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Alienware M18 R2 review: I review tons of laptops, and I've never seen one handle intensive graphics this well before — it's incredibly powerful

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The Alienware m18 R2 is a beast of a gaming laptop in both size and performance. With up to a 14th Gen Intel Core i9 and up to an NVIDIA RTX-40 Series GPU, it can handle even the most demanding games at high frames per second. A good refresh rate, response time, and color range also provide excellent picture quality and motion clarity. Plus, the optional RGB backlit Cherry MX mechanical keyboard with a number pad makes it fast and satisfying to use. However, this gaming laptop's large size and hefty weight make it hard to tote around.

Pros

Cons

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A little while ago, I did our Alienware m16 R2 review and I completely fell in love with that gaming laptop. So when asked to review the larger and more powerful Alienware m18 R2, I jumped at the chance. Alienware's M Series are top-of-the-line gaming laptops with the latest CPUs and GPUs. As such, they are known to offer extremely smooth gaming performance. 

To get a feel for the Alienware m18 R2, I used it for over a week. During that time, I attended virtual work meetings with it, wrote articles on it, and (of course) played different video games using it. Here are my thoughts about this gaming laptop now that I've gotten a better understanding of its abilities. 

Disclaimer

This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by Dell. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

Alienware m18 R2: Price and specs

The Alienware m18 R2 is decently thick in order to hold its powerful internals.  (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

Pricing & specifications highlights

Alienware m18 R2

Price: $1,899.99 (starting at) | $3,299.99 (reviewed at)

OS: Windows 11 Home | Pro

CPU: 14th Gen Intel Core i7-14650HX | i7-14700HX | i9-14900HX (reviewed at)

GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 | RTX 4070 | RTX 4080 | RTX 4090 (reviewed at)

RAM: 16GB | 32GB (reviewed at) | 64GB

Storage: 1TB | 2TB (reviewed at) | 2TB RAID0 | 4TB | 4TB RAID0 | 8TB RAID0

Display: 18" IPS QHD+ (2560 x 1600), 165Hz, 3ms (reviewed at) | 18" IPS FHD+ (1920 x 1200,) 480Hz, 3ms

VRR: NVIDIA G-Sync

Keyboard: RGB backlit M Series | RGB backlit CherryMX mechanical

Battery: Up to 2 hrs 32 mins

Ports: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 w/ PowerShare, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C- Gen 2, 1x RJ45, 1x headphone jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1 mini-Display port, 1x SD card slot

Size: 16.15" (W) x 12.59" (D) x .095" (H) (410.30 x 319.90 x 24.10mm)

Starting Weight: 9.32 pounds (~4.23 kg)

Alienware is a subsidiary of Dell, so you can expect its devices to be quality-built and solid. The Alienware m18 R2 is an extremely high-end gaming laptop with the latest and greatest components, including up to an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and up to an NVIDIA RTX 4090 L GPU. As such, this laptop is definitely on the expensive side, but that's what you pay to get the best gaming laptop performance.

Specifically, the Alienware m18 R2 has a starting price of $1,899.99, but the cost can go up higher depending on the configuration chosen. I personally reviewed a laptop configuration with an i9-14900HX CPU, RTX 4090 L GPU, 32GB of RAM, 2TB SSD, 18-inch QHD+ display (165Hz and 3ms), and a mechanical keyboard, which altogether costs $3,299.99. This is pricey, but about where I'd expect a laptop of this caliber to sell for. If you really want, you can pay more for an FHD+ display that can reach up to 480Hz with a 3ms response time as well. Alternatively, moving down to the M Series keyboard rather than the CherryMX one will save some money. 

So where can you buy the Alienware m18 R2? It's available for purchase at the usual tech retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, as well as the Alienware website. If you want more control over the exact configuration, then you'll definitely want to shop at the Dell website to determine specific specs. 

Dell ships to 110 countries around the world, so it's likely one can be sent to your location, but you'll need to check with Dell to make sure. 

i9-149200HX | RTX 4070L | 32GB RAM | 2TB SSD | QHD+

This configuration provides a powerful gaming laptop that will run games well without costing an arm and a leg. If you plan on playing a lot of games, I suggest going with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD as this provides ample space for game files and processes to work efficiently. 

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Alienware m18 R2: Design and build

A ring of light glows around the backside of the thermal bar.  (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

Build quality and design highlights

Often when I look at high-end gaming laptops, I see designs that are trying really hard (and often failing) to look edgy. Meanwhile, the design of the Alienware m18 R2 feels a bit clunky, like how you'd imagine a spaceship designed for a 90s B movie to look. Still, the laptop is more focused on function than presentation, with a solid chassis and display hinge that works well. It might technically be portable, but this is really more like a gaming desktop, a heavy 9.32-pound device intended to stay in one place for a long time. Even then, you'll want to make sure you have enough surface space to accommodate this beastie device. 

There are plenty of ports on the backside of the m18 R2. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

Only one USB-C port is located on the right side of the device. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

An RJ45 port, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack are on the m18 R2's left side. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The clunky-yet-helpful thermal bar that runs along the back of the laptop adds about two inches of casing behind the keyboard. This looks a bit unwieldy but helps the laptop regulate its temperature for better performance overall. As you can imagine, the thermal bar's presence makes this laptop larger than many others. So much so, that you might have a hard time fitting it in a backpack or laptop bag unless you purchase a carrying bag specifically suited to it. This laptop also has a massive footprint, so it's not the easiest thing to tote around when working on the go or moving from class to class.

Speaking of thermals, the vents are positioned to blow hot air out of the sides of the laptop to keep the heat away from the user or the main port area. 

The thermal bar sticks out about two inches beyond the keyboard and main chassis area.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The m18 R2 is relatively thick and heavy in order to accommodate its powerful internals. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The m18 R2 is significantly larger than the m16 R2. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The m18 R2 is taller and longer than the m16 R2. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

As far as ports go, there are several connections found on the laptop's left, right, and backside. Altogether, this gives me three USB-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-C port, an Ethernet connection, mini-DisplayPort, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone jack. I never had any issues connecting another monitor to the laptop, wiring into my home internet, or plugging in any accessories since there are plenty of ports to go around. 

Alienware m18 R2: Software and RGB lighting

Each individual key on the keyboard can be given a different color and effect. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The F3 through F6 buttons are meant to be customized. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Software and RGB lighting highlights

Dell, and by extension Alienware, do a fantastic job of creating programs that are easy to understand right away. In that vein, Alienware Command Center is very easy to navigate and provides most of the settings you will want to access. From here, I can launch games from my library, change performance modes, check on system performance, and make customizations. 

It's also within Alienware Command Center that the three areas of RGB lighting — the backlit keyboard, the Alienware logo on the lid, and the ring of light around the backside of the thermal bar — can be adjusted. Selecting from a color wheel lets me change each individual key, or I can have them all work together for a specific effect. Meanwhile, I can also choose the specific color and lighting effect for the ring of light or the Alienware logo. 

Dell Command Center is clean and easy to navigate. (Image credit: Windows Central)

You can quickly change performance modes within Alienware Command Center. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Check up on the m18 R2's performance when running specific games. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Check up on the m18 R2's performance when running specific games. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Outside of RGB customization, Command Center also makes it easy to set up new key binds and macros for the F3 through F6 keys, which don't have any commands set to them by default. 

Just like the m16 R2, the m18 R2's F2 button toggles Stealth Mode. When active, Stealth mode changes all RGB lighting to white and puts the system in Quiet mode to calm the fans. This feature tends to be more useful in public when you don't want your laptop attracting attention from those around you. But since the m18 R2 isn't the most portable laptop, you might not feel the need to use this feature at home.  

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Alienware m18 R2: Display

In a color gamut test, the laptop produced 100% of sRGB, 90% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Display highlights

From the moment I first laid eyes on the display, I knew that the m18 R2's IPS screen provided excellent picture quality and motion clarity. Colors come through vibrantly, everything looks crisp, and game visuals are extremely smooth. The 18-inch IPS QHD+ (2560 x 1600) display offers a 3ms response time with the option of going between a 60Hz or a 165Hz refresh rate. On top of that, G-Sync reduces lag and stutter. Alternatively, there's also the option to go with a more expensive FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS display that offers up to a 480Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time.

Not wanting to leave things purely up to my eyes to judge, I ran the QHD+ IPS display through a couple of colorimeter tests. It provided some of the best color gamut results I've ever seen — producing 100% of sRGB, 90% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3. This means it has a great color range to show off your game visuals to their best advantage. 

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SettingBrightnessBlackContrastWhite Point0%17.40.02710 : 1620025%66.50.051370 : 1630050%100.20.071390 : 1630075%163.50.141140 : 16400100%310.90.261180 : 16600

I also ran a brightness and contrast test on the laptop and was equally impressed and disappointed by the results. On the one hand, this screen does a fantastic job of sticking near true black and providing good contrast. However, the screen only managed to get as bright as about 300 nits, which is a lot dimmer than many other gaming laptops out there. If you happen to be in a very well-lit room or (for some reason) outside with this monster of a laptop, you might not be able to see the screen as well. 

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Alienware m18 R2: Performance and thermals

Alienware M18 R2 running the Tekken 8 Demo.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

With Cyberpunk 2077 set at Ray Tracing: Low graphics settings, the system managed an average of 116 fps in the benchmark. (Image credit: Windows Central)

With Cyberpunk 2077 running Overdrive graphics settings, the system managed an average of 87 fps in the benchmark. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Performance & thermals highlights

I've seen some amazing gaming laptops in my time here at Windows Central, but the Alienware m18 R2 is by far the most impressive to date. 

Our Top Gaming Recommendations

When choosing your configuration, the m18 R2 can have either a 14th Gen Intel Core i7-14650HX, i7-14700HX, or i9-14900HX CPU along with an NVIDIA RTX RTX 4060 L, RTX 4070 L, RTX 4080 L, or RTX 4090 L. The specific configuration I tested does have the Core i9 as well as the RTX 4090 L, which together provide extremely powerful performance.

Before doing any performance testing on this laptop, I did a clean install of NVIDIA's latest drivers and made sure all other important aspects of the computer were updated. Then, I downloaded Steam and installed several games including Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, and Dragon's Dogma 2. Over the course of the week, I spent a few hours playing each of these games, and each time I didn't see any screen tearing, lag, or other issues; just amazing gaming sessions with incredible motion clarity. The fans did come on really quickly, though, and got plenty loud. So if you don't like loud fans, that's something to be aware of.

I've seen some amazing gaming laptops in my time here at Windows Central, but the Alienware m18 R2 is by far the most impressive to date.

Now, some people have been claiming that the latest Intel i9 CPUs are causing crashes and errors in games. Many people point to the Tekken 8 Demo as a title that often sees these alleged problems. Just to be sure, I downloaded the Tekken 8 Demo and played it for a few hours on the m18 R2, but I never experienced any problems.

After getting a personal feel for m18 R2 performance, I switched gears and ran some benchmark testing. One of the first tests I ran was the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, where I put settings at the default Ray Tracing low. The laptop managed to average a whopping 116 fps. Encouraged by these excellent results, I upped the graphics settings to Overdrive then proceeded to turn on DLSS, Path Tracing, and Ray Reconstruction. Even with these far more demanding settings in place, the Alienware m18 R2 didn't flinch. It provided an extremely impressive average of 87 fps, which is beautifully smooth to watch. That's incredible and shows just how powerful this laptop really is. 

The m18 R2's SSD offers solid performance as seen by this CrystalDiskMark benchmark. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Geekbench 6 results put m18 R2 performance at an impressive place between the Legion 9i and the Legion Tower 7i. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The i9-14900HX offers good rendering capabilities.(Image credit: Windows Central)

The Alienware m18 R2 offered the best overall system performance CrossMark results of any laptop we've ever tested. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The m18 R2's i9-14900HX performed similarly to other high-end gaming PCs. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The Alienware m18 R2's RTX 4090 L produced a similar result to competitor gaming laptops like Razer Blade 16 and Legion 9i.(Image credit: Windows Central)

Outside of gaming, I ran the usual group of benchmark tests on the Alienware m18 R2 to get a read on its CPU, GPU, SSD, and overall system performance. In most cases, it produced similar results to its main competitors (like Razer Blade and Legion 9i gaming laptops). In some benchmarks, it produced far better results than its rivals, which means it offers excellent performance at a lofty tier that we want to see from this caliber of gaming laptop.

For instance, in the case of Geekbench 6 results, the m18 R2's CPU score was nestled between the Legion 9i (Gen 8) and a Legion Tower 7i, which is higher than the Razer Blade 18. Meanwhile, it produced a fantastic CPU rendering score in Cinebench R23 significantly beating out both the Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18, so it can easily handle those gaming needs. I also ran a PCMark 10 CPU benchmark, to which the system also scored far better results than the Razer Blade 18, and landed just beside the ASUS ROG G22CH (DB978) gaming tower's score. Not bad at all.

It offers the excellent performance that we expect to see from this caliber of gaming laptop.

As for the GPU, in a 3DMark Time Spy benchmark the m18 R2 produced a high score that was slightly lower than the Razer Blade 18 (2023)'s score with its RTX 4090 L, but not by much. Either way, these are fantastic results that show the system can handle far more demanding games and graphics than most other laptops out there.

Speaking of system performance, the m18 R2 earned the highest score in our Crossmark results of any laptop or desktop we've ever tested, so the components work very well together. Meanwhile, the Alienware m18 R2 SSD also produces some of the best read and write speeds we've ever seen, meaning it can load and save video game data very quickly. The bottom line here is that you'll easily be able to run any modern game on this laptop and get solid performance from it.

Thermals

The center area of the keyboard peaked at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The area above the keyboard peaked at around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The vents peaked at about 138 degrees Fahrenheit. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

After playing Cyberpunk 2077 on Overdrive ray tracing settings (DLSS, Path tracing, and Ray Reconstruction on) for 30 minutes on the Alienware m18 R2, I whipped out my thermal camera to see how the laptop was fairing, temperature-wise. Like I said previously, the fans come on quickly and get plenty loud, but they do a good job of keeping everything at a decent temperature. 

The area around the center of the keyboard measured at a peak of about 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49C). Meanwhile, the area just above the keyboard proved to be the hottest, at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60C). The side vents themselves measured in at 138 degrees Fahrenheit (59C). Overall, that's pretty warm like I'd expect with a gaming laptop, but not to the point of causing discomfort to my hands and fingers when touching the chassis. However, the hot air blasting out the side of the laptop did make my mouse hand rather hot and sweaty while playing games.

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Alienware m18 R2: Battery life

In testing, the laptop battery only tended to last two hours and 32 minutes tops. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Battery highlights

The Alienware M18 R2 charging adapter connects to the laptop via barrel plug. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

Battery life is always a disappointing area for gaming laptops, and the Alienware m18 R2 is no exception. When set at around a brightness of 200 nits, I usually can only play more intensive games for around an hour and eight minutes or so. If the laptop is on a lower performance mode and being used for more mundane tasks like browser surfing, video meetings, or average work use, it can last up to two hours and 32 minutes. These really aren't great results, but they are where we'd expect a laptop like this to be. 

As for recharging, the Alienware m18 R2 comes with a relatively bulky charging adapter with a barrel plug. Altogether, the adapter and its cord are about seven feet long, which provides a decent amount of wiggle room for plugging the laptop into an outlet. 

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Alienware m18 R2: Keyboard and touchpad

There is a full number pad on this CherryMX mechanical keyboard. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

All of the keys offer RGB backlighting. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The touchpad area is somewhat small but works well. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

The F3 through F6 keys are meant to be customized. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

Keyboard and touchpad highlights

I could honestly drone on and on for hours when it comes to how amazing the mechanical Cherry MX ultra-low profile keyboard feels. From the moment that I first pressed down on one of the Alienware m18 R2's keys, I fell in love. These linear switches react very quickly with little coaxing from me, which means they relay in-game demands very fast. There's also the option to go with a less expensive RGB backlit M Series keyboard if you want to save some money. 

The spacing between keys also feels good, giving me plenty of room to type without feeling crowded. Of course, there's also a full number pad on the right side, which has made it convenient for me to input certain information, such as benchmark results, into spreadsheets. 

While I love the keyboard, the touchpad does feel a little small. That said, I was able to navigate the cursor around the screen easily enough without feeling like I took unnecessary swipes to do so. 

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Alienware m18 R2: Camera, mic, and audio

The 1080p camera captures good colors and crisp detail.  (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

Camera, mic, and speaker highlights

While listening to my favorite tracks, I noticed that the Alienware m18 R2's 2W quad speakers get plenty loud, however they cannot handle bass very well. Audio settings can be customized within Dolby Access, but as is always the case with gaming laptops, you'll be better served with one of the best gaming headsets or one of the best computer speakers. This is especially true if you need to hone in on in-game sounds like approaching opponent's footsteps. 

As for picture quality, the 1080p webcam captures clear video with great color quality that's more than good enough for standard video meetings. However, there is no shutter to ensure privacy. Meanwhile, the microphone carries my voice clearly to meeting attendees as long as I'm within an understandable range from the microphone. Now, if you intend to stream yourself playing games, then you'll want to invest in one of the best webcams for streaming and should also look into one of the best microphones for streaming.

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Alienware m18 R2: Competition

The Lenovo Legion 9i (Gen 8) offers beautiful RGB lighting in addition to solid gaming performance.  (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

One of the closest configurations to the Alienware m18 R2 can be seen in our Razer Blade 16 (2024) review. This gaming laptop also offers an Intel Core i9-14900HX and up to an RTX 4090 for high-end gaming. When choosing your configuration, you can either go with a gorgeous OLED display or a mini LED display. Plus, the Blade 16 offers some truly beautiful RGB keyboard backlighting that can be customized the way you want. Being a Razer product, it is on the pricier side with a $2,999.99 starting MSRP, though. 

If you look at my Lenovo Legion 9i (Gen 8) review, you'll see yet another super high-end gaming laptop that I highly recommend. As is typical, it doesn't have the best battery life. However, the Intel Core i9-139870HX CPU combined with the RTX 4090 L provides some truly solid gaming performance. For fun effect, it has customizable RGB keyboard backlighting as well as a colorful bar of light that runs along the bottom of the laptop. As with all top-tier gaming laptops, it does cost a lot with a starting $3,149.99 price point. 

Now, if you're looking for a solid gaming laptop like the m18 R2 that doesn't cost as much, then you should take a look at my Alienware m16 R2 review. This slightly smaller gaming laptop also stunned me with its powerful performance and beautiful RGB lighting. There are also plenty of configuration options to choose from, so you can build the perfect gaming laptop for your needs. It's still pricey, but has a lower starting price of $1,499.99 compared to the m18 R2's $1,899.99 starting point.  

Alternatively, if you're already going for a big beast of a gaming laptop that isn't easy to transport, then you might be more interested in a compact gaming desktop. As an example, you can check out my ASUS ROG G22CH (DB978) review to see a fantastic tower with an Intel Core i9-13900KF CPU and an RTX-40 Series GPU. Different configurations are available with a starting price of $1,399.99, which is more affordable than the gaming laptops mentioned here. 

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Alienware m18 R2: Scorecard

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AttributeRating & NotesValue5/5 — There are plenty of configurations to choose from and the price is where we'd expect it to be for a high-end gaming laptop.Design4.5/5 — While it isn't the most elegant, it is well made and offers plenty of ports.Software & RGB5/5 — Dell programs are intuitive to navigate and offer plenty of RGB customization.Display4.5/5 — This IPS display offers a great color gamut and motion clarity, but it doesn't get very bright. Performance5/5 — It can easily handle intensive games while averaging high fps and smooth performance.Battery life3/5 — Like most other gaming laptops, this one doesn't last long when unplugged. Keyboard and touchpad5/5 — The CherryMX mechanical keyboard is fantastic and having a number pad makes it easier to enter info. Camera, mic, and audio4/5 — The camera and audio are perfect for standard video calls, but aren't the best for streaming. Total score4.5/5 — With extremely powerful performance, a mechanical keyboard, and a gorgeous display this is one of the best high-end gaming laptops on the market.

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Alienware m18 R2: Should you buy it?

The Alienware M18 R2 is the most powerful gaming laptop I've ever used.  (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

✅ You should buy this if...

❌ You should not buy this if...

If you're looking for what is arguably the best high-end gaming laptop experience available right now, then you definitely should consider the Alienware m18 R2. It offers the smoothest performance with extremely high frame rates even when more demanding graphical settings are in place. The large screen really draws you into the action of your digital adventures with its great color range, crisp resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 3ms response time. Meanwhile, the laptop can be configured with a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, which offers fast responses as well as a satisfying button-pressing experience.  

The biggest downsides mostly do have to deal with size. Due to the thermal bar sticking out from the back of the laptop, the m18 R2 will not fit in certain laptop bags and backpacks. Additionally, its heavier-than-average weight makes it heavier to tote around, so it isn't the best on-the-go companion. However, if you just want a laptop that functions more like a desktop, then this will do the trick. It's extremely powerful as long as you are willing to pay the high price for it. 

The Alienware m18 R2 can have up to an Intel Core i9 CPU with up to an RTX-40 Series GPU. It's extremely powerful, and the 18-inch display offers an excellent color gamut with crisp resolution. Plus, RGB lighting and a number pad provide additional perks.

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Self-professed gaming geek, Rebecca Spear, is one of Windows Central's editors and reviewers with a focus on gaming handhelds, PC gaming, and laptops. When she isn't checking out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass, PC, ROG Ally, or Steam Deck; she can be found digital drawing with a Wacom tablet. She's written thousands of articles with everything from editorials, reviews, previews, features, previews, and hardware reviews over the last few years. If you need information about anything gaming-related, her articles can help you out. She also loves testing game accessories and any new tech on the market. You can follow her @rrspear on X (formerly Twitter).

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