Alienware 15 (left) vs. Lenovo LOQ Essential 15 (right) Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. I compared two of the best bang-for-buck gaming laptops on the market right now: the Alienware 15 (2026) and the Lenovo LOQ Essential 15. However, the Alienware 15 edged out the LOQ Essential 15 in my testing. Alienware 15 (left) compared to LOQ Essential 15 (right). The Lenovo LOQ Essential 15 is a solid device as well, but the value proposition is not as cut and dry.