Dell Alienware m17 R4 vs Dell Alienware m15 R6 Comparison

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Dell Alienware m17 R4

17.3 inches | January 2021

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Dell Alienware m15 R6

15.6 inches | May 2021

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Dell Alienware m17 R4 vs Dell Alienware m15 R6 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6, two laptops by Dell. Dell Alienware m17 R4 was introduced to market in January 2021 and Dell Alienware m15 R6 was launched in May 2021. There is only 4 months difference between Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 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 m17 R4 and Dell Alienware m15 R6 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Alienware m17 R4 Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 10870H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
399.8 x 294.6 x 16.9-22 mm (15.74 x 11.6 x 0.67-0.87 inches)
Weight: 2.5 kg (5.51 lbs)

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)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 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 m17 R4 over Dell Alienware m15 R6

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~70% vs ~69.1%	Larger screen area ratio
Display Size	17.3 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Noise Level	50 dB vs 53.3 dB	Less fan noise
Response Time	7 ms vs 19 ms	Faster Response screen
GPU FLOPS	13.8 TFLOPS vs 8.7 TFLOPS	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
Display Port	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Larger Touchpad Area
Touchpad Size	10.4 x 7.8 cm vs 10.5 x 6.0 cm

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware m15 R6 over Dell Alienware m17 R4

Weight	2.42 kg vs 2.50 kg	0.08 kg lighter
Side Bezel Thickness	5.4 mm vs 8.4 mm	3 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	165 Hz vs 144 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	141 ppi vs 127 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm vs 14 nm	Newer Generation CPU
Max Total RAM	64 GB vs 32 GB	Higher RAM potential
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Bluetooth	v5.2 vs v5.1	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware m15 R6 and Dell Alienware m17 R4

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 3.0 (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 v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.1 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v3 vs v3	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 R6 and Dell Alienware m17 R4

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

Dell Alienware m17 R4 vs Dell Alienware m15 R6: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware m17 R4 and the Dell Alienware m15 R6.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.5 kg (5.51 lbs)	2.42 kg (5.34 lbs)
Surface Area	1178 cm2 (182.6 inches2)	971 cm2 (150.4 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~70%	~69.1%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.4 mm	~5.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.14 kg/inch	0.16 kg/inch
	0.308 lbs/inch	0.352 lbs/inch
Colors	White, Gray	Black

Comparison of the Dell Alienware m17 R4 and the Dell Alienware m15 R6 External Dimensions

Weight

Alienware m17 R4 weighs 2.5 kg (5.51 lbs), whereas the Alienware m15 R6 weighs 2.42 kg (5.34 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Dell Alienware m17 R4 2.50 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.74 kg

Dell Alienware m15 R6 2.42 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.95 kg

Thickness Comparison

Dell Alienware m17 R4 16.90 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.26 mm

Dell Alienware m15 R6 12.00 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.17 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 m17 R4 is 0.14 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware m15 R6 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 m17 R4 vs Dell Alienware m15 R6: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 10870H Intel Core i9 10980HK	Intel Core i5 11400H Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11900H
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.2-2.7 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	8	6
Number of Threads	16	12
L3 Cache	16 MB	12 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (16 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	14 nm	10 nm

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 m17 R4 and Dell Alienware m15 R6.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 10870H

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 11400H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 8GB
Base Clock Frequency	900 MHz	735 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1425 MHz	1035 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	80 W	75 W
Nvidia Optimus	No, direct	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	10.94 TFLOPS	5.299 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	3840	2560
TMUs	120	80
ROPs	48	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 m17 R4 has a FLOPS value of 13.8 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware m15 R6 ' has a FLOPS value of 8.7 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware m15 R6 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	2933 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	32 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Alienware m17 R4 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Alienware m15 R6's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

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 m17 R4	Dell Alienware m15 R6
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	86 Wh	56 Wh 86 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	No	No
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Bottom
Charge Power	240 / 330 W	180 / 240 W
AC Adapter Weight	1300 gramm	955 gramm

Moreover, the Alienware m17 R4 boasts a larger battery capacity of 86 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Alienware m15 R6's56 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Dell Alienware m17 R4 86 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 76.88 Wh

Dell Alienware m15 R6 56 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.1 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the Alienware m17 R4 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Alienware m15 R6's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	3	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 m17 R4 vs Dell Alienware m15 R6: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware m17 R4 and Dell Alienware m15 R6 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. Alienware m17 R4 has a display size of 17.3".On the other hand, Alienware m15 R6 has a smaller 15.6" display.The total usable screen area of the Alienware m17 R4 is 825cm² / 128inch² whereas the Alienware m15 R6's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Alienware m15 R6 features a higher pixel density with 141 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Dell Alienware m17 R4 127 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 141 PPI

Dell Alienware m15 R6 141 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 144 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Alienware m15 R6 offers a higher refresh rate of 165 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Alienware m17 R4 boasts a faster response time of 7.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
Both Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Dell Alienware m17 R4 300 nits

Avg: larger than 17.0" 368 nits

Dell Alienware m15 R6 300 nits

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 319 nits

Dell Alienware m17 R4 vs Dell Alienware m15 R6 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

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 m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 feature 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 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 m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 are equipped with Thunderbolt 3 ports.

HDMI
Both Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 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
Alienware m17 R4 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Alienware m15 R6 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Alienware m17 R4 and Alienware m15 R6 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	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.1	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 3	Thunderbolt 3
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	1x v1.4	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes