable sitting distance?
Unfortunately, in my area we only have two flavors of the M18 - FHD with 13980HX/4090 and QHD with 13900HX/4090. I'm leaning towards the 13980HX option as every drop of compute counts using this machine for work while traveling.
yes, I can notice the difference easily. especially for work/photo editing/video editing. If its just gaming I am more than happy with the 1200p screen, sorry to be the bearer of bad news
@@MashITTech Oh, I understand. I'll wait a bit longer to see if the QHD version with 13980HX starts shipping here.
Perhaps someone can answer a puzzle for me. The Alienware M18 allows a QHD 165-hz option but not a 240-hz option as on the M16. Why? Is there a technical reason why there should be a 165-hz limitation on the M18? Is the 165-hz acceptable, and would I really notice a difference with the 240-hz option if I could get it. On the M16 the cost difference option for the QHD 165-hz upgrade to 240-hz is $50.00. Fascinated to hear some commentary.
They source their panels from what's available. Maybe it doesn't meet their specifications, QAQC, or they can source other panels. Hard to say.
Hi, one help , actually i want a laptop only for gaming,
Which one you. Recommend for me.
Alienware m18 4080 or 4090
Rog strix 4080 around 2500 usd
Rog strix scar with 7945hx with 4080 gpu. Or 4090
Msi raider 4080
Lenevo 7i pro with 4090
Lenevo 7i pro 4090 is 16 inch , small screen but 4090 gpu and alienware m18 4080 price is pretty close.. only screen is big in m18 with 4080 but lenevo provide 4090 with another 200 usd . Your recoomendation?
Is 4090 16 gb worth for gaming in 2k, do we really need or 4080 is enough
i had alienware 18 with two 880m gpu's in it, laptop had very laud speakers, hands off, even mini bass booster.
When do you plan to review the x14 r2 and compare it to the x16
X14 r2 still isn’t out in U.K. yet so I can’t order 😢
Nice!! Does anyone know if the x16 would fit into a regular northface backpack?
Hello Sir,
If i have alienware laptop and i buy alienware desktop (monitor) so if i connect latop to desktop then should i am able to Smooth gaming or any other work with screen delay in latop and desktop, means in that case screen delay will happen or not , i should buy or not desktop
it will work exactly as if it were a desktop. I do this all the time. In my alienware desktop setup I plug my m18r2 into a 34" OLED and it's flawless. Video in case you missed it: ua-cam.com/video/j7paGYoKJdU/v-deo.html
@@MashITTechThank You Sir ❤
As tempting as these are I see no resson to upgrade my Area 51R2. Its a shame they gave up their gpu extension port.
I love your content, keep it up buddy!
AW M18 is what I choose and soon will be mine :)
Thank you mate 😀
You didn’t talk about the cpu temperature difference between the two. Just something I noticed
How hot do they run? Do you have a video showing the temps while playing AAA games.
Hi is it possible to do a a51m r2 vs m18? Other than cpu and gpu, maybe other aspects of laptop
i am new to pc gaming, i just bought a Lenovo RTX 4050 and put 32 GM ram in it, I never heard of alienware gaming laptops, my question is, is Alienware laptops like top of the line gaming laptops and how expensive are they?
Great video! The 4 SSD ports are *only* available with the 4080 or 4090? I was looking at getting the 4060...
the 4060 and 4070 only get 2 m.2 :(
@@MashITTech ok thanks!
can you ask Dell to lower their prices?
Wow the thermals on the M18 look absolutely deal breaking! 100°C on the CPU is not okay, as this is even new with fresh paste and not so dusty vents. I can imagine how bad this performs after a year, you'll basically have a 1050 ti for 3500€
im going to buy the x16 when its on a big sale
Can you compare these with ASUS scar 18 especially thermal performance? I am hoping there is no coil whine in alienware laptops
I would go for the m18 but something tells me the cooling is much better with the x16 because of the the vapor chamber and also sam size 4fans
Ryzen CPUs in M18 would be really interesting.
Yeah, I will get one on order soon to compare
Does the 18 inch fit in a regular bag?
no, it won't fit in many bags. You need to either buy a larger 18" laptop bag or the Alienware Horizon Travel bag
For the same price the m18 is a better buy with that 4090 I have the m15 r5 Ryzen I think with the rtx 3070.. will the x series come
With an 18 inch and 4090 can you spec it out like that ?
M18 is perfect for me and after your great review, I realized this is what I need! Respect man! ;)
Sorry Greg, for some reason I didn’t see this come through! Thanks for the kind words
any suggestions on how to use dual AW3418DW monitors with these bad boys??? w/o a docking station
Connect 1 of them to mini display port to DP and you will need to buy a USBC to Displayport for the second. You could use HDMI but the 3418DW can only do 3440x1440 @ 60hz on hdmi
Hi, I want to make a decision between M18 with rtx4080 and rtx 4090, do you think it will have a big difference between 4080 and 4090 on this M18? Also which LCD would you prefer? 18 QHD 165 HZ or 18 FHD 240 HZ? Thanks.
100% the 4090 is better. Between 15-30 fps depending on the game and resolution.
I ordered the m18 and it should arrive this week
Hope you enjoy it :)
@@MashITTech whenever I want to test tcc and the command center opens, the tcc turns off when I go into bios again
Right now i am still consider which one to get. Alienware m18 4090 or Razer Blade 18 4090, the only thing i dislike about alienware is the screen. I've paid this high price butI can only get a 300nit screen, meanwhile Blade 18 has a 500nit one.
Yeah, Dell screens are a real disappointment this year. If this was a 2k machine then fair enough but at over 3k it should have the 500nit like the Razer
Does the new x16 sound better than Macbooks 14 and 16?
no. no where near! It is one of the better sounding windows laptops but Macs are just leagues ahead with audio especially that 16" mbp
Great reviews for these laptops. Alienware has best designed laptops among others.
I had just got a x16 close to a month ago i think it mustve been defective it ran constantly over 100celcius while testing out wow classic on it. A game from 2004 couldnt even run without getting really hot and stutter lagging i was looking forward to trying out some new AAA titles but after seeing that i didnt even dare try it. I sent it back to dell after about 20 days of testing it trying resetting makong sure everything was up to date n doing hardware scans that said it was fine. So idk im debating on maybe trying to get a new x16 when my refund comes through or spend an extra 150$ for a m18 R2 seems like it shouldnt get as hot as x16 n better cpu and num pad is nice but no lit up touchpad which isnt the end of world but i did think it was a really cool feature. I just cant decide
Why have the headset jack at the REAR
Bro, between the two laptops, I live in Brazil, and my cousin will bring one of them for me. I'm really unsure about which one to buy. I know the x16 has integrated RAM and supports a maximum of 32GB of LPDDR5, which is faster than the DDR5 on the m18. However, the m18 has an 18" screen and a better, more powerful Core i9 processor. I can also upgrade the RAM on the m18, but I really love the color of the x16. Which one do you advise me to buy?
personally I would pick the m18 or m16 over the x16 unless you go for looks above performance. They have better cooling, cpu's with more cores and they are upgradable
Does the m18 have a removable battery?
I have the M18 is a Monster ❤
Guarantee you the speakers in the 18 sound better than the 16 IF you turn off some of the nonsense sound profile nonsense. I am still rocking an Area 51m R1 and it had the same thin muffled sound out of the box.
Anyone do any battery tests on the amd m18?
I have the X18 but I noticed that in the power button it flashing red before turning on does anyone knows what that means ??! it’s my second time this has happened to me.
your content is sooooo goood. I bought a gaming laptop a few weeks ago, and it died after 2 weeks. SO sad. I'm hoping i can afford one in the feature.
sorry to hear that. hope you find a better one soon
Can you please do a review of Alienware M18 with AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT.
I love the M18, but my big question is, who is the best brand for a leather laptop case that can hold a laptop this size?
let me see if I can find one
For M18 is Amd or intel best for battery
Normally amd is better but as dell won’t release the amd version in the U.K. I cannot test it
awesome so you recommend in canada i get the m18 amd version -- do i really need the top video card 4090 or can i go with 4080 or 4070 i think?? @@MashITTech