Alienware 15 starts at $1,299

Dell on May 14 began selling the Alienware 15 in the United States, adding a lower-priced entry point to its gaming laptop lineup at a starting price of $1,299.99. The new 15.3-inch model starts with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4050 laptop GPU and can be configured up to an RTX 5060, according to Dell’s product pages and reports from IGN and Engadget. The launch fills in a price tier Dell had previewed earlier this year. At CES on January 6, Dell said it would expand Alienware’s laptop lineup to reach more gamers, and the Alienware 15 is now the clearest example of that plan. ### What exactly do you get for $1,299? (dell.com) Dell’s U.S. configuration page lists a “build your own” Alienware 15 starting at $1,299.99. The base custom setup shown on the AMD model pairs Windows 11 Home, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 with 6GB of GDDR6 memory, 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. (dell.com) IGN reported the same entry pricing on May 14, saying the base AMD version starts at $1,299 while an Intel-based version starts at $1,349. Engadget separately reported that the $1,299 model uses an AMD Ryzen 5 220 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an RTX 4050. ### How far up does the configuration ladder go? (dell.com) Dell’s product page shows RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 options above the entry model. One listed AMD configuration pairs a Ryzen 7 260, 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD with an RTX 5060 at $1,849.99, while the page says the system can be customized from the $1,299.99 starting point. (me.ign.com) IGN said the Alienware 15 starts with the RTX 4050 and can be “spec[ed] up to an RTX 5060.” Dell’s broader Alienware listings also describe the model as offering “up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop Graphics.” ### What other hardware is locked in across the line? The Alienware 15 uses a 15.3-inch WUXGA display with a 1920-by-1200 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate and 300 nits of brightness, according to Dell and media reports published on May 14. (dell.com) Dell’s page also lists ports including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet and a universal audio jack. (me.ign.com) Engadget reported that North America will not get the RTX 3050 variant mentioned for some other regions. PC Guide, citing Dell, said North America is the first market for the rollout, with other regions to follow later. ### Why is Dell calling this a lower-cost Alienware? (pcguide.com) Alienware told media outlets that it made trade-offs to reach the lower entry price. In language carried by IGN and other publications, the company said it made “deliberate choices about where to invest and where to pull back,” while keeping build quality, thermals and performance as priorities. (engadget.com) Dell’s current Alienware range gives some context for that positioning. IGN said the new model debuts below the $1,690 Alienware 16 Aurora Gaming Laptop released last year, and Dell’s Alienware category pages place the 15 in a broader lineup that includes higher-end 16-inch and 18-inch systems. (me.ign.com) ### Where can buyers actually order it now? Alienware.com is taking orders now for both AMD and Intel versions, according to Dell’s store listings and multiple launch-day reports. Dell’s U.S. site shows the AMD Alienware 15 as customizable from $1,299.99, while reports from IGN and Engadget put the Intel starting price at $1,349. (me.ign.com) North America is first in line for availability, PC Guide reported, citing Dell. Dell has not yet posted broader regional timing on the U.S. product page, but the company’s May 14 listings show the model live for purchase through its online store. (pcguide.com) (dell.com)