Alienware has always been known for its over-the-top and expensive gaming PCs, but it just announced the Alienware 15, its first true budget gaming laptop.

The Alienware 15 is a new RTX 3050 gaming laptop in 2026. With resolutely single-channel memory.

The new Alienware 15 sounds cheap — but it comes at a price. is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo,

Dell's modern Alienware gaming laptops are powerful and cool-looking machines, but they have a reputation of being hefty and expensive. That may soon change. At CES 2026 Monday, the American tech company teased its forthcoming ultra-slim and entry-level gaming laptops set for release later this year.

The Alienware Area-51 is a considerable upgrade compared to the previous generation's Alienware m16. For starters, it's clad in anodized aluminum for both the lid and bottom chassis and features a unique iridescent finish that sparkles in direct lighting.

I got tired of researching OLED gaming monitors so I just got the cheapest one. is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.

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