Review of Dell Alienware 15 (DA15265): Affordable gaming has a new cost, and it performs surprisingly well.

      **Dell Alienware 15 (DA15265)**

      **MSRP**: $1,459.99

      **“Entry-level gaming has become pricey, but Dell has made wise investments.”**

      **Pros**

      - Impressive native 1200p gaming performance

      - Smooth, responsive 165Hz display

      - RTX 5050 manages demanding games surprisingly well

      - Good port variety, including Ethernet

      - Alienware Command Center remains functional

      **Cons**

      - Heavy, particularly with the 180W charger

      - Display colors appear noticeably muted

      - Average battery life

      - 512GB storage can fill up quickly

      Describing a laptop priced at $1,459.99 as entry-level isn't easy, but upgrading an older gaming laptop has become challenging. Just a year prior, a decent selection of mid-range and even some high-end models could be found at attractive prices. Now, PC hardware costs have risen considerably, and the memory crunch has compounded the issue.

      As previously discussed, increasing prices for DRAM and NAND components are impacting laptop costs in 2026, and the Alienware 15 (DA15265) arrives at a peculiar time. My configuration features AMD’s Ryzen 7 260 processor alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 with 8GB of GDDR7 memory, 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. I utilized it for nearly a month, mainly as a gaming device, with some word processing and routine Windows tasks included.

      It’s evident that this model is closer to the lower end of Alienware’s offerings. The entire chassis is made of plastic, the 15.3-inch display has subpar color reproduction, and it comes with a 720p webcam and mediocre speakers, along with a relatively small SSD. Nevertheless, it remains a surprisingly effective gaming machine.

      Dell has invested the majority of the budget where it matters most for an entry-level gaming laptop: its performance.

      I tested Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 5, Black Myth: Wukong, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows at the native resolution and Ultra settings without DLSS or frame generation. The results were quite favorable.

      While the price and specifications seem misaligned, it's essential to consider the significant price increases affecting nearly all tech brands.

      **Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends**

      **Dell Alienware 15 Specifications**

      | Feature | Specifications |

      |---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|

      | Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 260, 8 cores, up to 5.1GHz |

      | Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 8GB GDDR7 |

      | Memory | 16GB DDR5-5600, 1x16GB |

      | Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |

      | Display | 15.3-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS, 165Hz |

      | Display Brightness | 300 nits |

      | Color Coverage | 62.5% sRGB |

      | Keyboard | Alienware white-backlit keyboard |

      | Webcam | 720p HD |

      | Speakers | Stereo, 2W x2 |

      | Battery | 70Wh |

      | Wireless | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |

      | Weight | 4.85 to 4.96 pounds |

      | Charger | 180W |

      | Color | Nova Black |

      | Price As Tested | $1,499.99 |

      **Design: A Budget-Friendly Alienware Still Feels Like Alienware**

      **Quick Take**: The plastic build becomes noticeable upon closer inspection, yet the Alienware 15 doesn't give off a cheap gaming laptop vibe.

      As with the ASUS Zenbook A14, the first aspect that struck me was the weight. Unlike the Zenbook, this wasn’t a pleasant surprise. Weighing nearly five pounds before factoring in the sizable 180W charger, the Alienware 15 is not enjoyable to carry around. Admittedly, I'm accustomed to the lighter and thinner laptops I typically review, and even accounting for gaming hardware, this laptop has a considerable footprint.

      The bulky display bezels contribute to its overall size, making the 15.3-inch laptop appear larger than the screen size suggests. Despite my initial expectations for the fully plastic chassis to be bothersome, it wasn’t. Many plastic chassis tend to have some flex, which is evident on the display lid and bottom cover.

      The keyboard deck, however, is unexpectedly sturdy, and the hinge holds everything securely. You can technically open it with one hand, but the bottom half will follow a moment later.

      Importantly, the plastic doesn’t have the