Remember when you could snag a decent budget gaming laptop with an RTX 5050 for a cool $700 or $800? Six months ago, that was a thing. Now, the best gaming laptops cost hundreds more, because apparently the universe decided that our wallets needed another challenge.

In this glorious era of expensive hardware, Dell's Alienware 15 enters the fray as the entry-level option that's just good enough to justify the price tag. It's not flashy, which we count as a win - no overdone RGB lighting or aggressive edges here. Instead, it borrows visual DNA from the Alienware Aurora laptops, with a similar keyboard and chassis materials. The gentle curve of the vents below the lid is a nice touch, if you're into subtle design cues.

At 0.9 inches thick, the Alienware 15 has some heft, but most of it lives in the lid, so it doesn't feel like a brick when open. The chunky screen actually works in its favor: the top-heavy design means it sits closer to the table, which is kind of genius when you think about it. And despite its size, it's not much thicker than the pricier Alienware 16 Aurora.

There's some flex in the lid and keyboard deck, but nothing that'll have you screaming for a refund - you'd have to press down where you shouldn't to notice. The keyboard is a pleasure to type on and fills its space nicely. As for the touchpad, it's large and functional, not the best on a budget gaming laptop, but far from the worst. Basically, it's the Goldilocks of touchpads: just right enough.