GAME CHANGER - Alienware M16 R2

The 2024 16-inch Alienware is a mega gaming laptop, but can also be a high-power laptop for other tasks too

Last year's Alienware M16 is back with a rip-roaring update. The M16 R2 is an impressive bit of kit and not only for gamers. This is a gaming laptop that's also happy just being a high-power laptop.

The 2024 model of the M16 has had a facelift. Or rather, a butt lift, with the protruding rear of the 2023 version being remodelled into a more conventional hinge. The laptop retains a distinctly Alienware design, though, with glowing alien heads on the back of the lid and above the keyboard, curved edges and hexagonal air vents around the inside glowing alien.

Speaking of glowing, there are a lot of LEDs on this laptop, with each key having an LED backlight plus a glowing edge around the touchpad.

If all that is a bit much for you, the M16 R2 also includes a stealth mode: hit F2, the lights are turned off, the screen is dimmed and the fans are slowed down. That's helpful if you want to use the laptop for more than just gaming, making it less of a standout in a meeting, lecture, or coffee shop.

The Alienware Command Center app also controls the laptop's performance features, allowing you to tweak settings for performance or battery life. There is a good level of control here, including creating profiles for individual apps or games.