Dell Alienware m15 R6 vs Dell Alienware m15 R7 Comparison

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Dell Alienware m15 R6

15.6 inches | May 2021

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Dell Alienware m15 R7

15.6 inches | January 2022

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Dell Alienware m15 R6 vs Dell Alienware m15 R7 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7, two laptops by Dell. Dell Alienware m15 R6 was introduced to market in May 2021 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 was launched in January 2022. There is only 8 months difference between Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Dell Alienware m15 R6

CPU:
GPU:
RAM:
DISPLAY:
BATTERY:
Dell Alienware m15 R7

CPU:
GPU:
RAM:
DISPLAY:
BATTERY:

Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 are members of Dell's Alienware series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Dell Alienware Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Dell Alienware m18 R2	January 2024	18.0"	410.3 x 319.9 x 24.1-25.1 mm	4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)
Dell Alienware m16 R2	January 2024	16.0"	363.9 x 249.4 x 19.9-23.5 mm	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Dell Alienware x16 R2	January 2024	16.0"	364.74 x 289.81 x 18.57 mm	2.66 kg (5.87 lbs)
Dell Alienware X16	January 2023	16.0"	364.74 x 289.81 x 18.57 mm	2.72 kg (6 lbs)
Dell Alienware m16	January 2023	16.0"	368.9 x 289.9 x 23-25.4 mm	3 kg (6.62 lbs)
Dell Alienware m18	January 2023	18.0"	410.3 x 319.9 x 24.1-26.7 mm	4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)
Dell Alienware x14 R2	January 2023	14.0"	321.08 x 260.41 x 14.5 mm	2 kg (4.41 lbs)
Dell Alienware m15 R7	January 2022	15.6"	356.2 x 272.5 x 12.9-20.6 mm	2.42 kg (5.34 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Alienware m15 R6 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Alienware m15 R6 Key Specs

Launched in May 2021
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 11400H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
356.2 x 272.5 x 12-19.2 mm (14.02 x 10.73 x 0.47-0.76 inches)
Weight: 2.42 kg (5.34 lbs)

Dell Alienware m15 R7 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
356.2 x 272.5 x 12.9-20.6 mm (14.02 x 10.73 x 0.51-0.81 inches)
Weight: 2.42 kg (5.34 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware m15 R6 over Dell Alienware m15 R7

Noise Level	53.3 dB vs 53.9 dB	Less fan noise
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware m15 R7 over Dell Alienware m15 R6

Response Time	3 ms vs 19 ms	Faster Response screen
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	Charges via USB-C type cable
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM Type
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Dell Alienware m15 R6

Launch Dates	May 2021 vs January 2022	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.2 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v3 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Dell Alienware m15 R6

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Dell Alienware m15 R6 vs Dell Alienware m15 R7: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware m15 R6 and the Dell Alienware m15 R7.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.42 kg (5.34 lbs)	2.42 kg (5.34 lbs)
Surface Area	971 cm2 (150.4 inches2)	971 cm2 (150.4 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~69.1%	~69.1%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.4 mm	~5.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.16 kg/inch	0.16 kg/inch
	0.352 lbs/inch	0.352 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black

Comparison of the Dell Alienware m15 R6 and the Dell Alienware m15 R7 External Dimensions

Weight

Weight Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell Alienware m15 R6 2.42 kg

Dell Alienware m15 R7 2.42 kg

Min 0.99 kg

Average 1.95 kg

Max 3.32 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell Alienware m15 R6 12.00 mm

Dell Alienware m15 R7 12.90 mm

Min 7.70 mm

Average 20.17 mm

Max 29.00 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Dell Alienware m15 R6 is 0.16 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is 0.16 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Dell Alienware m15 R6 vs Dell Alienware m15 R7: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 11400H Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11900H	Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900H AMD Ryzen 7 6800H AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
Base Frequency	2.2-2.7 GHz	2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.5 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of Cores	6	14
Number of Threads	12	20
L3 Cache	12 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (16 EU)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1514	1750
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	6382	12242
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1478	1800
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	9375	16309

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Dell Alienware m15 R6 and Dell Alienware m15 R7.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 11400H

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 12700H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 8GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	735 MHz	735 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1035 MHz	1035 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	75 W	75 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	5.299 TFLOPS	5.299 TFLOPS
Memory Size	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2560	2560
TMUs	80	80
ROPs	32	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Dell Alienware m15 R6 has a FLOPS value of 8.7 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware m15 R7 ' has a FLOPS value of 8.7 TFLOPS.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Alienware m15 R6 and the Alienware m15 R7, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Dell Alienware m15 R6	Dell Alienware m15 R7
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	56 Wh 86 Wh	56 Wh 86 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	No	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Bottom
Charge Power	180 / 240 W	180 / 240 W
Voltage	13.2 V	13.2 V
AC Adapter Weight	955 gramm

Furthermore, both laptops have the same battery capacity of 56 Wh, ensuring comparable battery performance.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell Alienware m15 R6 56 Wh

Dell Alienware m15 R7 56 Wh

Min 36.00 Wh

Average 62.1 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
The Alienware m15 R7 offers a larger max storage capacity of 4 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Alienware m15 R6's storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Dell Alienware m15 R6 vs Dell Alienware m15 R7: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware m15 R6 and Dell Alienware m15 R7 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 screens have the same size of 15.6".The total usable screen area of the Alienware m15 R6 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the Alienware m15 R7's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 feature the same pixel density with 141 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell Alienware m15 R6 141 ppi

Dell Alienware m15 R7 141 ppi

Min 100 PPI

Average 144 PPI

Max 294.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 offer the same refresh rate of 165 Hz.

Furthermore, the Alienware m15 R7 boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Dell Alienware m15 R6 300 nits

Dell Alienware m15 R7 300 nits

Min

60 nits

Average 319 nits

Max 1000.00 nits

Dell Alienware m15 R6 vs Dell Alienware m15 R7 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Alienware m15 R7 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Alienware m15 R6 (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 have USB-A ports. Alienware m15 R6 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Alienware m15 R7 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 feature 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 feature Thunderbolt ports. Alienware m15 R6 has Thunderbolt 3, while Alienware m15 R7 has Thunderbolt 4.

HDMI
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Alienware m15 R6 nor Alienware m15 R7 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Alienware m15 R6 and Alienware m15 R7 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.2	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 3	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes