Thanks for the video, i ordered my R5 with the 4 zone backlit UK Keyboard as i totally prefer a quiet keyboard, the per key RGB and the typewriter sound when typing is horrible imo and extremely not needed an a gaming laptop. The main issue for me as a customer was the extra £100 price tag as an option, which is totally not worth it at all, but for me even if it were free i would not have had it as its US only which is a very annoying layout. The dedicated media keys over on the right is how a gaming keyboard should be imo. I think a seperate number pad keyboard is only essential for coders.
I hear what you're saying regarding the noise and cost. However, if you've ever had a key or two on a membrane keyboard go tits up for some reason, like I did, you will appreciate the ability to repair the individual keys rather than be spending a significant amount of time looking for a complete replacement keyboard. And trying not to get screwed over by the sellers. As for the price, I figure if I am spending this much on a laptop, the extra $100 is not going to break me.
LOL US layout is the only logical layout. Who in the right mind would game with an idiotic half sized SHIFT KEY lol WHAT A JOKE. Not to mention that STUPID ENTER key shape hahahahaha
I like how quiet the non mechanical keyboard is. I use mine for school and I don't think my professors would appreciate hearing a type writer in the room
@@aardee175 in a classroom it's going to be loud as f. Literally the only noise in the room is going to be that laptop. Click click click. That's going to annoy the hell out of people especially when you go to the school library which I am at every school day
Haha oh wow perfect timing posting this video. Posted a question on the forum asking what the difference was between the the UK 4 zone and US Cherry keyboard and this answers everything. Keep up the great work!
I personally think they are both actually rather nice, you have the first good mechanical laptop keyboard and a known great membrane keyboard to choose from so it thankfully it falls down to preferences. I like blue switches myself so that choice was clear to me, but that membrane is probably a better tactile feel than I've felt over any variations of tactile brown switched mechanical keyboards I've ever owned.
Hi man. I am planing to buy this machine. But I am concerned with the durability because of the cpu temperatures. I am from India and there is no alienware here so I cant exchange it so asking your opinion.
I do love them both so would rate it like this: If you want it to purely game then I would get the alienware as 16:9 is better for pure gaming and the laptop is easier to get hold of. If you want it for gaming and work then I would get the legion pro for that 16:10 1440p screen
Is the cherry mechanical keyboard a clicky keyboard? I’m looking for a keyboard that’s similar to a linear mechanical keyboard is the cherry keyboard the one? Or the membrane switches?
@@MashITTech i ordered mine thinking it was a red switch 😭 it doesn’t state any color switch or any sort of indication to tell on paper, just assumed they wouldn’t do blue, kind of surprised
Disagree, the membrane keyboard looks better and more attractive. Couldn't care less about per key options nor it being brighter on the mechanical one. It just needs to be bright enough to see in the dark, that's the whole point. Brighter is annoying and distracting.
I partially agree with what you are saying, I also do not care about per key as I usually have a static colour but if it is brighter than you need you can dim it, you cannot make the membrane brighter should you wish. Thanks for your feedback though I love to hear other peoples thoughts on the matter :)
I just got this laptop with the Cherry MX switches on the keys and I'm totally in love with it! Typing on this is an absolute dream! It reminds me of the old school Keytronics mechanical keyboards with a nice, satisfying "click" to it! Due to a stroke, I lost use of my left eye for awhile and my remaining good eye hasn't let in as much light. So, the extra brightness of the keys has been really helpful. I also know some commentors think having individual RGB lighting on the keyboard is useless for gaming, but I totally disagree! I can program custom lit layouts and save them as themes which change depending upon what game I'm playing! This is fantastic and very useful. I feel zoned lighting would be useless myself, but the ability to control the color of each key is great!
Hi bro, I have two questions about gaming laptops. Do I have to play with the device while it is charging.. Is this how a gaming laptop works? -Is there any harm? The second question is, is it possible to replace a regular keyboard with a mechanical keyboard?
@@MashITTech Please if you under-volt this M15 R5 Ryzen + 3070 create multiple profiles can you test the battery consumption on low profile(base clock) mode used for regular browsing and you-tube streaming. And compare it to battery consumption out of the box.
Hi there, thank you so much for the comparison. I wonder if the cherry keyboard is also brighter than the membrane keyboard on X17r1? Sales person from Dell told me it's the same when I placed my order yesterday.... but I would really love a brighter keyboard... Appreciate your reply. Cheers!!!
On the X17 because the mech and ordinary are both per key RGB they have the same brightness. On the m15r5 and r6 they offer a zoned RGB on the standard keyboard and that model is dimmer
I ordered the cherry keyboard on my r5 ryzen and now you have me 2nd guessing my choice lol. I don't care about zone or individual lighting as my keyboard is always set to 1 colour. I'm in canada so I'm use to the US layout too. I keep reading that everyone who uses the cherry loves it which id why I originally ordered it but you made the non cherry sound good too lol. All I know is my alienware 18 keyboard is the best I've ever used. I think it uses a scissor style clip so I'm hoping the cherry is a closer feel to it. That being said I'm now worried I ordered the wrong laptop..all the comments between you and others at saying the r5 is a step back but ryzen is only available in the r5. Should I try to change my order to something else? Lastly when ordering I went for a 360hz screen but didn't realize its 1080, think I should try to swap it for the 1440p? It's $100 more without the cherry keyboard and you only get 16gbs ram instead of the 30gbs mine is going to have.
The cherry keyboard is lovely and I am sure you will enjoy it but it’s loud like a blue mechanical switch. The standard keyboard is the best non mechanic keyboard I have used (they introduced this keyboard with the m17r3) and I have had every alienware model since dell bought them out (it wasn’t in U.K. before that). The m15r5 is a step back in quality and feels more like a g series than alienware but your only other choice is the x17 which is a massive step up over the r5. If you do get the r5 get the qhd, it’s the best thing about that laptop 👍
@@MashITTech thanks for the reply. I'm hoping the keyboard feels good like my 18's. Do you recall what the old ones used and which modern keyboard is closer? Honestly I've never had to type much on a mechanical keyboard before but the sound doesn't bug me much, I think the sound is funny as it annoys others lol. I wanted the m17 but the 17 base model started at the price that I'm basically getting the fully loaded m15 for. Also I'm getting it for a school/travel laptop so figured the m15 would be better..couldn't justify the 17 inch this time..may rebuild my 18 at somepoint and see what It can do when somewhat modernized. Why is the x17 the only other choice? Originally I wanted the area 51 but again it was more then I'm looking for for its purpose. Mines currently being built and I need it for my course that starts next week (it'll be late regardless) but I'll see if they can switch the screens. With it not costing too much more or loosing to many options. Thanks again.
I can’t compare the new keyboards to the old keyboard as the are so different. But the m18 keyboard was a great keyboard and this keyboard feels slightly better, it’s hard to explain without typing on it. The mechanical is also a lovely switch to type in and the more I used it the more I enjoyed it. I don’t care about the noise either but I expected them to use a cherry red switch as it is a gaming laptop! The area 51m is an amazing laptop but hard to justify now that the x17 kills it in performance yet only needs 1 psu and is so much slimmer and lighter. The m15r5 isn’t a bad laptop it just doesn’t feel as solid or premium as the other alienwares and you do get the advantage of decent battery life as the r5 has the best battery of all the alienwares! Check my m15r5 video, with a little tweaking I got 10 hours or so of battery!!!
@@MashITTech I watched it after my 1st comment lol I've watched abunch of your alienware vids over the last year as I planned on getting a new one months ago but held off till now. I did see the 10 hours by changing it to 60hz. Sorry for another question, do you think an intel r4 would be better then the ryzen r5? I only ordered the r5 as its the only model the ryzen came in (also only came in 15s for some reasob) Regardless I'm sure ill like whatever arrives im just second guessing myself and typically can never make a decision without wondering if I made the right one haha. Thanks again for all the help!
@@ACOGLMT556 my choice would be m17r4>m15r5>m15r4. The m15r4 thermals aren’t anywhere near as good as the m17. Obviously battery life is way worse on the r4 series. I think you will be happy with the r5, I would give it a try and see what you think, if it doesn’t meet your expectations dell are really good accepting returns 👍
@Mash IT, how would you rate the fan notice on this M15 R5 - This is a big concern for me. Are you able to manually adjust the fan on the Alienware application? Thanks.
Weirdly, I feel like my "mechanical" keyboard does not have the N-key rollover which I did have on the membrane keyboard on my R3. For example, when I was not using my keyboard for like 10 seconds in the browser, and suddenly I pressed "CTRL + T" at the same time to open a new window, there will be some chance the laptop wouldn't recognize my input. I have tested in multiple online keyboard testing webpages, and it all showed my keyboard only recognized CTRL but not T. I updated my BIOS, and all software was up to date, but the thing still existed.
I don't know if you read my comment earlier, but one channel named shadow tech has stolen your video about alienware m15 r5, I also don't know if he actually got permission from you or not but you should report that. Appreciate your good work.
Glad to hear you are enjoying it. I am still mixed! It is a great typing experience, I am just not sure it is the switch they should have used on a gaming laptop.
@@mariozamora9684 It can get loud but I think it's pretty reasonable. It's not Series X quiet but a room fan on high is probably louder.And yes you can in the software plus there is a boost button with function + F2 (or you can lock function). I usually only notice it when it changes speed. Playing Destroy all humans (remaster) max settings @1440p is very quiet. Star Citizen not so much.
@@CodeBonYT Do you think that the mechanical keyboard would be the best choice for someone who is looking at purchasing one of these laptops primarily for software programming?
Hi! I have a limited time (36 hours from now!) To make a purchase and I feel more lost than ever at the options even tho I've been researching for days now. Im hoping to get the x17 r2, i9-12900h, nvidia rtx 3080ti 32gb ram 2 tb ssd Fhd 1980 x 1080p screen 165hz Normal alienware x17 keyboard However I am unsure about a few things, the machines gonna be used for gaming, but not connected up to anything else (no monitors etc) Are the specs OK for what I want? Hard drive: not sure if single or dual better? Which one is more prone to messing up? Screen: I read that the higher the resolution the more power it will use, as I want it to last many years, am I better off just going 1920 x 1080 instead of higher as it will perform better over time? Is 165hz enough?? The keyboard, I'm really lost on this as usually the feel of the keyboard doesn't matter and if I understand right the mechanical keyboard feels really good? Satisfaction of typing isn't a good enough reason to spend more, But does it actually perform better for gaming? Which will stand better against the test of time?? Any help from anyone will be much appreciated! Even if it's just one of the answers you know please let me know! Thank you!
Hello mate, ok I will answer as best I can. 1. Don't bother with the i9 its hardly any better than the i7, put the money towards a better screen. 2. Get a single drive, I am actually making a video on the RAID at the moment but IMHO its not worth it. 3. The higher resolution screen just eats more battery, but as the 4k scales so well you can still run games at 1440p and 1080p and they look great yet you get a screen that is much brighter and looks incredible. I have a video on exactly this topic. 4. The stock keyboard is amazing and the mech keyboard is even better but a lot louder (like a cherry blue switch) You will be happy with either choice. 4K video: th-cam.com/video/p_s0PVUybWI/w-d-xo.html
@@MashITTech thank you!! I really truly appreciate the fast reply. I've been on phone to dell all morning and taking info from everywhere! I appreciate what you said, thank you, I did indeed decide to go for the QHD 2560 x 1440 instead but decided to keep the i9 as apparently It will last longer over time for the future and also the fact that it changes my other configuration on the site when I change that to i7 and so i would prefer the better specs all in all. Hopefully I'm not making the wrong choice! Also went for the Cherry keyboard in the end. Thanks!
You haven’t made the wrong choice and if you need the i9 to get the rest of the config you want that’s fine, the reason I mention it is because in some regions it’s optional and a very expensive upgrade for very little extra performance 👍
@@MashITTech 🙏🏼🙏🏼 can't thank you enough for your input. Definitely helped thanks a lot, found your other videos helpful too. Thank you for them and again for your thoughts and answers to my questions. Much appreciated 🙌🏼
I ordered my R5 and it's in production now. It was hard between this and the Lenovo. But I think the Alienware has the better overall quality, screen, and mechanical keyboard.
Do you know when X17 is going to be on sale? I've watched so many laptop reviews, the moment I finally decided to buy a laptop, I got a defective unit so now I am back to searching. I need a laptop with VERY good thermals and preferably QHD. The 4 fans on the X17 seems game changing for Alienware considering this brand is famous for it's terrible thermals, but the placement of the fans might mean it would be blowing hot air on the hand when using a mouse which would not be good.
We haven’t got a date it is going on sale yet but on the 1st of June there is a big alienware reveal. I would hope it would be on sale immediately after. I will order one on launch date for review and that would certainly be something I like be checking for as I have had some thinkpads like that and it was annoying
Thanks for the vid, Mash, as always a great job! I plan on getting me one of these Alienwares; if I'm spending that much already, what's an additional $49.00, lol
Mash IT I appreciate you referring me to this video about the keyboard, I just would love if you could give me a yay or nay on purchasing the m15, I love the design, but would love to hear your experience with it since the time you've used it? Thanks!
Ok, imho using lots of laptops I think it is definitely worth a buy if you can get it for a good price, at list price I think there are better buys such as the legion 5 pro or 7 if you can get them. And also if I was buying one for myself I would definitely get the qhd panel, not only is it an amazing screen but you also get a mux switch, gsync and advanced Optimus
@@MashITTech Never owned a laptop, been years since I had a budget gaming pc which I loved. Tbh I’m trying to skip getting a PS5 to get a PC and console replacement laptop. 🤞🏻
@@MashITTech I meant a new version of the M17 but now that you mentioned the X17 I’m looking it up and I am going to wait to buy a laptop until that baby comes out!
Great comparison. Volume keys, brightness up/down keys etc are used quite often and while the previous R4's BIOS allows choosing not pressing the FN key to use these functions, doing so also annoyingly changed or deactivated the "Delete" and "Home" keys etc on the same top row. Just poor attention to detail on Alienware's part. While they have provided dedicated volume keys in R5, I am not sure if they fixed the delete/home key quirks. Thanks for the review!
Should i buy lenovo legion 5 2021 with same specification of ryzen 7 5800h rtx 3060(130w tgp) or should i buy alienware m15 r5. As in nepal both cost same
Hi David, is there any aftermarket solution for lack of backlighting of the secondary symbols backlighting! This is a terrible decision by Alienware! All the lights are there already - all that needed is transparent secondary symbols. I am disgusted with this - I am on the verge of returning this machine just for this reason! If you know of ANY resource like replacement key caps - PLEASE let me know.
I am really sorry to say that there is no solution :( the way the keyboard is constructed means that replacement keycaps are not possible. I can't believe Alienware have pulled a Razer
Haha I am making my r5 deep dive as we speak. I have found an app called ryzen controller that works. It can’t undervolt but you can set temp and wattage limit. My video will be out tomorrow lunch time 👍
If it wasn't audible I would've bought it but when I'm outside in a quiet environment where most of the people aren't using a laptop, I don't like when people can hear me "click". Not being able to have that audible "click", even on my home keyboard with the G910, it makes it feel as though I'm more intuitively connected to the game than validating I am in the game every input with a loud click and feel switch from say a Corsair.
I was so looking forward to the R5/R6's having the same higher end features/builds as the mature R4 but with newer CPUs. But Dell just moved back the goal post and we have to wait for a totally new X-series to mature and iron out inevitable bugs that happen with new series/builds. The original MxR1 and R2's had issues that were ironed out in the R4. I plan to order the X-17, but will probably groan while doing it.
Oh wow yes the r1 was terrible, the keyboard was awful and the heat off it roasted your fingers! I will order an x17 on day of release and just hope they have learnt enough from the success of the r3 and r4 to make a decent first run
I think people are forgetting that the yet to be released x17 will be over a grand more than the m15 and in totally a different league, also people are quietly forgetting the marketing and customer aim of the m15 r5 which for me is just as good if not better than all in its class, I purchased mine with a dizzy code that knocked £400 off it so for £1350 with a 3070, 1TB ssd, 16gb, 5800h and the 240hz QHD screen is a massive bargain and there is nothing about for that price with that spec. The moral is search for discount codes, there is always one knocking about
Carl, you are totally right of course and I do partially agree with you. But why not keep the G series the mid level gaming and the alienware the premium gaming? If you look at the new g15 they are just an m15r5 but in a plastic shell! And I dread to think what the price of the x17 is going to be, my credit card is already trembling 😂
@@MashITTech yeah I agree, but I think as the G15 is from the Dell stable and the M15 is from the Alienware stable, my guess is they want more people to get into the Alienware market which for many over its years is way out of the price range, so my thoughts are they are using clever marketing, but having said that, I would have the M15 r5 over the G15 any day of the week and for very little extra too
Carl, While I agree the price will be higher for X series than these R5s, I tend to think it will not be that much higher than the R4s once the initial rush settles. And that model is the fairer comparison based on higher end features. But the praise for anything Ryzen is, at least in part, colored by fan-boyism on many forums. The thermals are clearly not that much of a win for Legion 5 Pro nor the Omens that use 5800H in real world use. I agree using a coupon helps; though for how much varies significantly. You've been lucky.
Hello please help me choose, Lenovo legion 7 : Ryzen 7 5800H, 3070 OR Asus rog strix 15 : Ryzen 9 5900HX, 3070 .I have to wait over a month for legion 7. Asus is available.
That’s really tough as if they were both available I would say get the legion 7. I guess it depends how long you can wait? I would probably wait unless I was in desperate need for a machine now
if you change the refresh rate to 60hz the battery life will be pretty impressive especially if just writing code. Obviously if you have unity/unreal open for your project it will enable the RTX then battery will tank but if just using VS or similar it will be great
Dell. Although it can be a bit hit and miss depending on the CS guys you talk to, once you get through to the dedicated alienware technicians they are great. If they can’t sort it out over the phone they then organise a technician to go to your house.
the only time the fans were turned on was at a reboot for an installation where it loaded a green bar and they were set to maximum. According to core-temp it is 63-70 degrees and the fans are still off, does anyone know why this happens? or how can I make them active?
yes, the fans came on full for a system update, that is normal. Try pressing function F1 to put it in performance mode and the fans will come on or you can open command centre and change the profile to full fans too
@@MashITTech Sorry that I have commented the same thing in 3 videos, I was looking for support since the pc imports it to my country. Thanks !! They worked, but is there any way to make it automatic?
go into command centre and change it to a different mode as they have different fan behaviour, try performance mode as the fans kick in more frequently with that mode to keep the system cooler
I think they made a mistake removing per key lighting on the membrane option and I think not having having lighting on the secondary functions on the mechanical keyboard is also a drawback. Personally I think they would of been better off investing in better cooling (not just on x series models) and better software becauseACC leaves a lot to be desired versus spending 3 years of time and money alongside Cherry to develop this.
You are spot on! Aw command centre is an abomination! I say it every year and yet it never changes! The keyboard is a massive step back over the r4 and it looks like the x series will even be missing the secondary characters being lit
Yeah I’m not thrilled about the functions not being light up. I like the dark so that’s gonna be an adjustment for me. Probably gonna need some mood lighting to compensate. But man is the feel awesome. I prefer blue keys and I’m actually surprised they feel as good as they do. The small amount of throw over my Logitech mechanical keyboard is an adjustment though. But it is gonna ruin me for sure and I’ll want a mechanical keyboard on all my future laptops.
Yeah. Dave did mention that the R5 is lot of downgrade compared to the R4. Seeing the Alienware X17 is coming, seems like the M series will get some cut corners. But it may be slightly affordable? Who knows. Hopefully the M series will be the middle ground between their G and X series.
Yeah it does seem like it which is a real shame especially as the are only making the m as a 15 and it looks like the x is just the 17” they could both be premium and not encroach on each other! Well let’s see what the x17 holds, will order it on launch day
@@MashITTech Yeah but the price is reflected in these changes as in previous years you couldnt buy an alienware config laptop for less than £2000 so for me its Alienware tapping into the more price savvy customers and is a win win for all
The per key membrane keyboard is as bright as the Cherry MX, the function keys and the symbols on the keys under the number light up which the cherry keys do not. This is on the m17 R4 that I got
@@MashITTech I still live my M17 R3 i9 2080 Super which cost me some money! The only way I would upgrade this fast (bought it August last year) is if I can sell it for a price close to what I paid for. But man that X is really tempting me! You'll probably get it before me so I cannot wait for your videos on it 👌👌👌👌✌️
Yeah, they are expensive machines. My personal rig is the area 51m r2 and I had to sell a kidney to afford that. I thing has yet to tempt me away from it but if the X performs well and doesn’t sound like a jet engine the 51m could end up on eBay! I am just praying the do a world wide launch and not staggered launch as it is sometimes slow getting it in the U.K. 😢
Another great video David! It's amazing how you keep making very specific, niche videos! 😀 Just a follow up question since you've reviewed both laptops and used all three of the keyboards, how does the standard Alienware m15 R5 keyboard compare with the Legion 7 keyboard? (apart from the per-key and 4-zone RGB difference) Which one do you prefer? Also, how does the Cherry MX mechanical keyboard compare with the Legion 7 keyboard?
Thank you mate, the legion keyboards although good and a decent layout is a bit too soft of a key press for my liking! Not this may just be me but I like keys to have a bit of pressure when I press them. The alienware keys feel MUCH better and is my favourite gaming laptop keyboard but be aware the layout is not the best IMHO and the secondary function don’t light up. With regards to the cherry, if you like blue mechanical switches you will also like this keyboard. For me blues are better for typing than gaming so I would have preferred a red switch but blue is better then nothing 👍
@@MashITTech Thank you for the reply and for the feedback. So over-all, if you had to choose between the three keyboard options, which one would be your choice? I'm somewhat leaning towards getting a m15 R5 even though I think on the whole, the Legion 7 is a bit superior especially since the R5 actually misses many things compared to the R4. Legion 7 availability however is a huge issue in North America.
Alienware lighting on this model is anything but smooth & controlled. Big disappointment to me. But the keys are quite nice and entirely in a different realm compared to anything I've ever experienced prior.
The lighting doesn't seem bad in person although I wish Dell would improve the command centre as it really needs an overhaul. IT disappoints me the most that the membrane keyboard is so dim compared to the per key mechanical
Zoned lighting simply adds zero worthwhile function for me. Per key is a must, especially for my games. Guild wars/ WvW. Heavy on hot keys, macro's. Blue offense, red defense ECT. Got to admit my gaming keyboard has got to be quiet. Work I need bright backlight and clicky as possible., half wordy half math. No spell check to save me time on number pad. Gaming I've always owned 3rd party named brand keyboards for a few diff reasons to fit my needs
Yeah, I was just really surprised they chose the click blue switch on a gaming laptop. I love Blue switches for typing but on my gaming machine it is always a red switch keyboard I use
Yes, if you have ever bought cheap mechanical keyboards it’s that same resonating noise. It is a great typing experience for a laptop but I can’t decide if it will really annoy me after a while
@@MashITTech you definitely convinced me against the cherry. I don't like the ring and if I could hear it so clearly through your video I'm sure it'd be more annoying in front of me. Might just get an external keyboard
If you type on these mechanical keys and think they are a cherry red key then you have clearly never used a mechanical keyboard. I have over 20 mechanical keyboard with different switch types, I think I know what I am talking about. Cherry red switches are linear, cherry blue switches have a click before they bottom out. This is definitely the latter, you can even hear it
Is the cherry mx faster than the membrane? Also what’s the response time, travel and actuation point of both of the keyboards? Thanks in advance!
I need to slow down watching your videos David, I started saying the intro with you 😂 Great content, keep it up man! Cheers
Haha well if you fancy it you can narrate the next one 😂
@@MashITTech I'd love that but I need to nail that great accent though 😂
Haha not so sure about great but I get so many comments asking why Gordon Ramsay is doing computer videos 😂 I don’t think I sound anything like Gordon
@@MashITTech You actually do 😂😂😂 not in a bad way though I just watched his episode on Hot Ones and man you're like the Tech guy and he's the Chef 😂
haha I wish I had his money 🤣
Thanks for the video, i ordered my R5 with the 4 zone backlit UK Keyboard as i totally prefer a quiet keyboard, the per key RGB and the typewriter sound when typing is horrible imo and extremely not needed an a gaming laptop. The main issue for me as a customer was the extra £100 price tag as an option, which is totally not worth it at all, but for me even if it were free i would not have had it as its US only which is a very annoying layout. The dedicated media keys over on the right is how a gaming keyboard should be imo. I think a seperate number pad keyboard is only essential for coders.
Hi Carl, how's the laptop working out for you?
I hear what you're saying regarding the noise and cost. However, if you've ever had a key or two on a membrane keyboard go tits up for some reason, like I did, you will appreciate the ability to repair the individual keys rather than be spending a significant amount of time looking for a complete replacement keyboard. And trying not to get screwed over by the sellers. As for the price, I figure if I am spending this much on a laptop, the extra $100 is not going to break me.
LOL US layout is the only logical layout. Who in the right mind would game with an idiotic half sized SHIFT KEY lol WHAT A JOKE. Not to mention that STUPID ENTER key shape hahahahaha
I like how quiet the non mechanical keyboard is. I use mine for school and I don't think my professors would appreciate hearing a type writer in the room
The mechanical one isn't very loud it's on par with the butterfly macbook
@@aardee175 in a classroom it's going to be loud as f. Literally the only noise in the room is going to be that laptop. Click click click. That's going to annoy the hell out of people especially when you go to the school library which I am at every school day
I personally love it when a keyboard makes a click sound, it is more satisfying
Personally I think that having my keyboard ping like an M1 is very cool.
I was worried about my laptop I just ordered but it's back to per key now on both
Bro, when you have alienware m15 r6 intel series ?
I heard that they launched intel i7 11800H with rtx 30, powerful
It’s not available to buy yet but I will on release and compare to r5 👍
@@MashITTech ooh, i understand
Waw, it's amazing Processor
Intel i7 11800H vs ryzen 7 5800H,
I will wait at moment "Battle Alienware"
Thank you sooooo much for this! I've been looking everywhere for an image of the UK keyboard layout on the M15 R5.
Haha oh wow perfect timing posting this video. Posted a question on the forum asking what the difference was between the the UK 4 zone and US Cherry keyboard and this answers everything. Keep up the great work!
Haha that was lucky! Glad it helped 😃👍
when will you be uploading a tutorial on how to add a new ssd on the r5?
Aiming for tonight 👍
Rainbow wave works on 4 zone lightning keyboard for all Alienware laptops as far as I know. Works on mine at least
I personally think they are both actually rather nice, you have the first good mechanical laptop keyboard and a known great membrane keyboard to choose from so it thankfully it falls down to preferences. I like blue switches myself so that choice was clear to me, but that membrane is probably a better tactile feel than I've felt over any variations of tactile brown switched mechanical keyboards I've ever owned.
Hi man. I am planing to buy this machine. But I am concerned with the durability because of the cpu temperatures. I am from India and there is no alienware here so I cant exchange it so asking your opinion.
Thanks for this video. I found it helped me make a decision in my purchase.
As a whole, how would you rate the m15 r5 against the Legion 5 pro?
I do love them both so would rate it like this:
If you want it to purely game then I would get the alienware as 16:9 is better for pure gaming and the laptop is easier to get hold of.
If you want it for gaming and work then I would get the legion pro for that 16:10 1440p screen
@@MashITTech legion 5 pro or ASU’s M16 though?
Havent tried the M16 yet, does look good though
Is the cherry mechanical keyboard a clicky keyboard? I’m looking for a keyboard that’s similar to a linear mechanical keyboard is the cherry keyboard the one? Or the membrane switches?
The cherry keyboard is more akin to a blue switch. The membrane is more linear but not mechanical obviously
@@MashITTech alright, thank you for the useful info!
@@MashITTech i ordered mine thinking it was a red switch 😭 it doesn’t state any color switch or any sort of indication to tell on paper, just assumed they wouldn’t do blue, kind of surprised
Disagree, the membrane keyboard looks better and more attractive. Couldn't care less about per key options nor it being brighter on the mechanical one. It just needs to be bright enough to see in the dark, that's the whole point. Brighter is annoying and distracting.
I partially agree with what you are saying, I also do not care about per key as I usually have a static colour but if it is brighter than you need you can dim it, you cannot make the membrane brighter should you wish. Thanks for your feedback though I love to hear other peoples thoughts on the matter :)
What do you think of the trackpad on this laptop compared to the M14r4 other reviews have said the the R4 trackpad is better. What are your thoughts??
R4 is definitely better, the materials used feel more premium. That said, this isn’t a bad trackpad
I just got this laptop with the Cherry MX switches on the keys and I'm totally in love with it! Typing on this is an absolute dream! It reminds me of the old school Keytronics mechanical keyboards with a nice, satisfying "click" to it! Due to a stroke, I lost use of my left eye for awhile and my remaining good eye hasn't let in as much light. So, the extra brightness of the keys has been really helpful. I also know some commentors think having individual RGB lighting on the keyboard is useless for gaming, but I totally disagree! I can program custom lit layouts and save them as themes which change depending upon what game I'm playing! This is fantastic and very useful. I feel zoned lighting would be useless myself, but the ability to control the color of each key is great!
So the US AlienFX RGB backlit (per-key) Alienware M Series keyboard is silent when you're typing on it?
thank you David. your channel is great. you answer most of my questions!
Glad to be able to help
Very useful, thank you very much!
Hi bro, I have two questions about gaming laptops. Do I have to play with the device while it is charging.. Is this how a gaming laptop works? -Is there any harm? The second question is, is it possible to replace a regular keyboard with a mechanical keyboard?
5:44 __I like and I understand exactly when I watch your reviews David,_
_Phenomenal and epic laptop_
Hey there! Please can you make a video of m15 r5 gaming benchmarks?
I am working on that over this weekend. I am planning on doing 3060 and 3070 benchmarks and comparing. Hope to have it finished by monday
@@MashITTech thank you for replying...will be waiting!
@@MashITTech Please if you under-volt this M15 R5 Ryzen + 3070 create multiple profiles can you test the battery consumption on low profile(base clock) mode used for regular browsing and you-tube streaming. And compare it to battery consumption out of the box.
Honestly, now I'm peeved. Ive hang back on upgrading from my blade base.. AW isnt getting my money. Great review, liked and subbed!
Thanks mate, always appreciated
Hi there, thank you so much for the comparison. I wonder if the cherry keyboard is also brighter than the membrane keyboard on X17r1? Sales person from Dell told me it's the same when I placed my order yesterday.... but I would really love a brighter keyboard... Appreciate your reply. Cheers!!!
On the X17 because the mech and ordinary are both per key RGB they have the same brightness. On the m15r5 and r6 they offer a zoned RGB on the standard keyboard and that model is dimmer
I ordered the cherry keyboard on my r5 ryzen and now you have me 2nd guessing my choice lol. I don't care about zone or individual lighting as my keyboard is always set to 1 colour. I'm in canada so I'm use to the US layout too.
I keep reading that everyone who uses the cherry loves it which id why I originally ordered it but you made the non cherry sound good too lol.
All I know is my alienware 18 keyboard is the best I've ever used. I think it uses a scissor style clip so I'm hoping the cherry is a closer feel to it.
That being said I'm now worried I ordered the wrong laptop..all the comments between you and others at saying the r5 is a step back but ryzen is only available in the r5. Should I try to change my order to something else?
Lastly when ordering I went for a 360hz screen but didn't realize its 1080, think I should try to swap it for the 1440p? It's $100 more without the cherry keyboard and you only get 16gbs ram instead of the 30gbs mine is going to have.
The cherry keyboard is lovely and I am sure you will enjoy it but it’s loud like a blue mechanical switch. The standard keyboard is the best non mechanic keyboard I have used (they introduced this keyboard with the m17r3) and I have had every alienware model since dell bought them out (it wasn’t in U.K. before that). The m15r5 is a step back in quality and feels more like a g series than alienware but your only other choice is the x17 which is a massive step up over the r5. If you do get the r5 get the qhd, it’s the best thing about that laptop 👍
@@MashITTech thanks for the reply. I'm hoping the keyboard feels good like my 18's. Do you recall what the old ones used and which modern keyboard is closer? Honestly I've never had to type much on a mechanical keyboard before but the sound doesn't bug me much, I think the sound is funny as it annoys others lol.
I wanted the m17 but the 17 base model started at the price that I'm basically getting the fully loaded m15 for. Also I'm getting it for a school/travel laptop so figured the m15 would be better..couldn't justify the 17 inch this time..may rebuild my 18 at somepoint and see what It can do when somewhat modernized.
Why is the x17 the only other choice? Originally I wanted the area 51 but again it was more then I'm looking for for its purpose.
Mines currently being built and I need it for my course that starts next week (it'll be late regardless) but I'll see if they can switch the screens. With it not costing too much more or loosing to many options.
Thanks again.
I can’t compare the new keyboards to the old keyboard as the are so different. But the m18 keyboard was a great keyboard and this keyboard feels slightly better, it’s hard to explain without typing on it. The mechanical is also a lovely switch to type in and the more I used it the more I enjoyed it. I don’t care about the noise either but I expected them to use a cherry red switch as it is a gaming laptop! The area 51m is an amazing laptop but hard to justify now that the x17 kills it in performance yet only needs 1 psu and is so much slimmer and lighter. The m15r5 isn’t a bad laptop it just doesn’t feel as solid or premium as the other alienwares and you do get the advantage of decent battery life as the r5 has the best battery of all the alienwares! Check my m15r5 video, with a little tweaking I got 10 hours or so of battery!!!
@@MashITTech I watched it after my 1st comment lol I've watched abunch of your alienware vids over the last year as I planned on getting a new one months ago but held off till now. I did see the 10 hours by changing it to 60hz.
Sorry for another question, do you think an intel r4 would be better then the ryzen r5? I only ordered the r5 as its the only model the ryzen came in (also only came in 15s for some reasob)
Regardless I'm sure ill like whatever arrives im just second guessing myself and typically can never make a decision without wondering if I made the right one haha.
Thanks again for all the help!
@@ACOGLMT556 my choice would be m17r4>m15r5>m15r4. The m15r4 thermals aren’t anywhere near as good as the m17. Obviously battery life is way worse on the r4 series. I think you will be happy with the r5, I would give it a try and see what you think, if it doesn’t meet your expectations dell are really good accepting returns 👍
The mechanical sound will drive me nuts and people around me as well. I ordered M15R5 (3070) with standard keyboard but with QHD display .
Yeah, it is quite loud! You made a good choice then as the standard keyboard is still great and that QHD is a brilliant panel
@Mash IT, how would you rate the fan notice on this M15 R5 - This is a big concern for me. Are you able to manually adjust the fan on the Alienware application? Thanks.
Weirdly, I feel like my "mechanical" keyboard does not have the N-key rollover which I did have on the membrane keyboard on my R3. For example, when I was not using my keyboard for like 10 seconds in the browser, and suddenly I pressed "CTRL + T" at the same time to open a new window, there will be some chance the laptop wouldn't recognize my input. I have tested in multiple online keyboard testing webpages, and it all showed my keyboard only recognized CTRL but not T. I updated my BIOS, and all software was up to date, but the thing still existed.
I don't know if you read my comment earlier, but one channel named shadow tech has stolen your video about alienware m15 r5, I also don't know if he actually got permission from you or not but you should report that. Appreciate your good work.
Thank you mate, I did respond to you. I couldn’t find his video, do you possible have a link?
@@MashITTech th-cam.com/video/mxiULidDWUE/w-d-xo.html
Lol vid even said his intro
Lol brilliant! They normally remove some of the audio. You would think by now TH-cam would pick this up. Thanks for the link, will report it
I LOVE the cherry keyboard. Been using it about a week now and couldn't ask for more on a laptop imo.
Glad to hear you are enjoying it. I am still mixed! It is a great typing experience, I am just not sure it is the switch they should have used on a gaming laptop.
How's the fan noise on this laptop? are you able to change the fan manually? TY
@@mariozamora9684 It can get loud but I think it's pretty reasonable. It's not Series X quiet but a room fan on high is probably louder.And yes you can in the software plus there is a boost button with function + F2 (or you can lock function). I usually only notice it when it changes speed. Playing Destroy all humans (remaster) max settings @1440p is very quiet. Star Citizen not so much.
@@CodeBonYT Do you think that the mechanical keyboard would be the best choice for someone who is looking at purchasing one of these laptops primarily for software programming?
@@The_Dapper_Millennial Good question, I actually used it last night to write several lines of code in C and I found it to be very satisfying.
Hi! I have a limited time (36 hours from now!) To make a purchase and I feel more lost than ever at the options even tho I've been researching for days now.
Im hoping to get the x17 r2,
i9-12900h,
nvidia rtx 3080ti
32gb ram
2 tb ssd
Fhd 1980 x 1080p screen 165hz
Normal alienware x17 keyboard
However I am unsure about a few things, the machines gonna be used for gaming, but not connected up to anything else (no monitors etc)
Are the specs OK for what I want?
Hard drive: not sure if single or dual better? Which one is more prone to messing up?
Screen: I read that the higher the resolution the more power it will use, as I want it to last many years, am I better off just going 1920 x 1080 instead of higher as it will perform better over time?
Is 165hz enough??
The keyboard, I'm really lost on this as usually the feel of the keyboard doesn't matter and if I understand right the mechanical keyboard feels really good? Satisfaction of typing isn't a good enough reason to spend more,
But does it actually perform better for gaming? Which will stand better against the test of time??
Any help from anyone will be much appreciated! Even if it's just one of the answers you know please let me know! Thank you!
Hello mate, ok I will answer as best I can.
1. Don't bother with the i9 its hardly any better than the i7, put the money towards a better screen. 2. Get a single drive, I am actually making a video on the RAID at the moment but IMHO its not worth it. 3. The higher resolution screen just eats more battery, but as the 4k scales so well you can still run games at 1440p and 1080p and they look great yet you get a screen that is much brighter and looks incredible. I have a video on exactly this topic. 4. The stock keyboard is amazing and the mech keyboard is even better but a lot louder (like a cherry blue switch) You will be happy with either choice. 4K video: th-cam.com/video/p_s0PVUybWI/w-d-xo.html
@@MashITTech thank you!! I really truly appreciate the fast reply. I've been on phone to dell all morning and taking info from everywhere! I appreciate what you said, thank you, I did indeed decide to go for the QHD 2560 x 1440 instead but decided to keep the i9 as apparently It will last longer over time for the future and also the fact that it changes my other configuration on the site when I change that to i7 and so i would prefer the better specs all in all. Hopefully I'm not making the wrong choice! Also went for the Cherry keyboard in the end. Thanks!
You haven’t made the wrong choice and if you need the i9 to get the rest of the config you want that’s fine, the reason I mention it is because in some regions it’s optional and a very expensive upgrade for very little extra performance 👍
@@MashITTech 🙏🏼🙏🏼 can't thank you enough for your input. Definitely helped thanks a lot, found your other videos helpful too. Thank you for them and again for your thoughts and answers to my questions. Much appreciated 🙌🏼
I ordered my R5 and it's in production now. It was hard between this and the Lenovo. But I think the Alienware has the better overall quality, screen, and mechanical keyboard.
Nice! Let me know how you get on with it once it arrives 😀👍
Do you know when X17 is going to be on sale? I've watched so many laptop reviews, the moment I finally decided to buy a laptop, I got a defective unit so now I am back to searching. I need a laptop with VERY good thermals and preferably QHD. The 4 fans on the X17 seems game changing for Alienware considering this brand is famous for it's terrible thermals, but the placement of the fans might mean it would be blowing hot air on the hand when using a mouse which would not be good.
We haven’t got a date it is going on sale yet but on the 1st of June there is a big alienware reveal. I would hope it would be on sale immediately after. I will order one on launch date for review and that would certainly be something I like be checking for as I have had some thinkpads like that and it was annoying
Thanks for the vid, Mash, as always a great job! I plan on getting me one of these Alienwares; if I'm spending that much already, what's an additional $49.00, lol
Mash IT I appreciate you referring me to this video about the keyboard, I just would love if you could give me a yay or nay on purchasing the m15, I love the design, but would love to hear your experience with it since the time you've used it? Thanks!
Ok, imho using lots of laptops I think it is definitely worth a buy if you can get it for a good price, at list price I think there are better buys such as the legion 5 pro or 7 if you can get them. And also if I was buying one for myself I would definitely get the qhd panel, not only is it an amazing screen but you also get a mux switch, gsync and advanced Optimus
@@MashITTech appreciate it bro!
Great revieuw as always.. just a shame that the per key lighting and cherry keyboard are only available in us keyboard layout.. sad…
Yep, seems really lazy!
I’d have paid extra if I’d have known. Should be fine?
Both keyboards are fantastic, you will be happy with the stock keyboard for sure :)
@@MashITTech Never owned a laptop, been years since I had a budget gaming pc which I loved. Tbh I’m trying to skip getting a PS5 to get a PC and console replacement laptop. 🤞🏻
Well this will certainly do the trick. If you need any help when you get it give me a shout :)
its normal that space bar on x16 doesnt lights up?
totally normal a lot of manufacturers don't light up the space bar
So is there any news on a new M17? I have been looking and can’t find anything. Not sure if I’m looking in the right spots.
Do you mean the new X17?
@@MashITTech I meant a new version of the M17 but now that you mentioned the X17 I’m looking it up and I am going to wait to buy a laptop until that baby comes out!
Yeah, that is the new premium model coming. Seems they aren’t making an m17r5. I will order the x17 on launch day 👍
Hey Mash it! Will you compare to the legion 7 pro
If I could get one I certainly will! They are so rare in the U.K. atm 😢
thank you, review was excellent.
Glad it was helpful! :)
Great comparison. Volume keys, brightness up/down keys etc are used quite often and while the previous R4's BIOS allows choosing not pressing the FN key to use these functions, doing so also annoyingly changed or deactivated the "Delete" and "Home" keys etc on the same top row. Just poor attention to detail on Alienware's part. While they have provided dedicated volume keys in R5, I am not sure if they fixed the delete/home key quirks. Thanks for the review!
Thanks Ray and let me check that when I get in the office later
Should i buy lenovo legion 5 2021 with same specification of ryzen 7 5800h rtx 3060(130w tgp) or should i buy alienware m15 r5. As in nepal both cost same
Both great laptops but the cooling is slightly better on the legion
Hi David, is there any aftermarket solution for lack of backlighting of the secondary symbols backlighting! This is a terrible decision by Alienware! All the lights are there already - all that needed is transparent secondary symbols. I am disgusted with this - I am on the verge of returning this machine just for this reason! If you know of ANY resource like replacement key caps - PLEASE let me know.
I am really sorry to say that there is no solution :( the way the keyboard is constructed means that replacement keycaps are not possible. I can't believe Alienware have pulled a Razer
Please do a tutorial on how to undervolt this Ryzen machine. I love your throttlestop video, but it cannot use on R5
Haha I am making my r5 deep dive as we speak. I have found an app called ryzen controller that works. It can’t undervolt but you can set temp and wattage limit. My video will be out tomorrow lunch time 👍
@@MashITTech Thank you so much! I am looking forward to your new video
If it wasn't audible I would've bought it but when I'm outside in a quiet environment where most of the people aren't using a laptop, I don't like when people can hear me "click". Not being able to have that audible "click", even on my home keyboard with the G910, it makes it feel as though I'm more intuitively connected to the game than validating I am in the game every input with a loud click and feel switch from say a Corsair.
Good review 👍🏻
Also - I didn’t know you were on OcUK forum. Just noticed your MM thread. :)
Thank you and yeah, been on OCUK for years!
My studio is so rammed at the moment I really need to clear some space out so I can move in here 😂
Great video !!
I was so looking forward to the R5/R6's having the same higher end features/builds as the mature R4 but with newer CPUs. But Dell just moved back the goal post and we have to wait for a totally new X-series to mature and iron out inevitable bugs that happen with new series/builds. The original MxR1 and R2's had issues that were ironed out in the R4. I plan to order the X-17, but will probably groan while doing it.
Oh wow yes the r1 was terrible, the keyboard was awful and the heat off it roasted your fingers! I will order an x17 on day of release and just hope they have learnt enough from the success of the r3 and r4 to make a decent first run
I think people are forgetting that the yet to be released x17 will be over a grand more than the m15 and in totally a different league, also people are quietly forgetting the marketing and customer aim of the m15 r5 which for me is just as good if not better than all in its class, I purchased mine with a dizzy code that knocked £400 off it so for £1350 with a 3070, 1TB ssd, 16gb, 5800h and the 240hz QHD screen is a massive bargain and there is nothing about for that price with that spec. The moral is search for discount codes, there is always one knocking about
Carl, you are totally right of course and I do partially agree with you. But why not keep the G series the mid level gaming and the alienware the premium gaming? If you look at the new g15 they are just an m15r5 but in a plastic shell! And I dread to think what the price of the x17 is going to be, my credit card is already trembling 😂
@@MashITTech yeah I agree, but I think as the G15 is from the Dell stable and the M15 is from the Alienware stable, my guess is they want more people to get into the Alienware market which for many over its years is way out of the price range, so my thoughts are they are using clever marketing, but having said that, I would have the M15 r5 over the G15 any day of the week and for very little extra too
Carl, While I agree the price will be higher for X series than these R5s, I tend to think it will not be that much higher than the R4s once the initial rush settles. And that model is the fairer comparison based on higher end features. But the praise for anything Ryzen is, at least in part, colored by fan-boyism on many forums. The thermals are clearly not that much of a win for Legion 5 Pro nor the Omens that use 5800H in real world use. I agree using a coupon helps; though for how much varies significantly. You've been lucky.
Hello please help me choose,
Lenovo legion 7 : Ryzen 7 5800H, 3070
OR
Asus rog strix 15 : Ryzen 9 5900HX, 3070
.I have to wait over a month for legion 7. Asus is available.
That’s really tough as if they were both available I would say get the legion 7. I guess it depends how long you can wait? I would probably wait unless I was in desperate need for a machine now
@@MashITTech thank you for the input!! I guess im waiting then. I hate ASUS for not including the mux switch, since i liked the looks of rog g15 more
How is the battery for programing and task like that?
if you change the refresh rate to 60hz the battery life will be pretty impressive especially if just writing code. Obviously if you have unity/unreal open for your project it will enable the RTX then battery will tank but if just using VS or similar it will be great
@@MashITTech Thanks a lot im really taking in consideration these laptop
Could you please tell me where I can find this wallpaper?
If you go to my original M15 r5 review I have posted a link in the description :)
@@MashITTech Yes, I notice that, but I still not receive the download link.
check your junk folder, the link often gets seen as spam!
@@MashITTechYou are right!! Thank you!!!
Although I am not in the market for a machine like these, I am interested to see features I didn't even know existed!
Which company do you think best on after sales customer service?
1. Dell Alienware
2. MSI
3. Asus ROG
4. Acer Predator
Dell. Although it can be a bit hit and miss depending on the CS guys you talk to, once you get through to the dedicated alienware technicians they are great. If they can’t sort it out over the phone they then organise a technician to go to your house.
@@MashITTech What do you think about MSI and ROG?
I have never had to use msi warranty but asus wasn’t the best experience 😢
@@MashITTech I always had a doubt on these Asian companies.
Thanks for your time. Nice video 👍
is this the same for the r7 model
exactly the same :)
@@MashITTech thx
the only time the fans were turned on was at a reboot for an installation where it loaded a green bar and they were set to maximum. According to core-temp it is 63-70 degrees and the fans are still off, does anyone know why this happens? or how can I make them active?
yes, the fans came on full for a system update, that is normal. Try pressing function F1 to put it in performance mode and the fans will come on or you can open command centre and change the profile to full fans too
@@MashITTech Sorry that I have commented the same thing in 3 videos, I was looking for support since the pc imports it to my country.
Thanks !! They worked, but is there any way to make it automatic?
go into command centre and change it to a different mode as they have different fan behaviour, try performance mode as the fans kick in more frequently with that mode to keep the system cooler
Which one do you prefer membrane or mechanical!
I prefer the mechanical but I wish they also made it in UK ISO :(
I think they made a mistake removing per key lighting on the membrane option and I think not having having lighting on the secondary functions on the mechanical keyboard is also a drawback. Personally I think they would of been better off investing in better cooling (not just on x series models) and better software becauseACC leaves a lot to be desired versus spending 3 years of time and money alongside Cherry to develop this.
You are spot on! Aw command centre is an abomination! I say it every year and yet it never changes! The keyboard is a massive step back over the r4 and it looks like the x series will even be missing the secondary characters being lit
Yeah I’m not thrilled about the functions not being light up. I like the dark so that’s gonna be an adjustment for me. Probably gonna need some mood lighting to compensate. But man is the feel awesome. I prefer blue keys and I’m actually surprised they feel as good as they do. The small amount of throw over my Logitech mechanical keyboard is an adjustment though. But it is gonna ruin me for sure and I’ll want a mechanical keyboard on all my future laptops.
Haha, you may have to stick with Alienware then, I can't see many companies adding them.
In the end you have a mechanical keyboard on the LEFT SIDE, but you talk to the right-sided one as it is mechanical.... :)
probably a speshul moment 😂
Haha yeah, got me all confused. The one to the right looks a bit cheaper and definitely aint it chief.
Enough for me to discard the R5 series. Both the R4 and X series have the superior per key RGB membrane keyboard.
yep, just like the r4 👍
Can you do a comparison/difference between the Alienware M15 R4 and r5? Performance, hardware, exterior and internals?
I am desperately trying to get an r4 back in the studio to do this video! Fingers crossed it won’t take long
@@MashITTech Sounds Great! Hope so too!😊
Yeah. Dave did mention that the R5 is lot of downgrade compared to the R4. Seeing the Alienware X17 is coming, seems like the M series will get some cut corners. But it may be slightly affordable? Who knows. Hopefully the M series will be the middle ground between their G and X series.
Yeah it does seem like it which is a real shame especially as the are only making the m as a 15 and it looks like the x is just the 17” they could both be premium and not encroach on each other! Well let’s see what the x17 holds, will order it on launch day
@@MashITTech Yeah but the price is reflected in these changes as in previous years you couldnt buy an alienware config laptop for less than £2000 so for me its Alienware tapping into the more price savvy customers and is a win win for all
@@MashITTech i never realized that. Hopefully we get a 17 inch G series as well. Otherwise the X17 inch will be a much expensive buy from Dell.
Yeah that is very true, I think we will see a G17 soon
The per key membrane keyboard is as bright as the Cherry MX, the function keys and the symbols on the keys under the number light up which the cherry keys do not. This is on the m17 R4 that I got
That is true on the R4, on the R5 it is much dimmer :(
Hi im geting this laptop
What spec are you going for?
M series is getting gimped now the X will be the favorite child... Looking forward to that one 👌
You and me both, especially as 17” is my preferred laptop size 👍 my credit card is at the ready for launch day
@@MashITTech I still live my M17 R3 i9 2080 Super which cost me some money! The only way I would upgrade this fast (bought it August last year) is if I can sell it for a price close to what I paid for. But man that X is really tempting me! You'll probably get it before me so I cannot wait for your videos on it 👌👌👌👌✌️
Yeah, they are expensive machines. My personal rig is the area 51m r2 and I had to sell a kidney to afford that. I thing has yet to tempt me away from it but if the X performs well and doesn’t sound like a jet engine the 51m could end up on eBay! I am just praying the do a world wide launch and not staggered launch as it is sometimes slow getting it in the U.K. 😢
Another great video David! It's amazing how you keep making very specific, niche videos! 😀
Just a follow up question since you've reviewed both laptops and used all three of the keyboards, how does the standard Alienware m15 R5 keyboard compare with the Legion 7 keyboard? (apart from the per-key and 4-zone RGB difference) Which one do you prefer?
Also, how does the Cherry MX mechanical keyboard compare with the Legion 7 keyboard?
Thank you mate, the legion keyboards although good and a decent layout is a bit too soft of a key press for my liking! Not this may just be me but I like keys to have a bit of pressure when I press them. The alienware keys feel MUCH better and is my favourite gaming laptop keyboard but be aware the layout is not the best IMHO and the secondary function don’t light up. With regards to the cherry, if you like blue mechanical switches you will also like this keyboard. For me blues are better for typing than gaming so I would have preferred a red switch but blue is better then nothing 👍
@@MashITTech Thank you for the reply and for the feedback.
So over-all, if you had to choose between the three keyboard options, which one would be your choice?
I'm somewhat leaning towards getting a m15 R5 even though I think on the whole, the Legion 7 is a bit superior especially since the R5 actually misses many things compared to the R4. Legion 7 availability however is a huge issue in North America.
I would choose mech, standard alienware then legion in that order if keyboard was the only factor
@@MashITTech Thank You 👍
@@MashITTech If only for gaming, Would you prefer the standard or Cherry MX keyboard on the Alienware X17?
Alienware lighting on this model is anything but smooth & controlled. Big disappointment to me. But the keys are quite nice and entirely in a different realm compared to anything I've ever experienced prior.
The lighting doesn't seem bad in person although I wish Dell would improve the command centre as it really needs an overhaul. IT disappoints me the most that the membrane keyboard is so dim compared to the per key mechanical
Man remember the time before R5 where you could upgrade from 4zone to perkey back lighting for free?
Dell, never running a charity
I just want to know who chose the 4 zone over per key back then? 😂
Zoned lighting simply adds zero worthwhile function for me. Per key is a must, especially for my games. Guild wars/ WvW. Heavy on hot keys, macro's. Blue offense, red defense ECT. Got to admit my gaming keyboard has got to be quiet. Work I need bright backlight and clicky as possible., half wordy half math. No spell check to save me time on number pad. Gaming I've always owned 3rd party named brand keyboards for a few diff reasons to fit my needs
Yeah, I was just really surprised they chose the click blue switch on a gaming laptop. I love Blue switches for typing but on my gaming machine it is always a red switch keyboard I use
That spring noise is annoying
Yes, if you have ever bought cheap mechanical keyboards it’s that same resonating noise. It is a great typing experience for a laptop but I can’t decide if it will really annoy me after a while
First comment woooooooo!!!! great vid been trying to think if cherry version is worth it over per key normal
Haha nice one! What do you think having watched the video? For me it is a great typing experience but also the lighting is so much more vibrant
@@MashITTech you definitely convinced me against the cherry. I don't like the ring and if I could hear it so clearly through your video I'm sure it'd be more annoying in front of me. Might just get an external keyboard
You can’t beat an external mech keyboard. I have about 30 😂
please use Monkeytype next time :)
Good idea, will do 👍
Me: External mechanical keyboard 😏
me: clutches my Miya pro with red switches :)
The per key keyboqrd certqinly qpeqrs more perky
Haha yes
Dell really has some nerve....
Price with per key rgb: $2k
Price without per key rgb: $2k+
WTF?!
(price is JUST an example for imagination purposes)
Haha they do make me laugh at times. The U.K. site is a right mess at the moment especially the g series
This computer has Cherry red switches not blue check your facts b4 making a video
If you type on these mechanical keys and think they are a cherry red key then you have clearly never used a mechanical keyboard. I have over 20 mechanical keyboard with different switch types, I think I know what I am talking about. Cherry red switches are linear, cherry blue switches have a click before they bottom out. This is definitely the latter, you can even hear it