Image: IDG / Chris Hoffman
Cyber Monday is quickly coming to a close, which means there’s no better time than now to scoop up a heavily discounted laptop. If you fancy yourself a gamer, you’re in luck, as the Alienware m16 R2 (PCWorld’s favorite gaming laptop) is on sale today for up to $600 off at Dell. While the version we reviewed back in March is currently out of stock, other configurations are on sale for $400 and $600 off, respectively.
We love the core setup of this machine, as it offers strong gaming performance as well as great battery life. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor inside the midrange unit we reviewed is designed with power efficiency in mind, which likely contributes to the longevity of this machine. Speaking of, the Alienware m16 R2’s 90 watt-hour battery lasted seven hours on a single charge in our test–a great result for a powerful gaming laptop. We expect to see similar results from the other configurations.
The lower tier configuration that’s on sale today ($1,299.99, $400 off) comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, a 16-inch non-touch 2560×1600 display, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. That’s a step down from the RTX 4070 GPU in our review unit. That said, the RTX 4060 is still a fine graphics card–you should be able to play most games on the Medium or High graphics settings at 1080p resolution, though you may need to dial things back on more intensive titles.
If you’re looking for a more powerful machine, the top tier configuration is on sale for $1,999.99, which is $600 off of the original $2,599.99 price. This version boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, a 16-inch non-touch 2560×1600 display, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage. The 2TB of SSD storage is worth noting, as it should provide plenty of space for your massive games library.
These deals are fantastic, but you should act now rather than later. Cyber Monday will be over in a flash and the deals will be nothing but a faraway memory.
Save up to $600 on PCWorld’s favorite gaming laptop
Don’t forget these crucial accessories!
Picking up a laptop during Black Friday sales can save you hundreds. But why stop there? You can save even more money by accessorizing your laptop with the extra things it needs while these sales last.
We’ve detailed must-have laptop accessories here, but here’s a cheat sheet with three especially crucial items:
- USB hub: Get a USB hub to expand the number and kinds of ports available for your laptop. Hiearcool’s USB-C hub is an affordable and capable USB-C hub with myriad ports, including 2 x USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI port. Get it on Amazon.
- Mouse: Using a mouse instead of your laptop’s trackpad can speed up productivity if your laptop is mainly used for work, and it’s crucial if you plan on doing any gaming. A mouse you can rely on for all your needs, and one that feels oh-so-comfortable in your hand, is the Razer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeed. Get it on Amazon.
- Laptop sleeve: A good quality sleeve will protect your laptop from the inevitable bumps, scratches, and drops that happen over time. Amazon’s choice for laptop sleeve is the BOOEUDI, which is shockproof and made from neoprene. Browse sizes at Amazon.
Author: Ashley Biancuzzo, Associate Editor, PCWorld
Ashley Biancuzzo manages all laptop and Chromebook coverage for PCWorld. She’s been covering consumer tech since 2016, and her work has appeared on USA Today, Reviewed, Polygon, Kotaku, StarWars.com, and Nerdist. In her spare time, she enjoys playing video games, reading science fiction, and hanging out with her rescue greyhound.