Alienware 13 R3 Notebook Review

[Redaktion]

Compact gaming miracle. While our test model of the Alienware 15 R3 had some temperature problems, we are impressed by the 13-inch system. Besides the high performance in the small chassis, we are also im convinced by the brillant OLED screen.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-13-R3-Notebook-Review.197508.0.html

[cmvrgr]

Why to buy a 13" laptop with a casing of a 15" and the weight of a 17" laptop.

Total disaster from alieanware.

Only the MSI GS32 is a 13" that can be a powerfull ultrabook with a small size.

https://www.msi.com/Laptop/GS32-6QE-Shadow.html#hero-overview

[Murloc]

Actually it is just a little bit bigger than my old 2010 13" macbook pro due to the protruding rear. But that is also the reason why my hands will always stay cool while I play with it.
So it definetely does not have the casing of a 15".

[Sam Medley]

My concern with OLED panels is burn-in. Plasma screens gave a much better picture than LCDs, but burn-in was a huge problem. That seems to be an issue with OLED panels as well (at least for TVs). Did you get a chance to test burn-in on the Alienware 13?

[MOFO]

The problem with Alienware is the price gouging that these new AW's have, to get a decent specked 13R3 your cost is way to high compared to other laptops.
Sure you get good build quality and a great screen with a compact size but the overall value is very hard to justify.

[tricky]

Why to buy a 13" laptop with a casing of a 15" and the weight of a 17" laptop.

Total disaster from alieanware.

Only the MSI GS32 is a 13" that can be a powerfull ultrabook with a small size.

https://www.msi.com/Laptop/GS32-6QE-Shadow.html#hero-overview

you have no idea what you are talking about. id love to know what 17" laptop you can tell me that's gaming and weighs the same weight or lighter.

its actually NOT the same size as a 15"  more closer to a 14" but still smaller. only the back end makes it bigger. but because the screen is forward when using it makes it feel like its small than its actual size- a bit like how it would of been if hinges wasn't forward. the laptop measure 33cms across. that's the "normal" width of a 13" that measure between 32cm-33cm.

yea the msi 13" is a nice 13" but like you said its "ultra portable" not a gaming device. no u core cpu. its like comparing oranges to apples.

The laptop is well built and has pure quality. I'm not one to defend alienware. but this laptop is very nice and very good. the reviewer gave a bad point for the tobi eye feature blinking. it can be disabled. so its not really something that's a big deal.

I wouldn't listen to the above comment. this laptop has been rated amongst the best of all laptops. how can it be a total disaster is beyond me. try owning it and then see for yourself.

[Alan]

Have to agree with cmvrgr. The Alienware 13 is sized like a 15.6" and weighs like a 17.3" gaming laptop. But this happens to be the case for all Alienware laptops. They're not really top of the line due to their weight and dimensions, especially since performance is not much better than 'thin&light' laptops with the same cards. And when it comes to gaming, a bright 17.3" IPS-UHD display is just as good as a 13.3" OLED-QHD. Oh and btw, here are some great 17 inchers weighing around 2.6kg(5.7lbs):
MSI GS73VR Stealth Pro (17.3"/GTX1060/2.43kg/5.36lbs)
MSI GE72VR Apache Pro (17.3"/GTX1060/2.7kg/5.9lbs)
ASUS GL702VM (17.3"/GTX1060/2.7kg/5.9lbs)
Gigabyte P37X v6 (17.3"/GTX1070/2.76kg/6.1lbs)

[Andrew]

My concern with OLED panels is burn-in. Plasma screens gave a much better picture than LCDs, but burn-in was a huge problem. That seems to be an issue with OLED panels as well (at least for TVs). Did you get a chance to test burn-in on the Alienware 13?

Good point on burn in, any tests?
Also they have an option for 2667MHz ram now. I'm strongly debating going for this or the new razer blade - UHD when it comes out.

[Matthew Stanton]

Are you reviewing the 17 inch version at any point? I can find remarkably few reviews on the web of this

[John Evans]

Excellent in depth review on the Alien 13" thank you for all the great info. I'm wondering if the new 2017 has cut the gloss on the display a little as they claim that it is a 13.3 inch QHD (2560 x 1440) OLED Anti-Glare 400-nits Display with Touch Technology?
You mentioned at the end of your review that you had it in the #1 spot in your top 10 but checking I don't even see it listed?

[John Evans]

I have two Samsung Plasmas in my house both more than 5 years old and I don't have any burn in  issues that are noticeable under normal condition.
I would rather  my TV have a little burn in rather than my retinas.

My concern with OLED panels is burn-in. Plasma screens gave a much better picture than LCDs, but burn-in was a huge problem. That seems to be an issue with OLED panels as well (at least for TVs). Did you get a chance to test burn-in on the Alienware 13?

[AquaeAtrae]

POSSIBLE ERROR?

Performance
"Despite the compact dimensions of the Alienware 13 R3, you do not have to forgo high-end components. ...The same applies to 16 GB DDR4 RAM as well as the combination of SSD and the conventional hard drive."

I don't see any option for a "conventional hard drive" on Dell's website. Just two M.2 slots with the 76 WHr battery.

Otherwise, great article! Very useful information.

Note: I read another review suggesting 7h12m on battery while web browsing. That's even more impressive than the 5.5 hours listed here. I think it was the same configuration so I'm surprised to hear such different results. I know each reviewer has different test scripts, but that's substantial.

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/alienware-13-r3-oled

[Florian Glaser]

POSSIBLE ERROR?

Performance
"Despite the compact dimensions of the Alienware 13 R3, you do not have to forgo high-end components. ...The same applies to 16 GB DDR4 RAM as well as the combination of SSD and the conventional hard drive."

Thanks. I fixed it.

[JEMO]

I think this maybe list on "Top 10 Lightweight Gaming Notebooks No.1 "
(1) Performance isn't top level
(2) Temperature comfort is not the top
(3) Scalability is not the best
(4) Panel size / sound isn't for heavy player and best

[ITexpert77]

Great review, fantastic laptop, very good value actually compared to the Lenovo Yoga OLED (same price but no graphics card).
But you are scaring me with the PWM flickering stuff!
But then you write that the backlight flickers, but there IS NO BACKLIGHT, it's an OLED screen! Perhaps you are wrong, and this part of the review was for the IPS model?
Can OLED screens really have PWM flickering? I thought they actually decrease the intensity/voltage of every pixel independently?
I have an LG OLED TV, and Samsung OLED tablet and they are absolutely amazing, I want to buy an OLED laptop (pity they only go up to 14")
Please clarify the PWM flickering backlight.
Also are you sure the OLED model is the one that is so glossy, not the IPS?