Dell’s Alienware line adds two 15.3‑inch models—DA15260 (AMD) and DA15265 (Intel)—featuring 165 Hz IPS displays, DDR5‑5600 memory, PCIe 4.0 storage, and RTX 30/40‑series GPUs. Pricing starts at €998/£879/$1,299, positioning them as more affordable alternatives to the recent 16‑inch Area‑51 and 16X Aurora.
What’s new
Dell’s Alienware brand has expanded its mid‑range portfolio with two 15.3‑inch laptops, the DA15260 and DA15265. The former is built around AMD’s Hawk Point (Ryzen 5 5600H) processor, while the latter uses Intel’s Raptor Lake‑H (Core i7‑12700H) silicon. Both machines share a single display option: a 15.3‑inch IPS panel that delivers 1920 × 1200 resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 165 Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync support.
The panel’s peak brightness tops out at 300 nits and covers roughly 62.5 % of the sRGB colour gamut—a modest figure for a gaming laptop, but acceptable for a price‑to‑performance segment.
How it compares
| Feature | DA15260 (AMD) | DA15265 (Intel) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (6 c/12 t) | Intel Core i7‑12700H (14 c/20 t) |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 5050 / RTX 5060 | Nvidia RTX 3050 / RTX 4050 |
| RAM | DDR5‑5600, up to 32 GB | DDR5‑5600, up to 32 GB |
| Storage | PCIe 4.0 NVMe, up to 2 TB | PCIe 4.0 NVMe, up to 2 TB |
| Battery | 70 Wh (standard) / 54 Wh optional | 70 Wh (standard) |
| Display | 1920×1200 @ 165 Hz, 300 nits, 62.5 % sRGB | Same |
| Starting price (US) | $1,499 (Core i7, RTX 5050) | $1,299 (RTX 4050, 16 GB RAM) |
| Starting price (EU) | €1,429 | €998 |
| Starting price (UK) | £1,249 | £879 |
Compared with the Alienware 16 Area‑51 and 16X Aurora that launched earlier this year, the 15‑inch models sacrifice raw GPU power (the larger chassis houses RTX 4070‑series options) but gain a more portable form factor and a lower entry price. The 165 Hz IPS screen is a step up from the 144 Hz panels found on many competing mid‑range laptops, yet the limited brightness and colour coverage keep it from challenging premium 300‑nit, 100 % sRGB or DCI‑P3 displays.
In terms of storage and memory, both laptops adopt DDR5‑5600 and PCIe 4.0 SSDs, matching the performance of higher‑end Alienware models while keeping latency low. The 70 Wh battery is generous for a 15‑inch chassis, though real‑world endurance will vary widely between the RTX 3050/5050 and the more power‑hungry RTX 4050/5060 configurations.
Who it’s for
- Budget‑conscious gamers who want a 165 Hz experience without paying the premium for an RTX 4070 or RTX 4080. The RTX 3050/5050 options comfortably hit 60 fps in titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends at medium settings.
- Students or creators needing a portable workstation that can also handle occasional gaming. The Intel‑based DA15265, with its i7‑12700H, offers solid multi‑core performance for video rendering or software development, while still delivering decent frame rates in modern games.
- AMD enthusiasts looking for a laptop that pairs a Ryzen 5 5600H with Nvidia graphics. The DA15260 provides a balanced AMD‑centric platform that mirrors the desktop Ryzen‑GPU combo many users already own.
- Travelers who appreciate the 70 Wh battery and the 16:10 screen real‑estate for productivity tasks. The extra vertical pixels make web browsing and document work feel less cramped than the typical 16:9 gaming laptops.
Ports and connectivity
Both models sport an identical port selection, which includes:
- 2 × USB‑C (Thunderbolt 4 on the Intel version, USB‑C 3.2 on the AMD version)
- 2 × USB‑A 3.2 Gen 2
- HDMI 2.1 output supporting up to 4K @ 120 Hz
- Mini‑DisplayPort 1.4
- 3.5 mm combo audio jack
- Ethernet (RJ‑45) via a dedicated port
- SD‑card reader
The layout mirrors previous Alienware designs, ensuring that gamers can connect external monitors, VR headsets, and high‑speed storage without needing dongles.
Bottom line
The Alienware 15 DA15260 and DA15265 fill a gap between entry‑level gaming notebooks and the higher‑priced 16‑inch flagships. Their 165 Hz IPS panels, DDR5 memory, and RTX 30/40‑series GPUs make them capable enough for most current titles at 1080p, while the larger 70 Wh battery and 16:10 aspect ratio add practical value for everyday use. The modest brightness and colour gamut keep them from competing with premium displays, but the price points—starting at €998/£879/$1,299—make them attractive options for gamers who want Alienware’s build quality without breaking the bank.
For the full spec sheet and configuration options, visit the official Dell Alienware page or check the regional listings for Europe and the UK.
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