The Alienware m16 R2 straddles the fence between gaming and productivity. Though it bears the hallmark Alienware logo and is bulkier than an ultraportable, this redesign of last year’s Alienware m16 is suitable for those who also want to use this machine for everyday computing.
Other than its sharp 16-inch display and Nvidia RTX 40-series GPU, the main draw is the inclusion of an Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processor. This chip’s NPU can perform AI-driven tasks faster than a processor lacking an NPU. In addition, pressing the F2 key instantly switches to productivity mode — which uses less power than performance mode.

The Alienware m16 R2 is an intriguing device since it can function as both a work and gaming laptop. Its relatively subdued design is also attractive. It could be one of the best laptops this year!