Alienware 15 vs. LOQ Essential 15: I compared both budget gaming laptops – it was close

Choosing between the Alienware 15 and Lenovo LOQ Essential 15 means weighing their distinct advantages. This direct comparison assesses their screens, gaming power, and ease of carrying. The result is a tight race, with each laptop leading in separate areas.

Key takeaways

• The Lenovo LOQ Essential 15 has a better screen with wider color coverage, boosting visual impact.
• The Alienware 15 achieves somewhat higher frame rates in gaming benchmarks.
• Alienware’s model is a bit lighter and offers stronger portability and connection choices.
• These two share near-identical core hardware, but the Alienware has a lower starting cost.

Display Quality

Lenovo’s LOQ Essential 15 takes the lead for its screen. Both panels hit 300 nits brightness and a 1920 x 1200 resolution. You’ll find a 16:10 aspect ratio on the Alienware, while the LOQ uses a 16:9 ratio for a wider look.

Alienware’s 165Hz refresh rate beats the LOQ’s 144Hz. Yet the LOQ’s full sRGB color coverage easily surpasses the Alienware’s 62.5%. This gives the LOQ richer, more vibrant colors. Games, videos, and everyday use simply appear better on the Lenovo.

Gaming Performance

Alienware’s model has a small performance edge, posting higher average FPS. Running ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ on high settings without upscaling, the Alienware hit 74 FPS against the LOQ’s 66. In ‘Baldur’s Gate’, it scored 76 FPS versus 72.

CPU benchmarks also favor the Alienware, though the gap is narrow. It also wins on connectivity with two USB-C ports; one handles power delivery and DisplayPort 1.4a. The LOQ’s single USB-C port lacks DisplayPort, forcing you to use its HDMI for an external monitor.

Build and Portability

Alienware claims victory for build and portability. It weighs 4.85 pounds, making it lighter than the 5.07-pound LOQ. Both laptops sit near the five-pound mark and have batteries that won’t last a full workday. The source notes Alienware’s win here but doesn’t detail build materials beyond the weight difference.

Specifications and Value

Alienware and Lenovo position these as budget gaming options, with prices close to $1,200. The Alienware 15 starts at $999, undercutting the LOQ Essential 15’s $1,299 entry point.

Their core hardware is almost the same. Each packs 16GB of DDR5 RAM on a single module, with free slots for dual-channel upgrades. You can configure both with up to an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, and they include a 512GB PCIe 4 NVMe SSD plus a 5,000mAh battery.

To hit these prices, both skip premium extras like RGB lighting. Their chargers differ: Alienware provides an 80W unit (65W in North America), while Lenovo includes a 45W charger.