Hands On: Alienware 13 Gaming Laptop

Back in the day, gaming notebooks had thick bodies so they could be crammed with extra components like discrete graphics and to help with cooling those extra processors. But cooler, power-sipping processors and the recent demise of the optical drive now allow for thinner and lighter power user systems. Witness the slim Razer Blade laptops that have sold well enough to spawn multiple generations.

Alienware is listening to the calls from fans of the long departed Alienware M11xr3, with the introduction of the compact Alienware 13.

The Alienware 13 is built in a 13-inch form factor that’s one inch thick and weighs in at about 4.5 pounds. That’s three quarters of an inch thinner than the Alienware 14 and 2 pounds lighter. It’s going to be available with a range of Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, plus this new system will have a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M GPU. Befitting its thinner profile, the CPUs will belong to Intel’s U processor line, optimizing power usage and less stressful thermals. So, they will will be more efficient and cooler running.

The 13-inch IPS panel is available in 1080p Full HD and up to QHD (2,560 by 1,440) resolutions, and looks great when displaying games or videos. Sound was strong from the built-in Klipsch speakers, and their branding was subtle since the label was on the bottom of the chassis. There are vents built into the laptop’s bottom lid, which show off the LED-lit cooling fans. They’re kind of ostentatious, but they match the other lighting zones around the body of the laptop, in the keyboard deck, and on the back lid of the laptop. As usual, you can change the multiple zones with static or dynamic color schemes.

The keyboard and touchpad feel just as comfortable and responsive as previous Alienware laptops, so you can’t blame the controls for any of your deaths on the gaming grid. It runs Windows 8.1, but Windows 7 is an option just in case you don’t want to deal with the switch to the Windows 8 interface. We played with a touch-screen model, but non-touch will also be available. Hardcore fans will welcome more Alienware-branded accessories including a wireless headset.

We look forward to running the Alienware 13 through our full testing procedures in the coming months. Look for the Alienware 13 in the 2014 holiday buying season.