The Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5 is an AMD-NVIDIA combo over a decade in the making

Alienware M15 Front
Alienware M15 Front (Image credit: Alienware)

What you need to know

  • The Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition will feature Ryzen 5000 series processors and NVIDIA graphics.
  • It will be available in China on April 7th, in the US on April 20th, and in the rest of the world on May 4th.
  • Select configurations will start at $1793.98.

The Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5 is on the way. It's distinctive for being the first Alienware notebook to feature NVIDIA graphics alongside AMD processors since the Aurora mALX in 2007. But that's not the only first the m15 is packing. It's also the first 15-inch Alienware notebook to have 3200Mhz DDR4 memory and the first to be finished with a new paint formula engineered for heightened stain resistance.

Other interesting tidbits about the m15 Ryzen Edition R5 include its CHERRY-based ultra-low-profile mechanical keyboard with 1.8-millimeter total key travel and per-key AlienFX customizable lighting. The notebook employs Alienware's Cryo-Tech cooling technology, meaning you hopefully won't have to worry about the machine heating up your fingers while you type.

The m15's specs were leaked a few weeks ago before there was even confirmation that the laptop was real. Now we can confirm that the gaming laptop is indeed real, and its specs line up with the leaks. Here's the full breakdown:

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CategoryAlienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5
Operating SystemWindows 10 Home 64-bit
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
ProcessorAMD Ryzen R7 5800H
AMD Ryzen R9 5900HX
GraphicsNVIDIA RTX 3060 8GB
NVIDIA RTX 3070 8GB
Display15" FHD 360Hz w/NVIDIA G-Sync (300 nit)
15" QHD 240hz w/NVIDIA G-Sync (400 nit)
15" FHD 165Hz (300 nit)
Memory8GB DDR4 3200Mhz memory
16GB DDR4 3200Mhz memory
32GB DDR4 3200Mhz memory
Storage256GB PCIe M.2 SSD
512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
1TB PCIe M.2 SSD
2TB PCIe M.2 SSD
Up to 4TB (2x 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD) (Dual-Drive Non-RAID Configs available)
CameraAlienware HD (1280x720 resolution) camera with dual-array microphones
Alienware HD (1280x720 resolution) camera with dual-array microphones and Windows Hello IR support
ConnectivityKiller Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 wireless
2.5 Gbps Ethernet NIC
PortsHDMI 2.1 port
2.5Gbps Ethernet port
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port
Power/DC-in Port
Global headset jack
BatteryLithium Ion (86 Whr) Battery with Alienware Battery Defender technology
Dimensions10.73 x 14.02 x 0.8996 inches (272.5 mm x 356.2 mm x 22.85 mm)
Weight5.34 Lbs (minimum weight)
5.93 Lbs (maximum weight)
ColorsDark Side of the Moon with high endurance clear coat and silky-smooth finish
PriceSelect configurations starting at $1793.98

The m15 Ryzen Edition R5's visual stylings should be familiar to anyone who's had time with previous m15 models. It seems to be a classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," since the design holds up as well today as ever before.

Though it's snazzy on the surface, only time will tell if the Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5 is truly among the best Alienware laptops. Given that it can pack up to an NVIDIA RTX 3070, the odds are good that it'll be a heavyweight contender ready to compete with any other gaming laptops on the market.

Robert Carnevale

Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He's a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author of Cold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.