The hybrid Alienware 15 has just hit the shelves, aiming for a budget friendly price point for a hybrid work / play device. With all that in mind, though, the only two configurations you'll find on Dell's store today are the RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 models - and the latter will run you up to $2,299.99.

So far, so confusing.

Dell is also rolling out RTX 4050 (and even RTX 3050, but only in select territories) options for its slimline machine, but even the 40-Series config starts at $1,299.99 for an AMD build. If you're dropping that far back in time, you're not spending more than $900 to stay comfortable.

It's certainly not the first time one of the best gaming laptop brands has dropped back a few generations to keep prices low, but right now you're spending $1,500 minimum to get yourself an RTX 5050 model.

The Alienware 15 is available in two flavors; AMD and Intel, with RTX 4050, RTX 5050, and RTX 5060 GPUs shared between them. AMD options come with either a Ryzen 7 260 or Ryzen 5 220, while Intel is supporting with Core 7 240H and Core 5 210H chips. RTX 50-series models will offer Alienware's Cyrotech cooling tech and weaker configurations will have slightly less junk in the trunk.

Base level Alienware 15 gaming laptops ship with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. That's roughly half the storage I tend to see in entry level gaming laptops, and we're not even starting off cheaper than the rest of the competition here. The MSI Katana (my current top budget gaming laptop) does offer 512GB options, but for between $1,100 and $1,200 when paired up with an RTX 5050 and 1080p display.

There are some nifty extra features in here - upgradable RAM and storage compartments (if you can find components), a 180 degree hinge, and up to 100W USB-C charging all keep things flexible enough to satisfy productivity and play. There's also some serious attention paid to the chassis itself, with a durable polycarbonate resin design, soft rounded corners, and up to 2oz liquid spill resistance. Whether or not that's going to be worth the extra spend compared to last year's budget-friendly alternatives will depend on how much gaming you'll do vs work.

Dell doesn't need its Alienware 15 to run the most demanding games at the highest graphical settings. This machine isn't sitting alongside the Alienware 16 Area-51. It's pitched as an everyday (albeit high-end) laptop that can also run more complex games than your standard ThinkPad. It takes what we used to turn to the Dell G-Series for and folds it into the realm of the best Alienware laptops. Does $1500 make sense even in this context? Maybe not, but it's getting closer.

I say that because, price aside, this actually looks like a neat little machine. Without component crises, it could have been an $800 - $1,000 rig with the same simple to-do list as Apple's MacBook Neo. $1,299 for an RTX 4050 machine in 2026 isn't a good deal, though, no matter how much cheaper it is compared to Alienware's premium rigs.

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I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for more options.

Is there ever a bad time to buy a gaming laptop? Well it depends. If the brand you're after is about to launch a new model that solves the biggest issue with its incredibly expensive predecessor? Yes, there certainly is.

Alienware has traditionally pumped out some of the best gaming laptops based on sheer performance value. These are chunky rigs designed to keep themselves cooler and smoother than the competition, but there's been a problem ever since I got my hands on my first Alienware rig. Their displays simply can't keep up with the rest of the pack.

Nowhere was that more apparent than last year. When Lenovo was releasing an OLED machine in the low $1,000s and the best Razer laptops were ruling the roost when it comes to high-contrast displays, Alienware stayed put with a dim IPS panel. 2025 was the year of the OLED, with even cheaper gaming laptops making the switch to a high-end display type. And yet the best Alienware laptops were asking for far more cash with a lesser screen.

That didn't hurt too much if you were in the market for a desk-based system, connected to an external monitor. For the ~$3,000 you'd be paying for an Alienware 16 Area-51, you'd be getting some seriously impressive performance in a slick chassis, no less. Still, it's difficult not to feel short-changed with such a glaring sacrifice.

That's the Alienware laptop you'll be buying today if you jump in now. Wait a few months, though, and Dell should have finally fixed its biggest issue.

Announced at CES 2026, the brand has new configurations of the Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 16X Aurora coming our way in 2026. They're set to feature the same performance benefits as the current generation models, but with an anti-glare OLED panel that should keep pace with the competition a lot easier. They're currently slated to launch in the first quarter of the year, so could potentially be just around the corner (barring any RAM shortage shenanigans).

It's such a big deal, in fact, that Alienware is probably the only brand I'd recommend waiting on at the moment. We're in between GPU refreshes this year, and components like memory and storage are only getting more expensive. Sure, this year's roster will feature newer Intel CPUs - but the performance increase isn't going to be on the same level we saw in 2025.

Instead, I'd argue that last year's gaming laptops (on the whole) could represent better value for money than this year's current slate of releases. Not only do we not know how much of an impact component shortages will have on new releases, but with incremental performance updates and falling prices on older models the dial generally tends to turn towards older models in these in-between years.

What does that mean for you? If it's just an OLED gaming laptop you're after - I'd stick to alternatives like the Lenovo Legion 5, Razer Blade 16, or HP Omen Max 16. If it's an Alienware you want, I'd definitely hold the line until new releases make their way to the shelves.

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Check out the best Asus gaming laptops for a wider range of portable and chunky rigs, or take a look at the best gaming handhelds and best gaming PCs for more form factors.

Dell just made good on its Alienware Area-51 AMD X3D announcement, as you can now grab the Ryzen range. The only issue is that, just like I said during CES 2026, the build does not remotely come in price peace, and while introductory discounts are trimming MSRPs down slightly right now, the RTX 5090 configurations cost up to $7,000.

I'm going to be real with you: the Area-51 might be the best Alienware gaming PC you can buy, but I doubt many of you lovely readers will be looking at even the slightly cheaper Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 builds. Those start at $4,449.99 right now for the aforementioned GPU paired with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Naturally, there is a "more affordable" GeForce RTX 5070 option for $3,749.99, but paying that sort of cash for what is a mid-range graphics card is frankly bananas.

I want to stress that while I find these prices unnerving, they're not entirely unique to Dell's new Alienware range. Plenty of the best gaming PC options out there are getting pretty lofty thanks to the RAMageddon situation sparked by AI demand, and the Nvidia builds specifically pack cards like the RTX 5090 that frankly aren't priced with PC gamers in mind.

That's how we get to where we are with the new AMD X3D range, and the addition of what is one of the best CPUs for gaming right now doesn't help the MSRPs in question. What I will say, though, is that at least you're getting eye-watering specs that could help boost fps beyond the Intel model I tested in my Alienware Area-51 review, and while I still couldn't afford one even if I sold my car, I can see why enthusiasts would want one of these rigs specifically.

At least, that is the case if you're a fiend for high frame rates who also wants something with the Zeta-head logo on the front. If you'd rather just own a rig that looks like it came from space, the Area-51 is perhaps a bit too tame. The whole line-up is designed with upgradability in mind, and while it's great to see a standard ATX motherboard and plenty of accommodations for custom cooling and other tweaks, it looks far more grounded than the egg-shaped Aurora R15 from a few years back.

Ultimately, if you vibe with the understated look of Dell's 2026 rigs, and are willing to invest a hefty amount in monstrous specs, the Area-51 could be worth a look. I'd love to present you with an alternative build for substantially less, but if its an RTX 5090 you're after, rival brands aren't going to save you much moolah.

Realistically, most of you will be looking at an RTX 5080 system, and if you play around with Dell's customization options, you'll be able to dial in some sense of affordability. I use that word lightly, as you're still talking around the $4,000 mark, and when it comes to RTX 5070 options, I'd either look at the Alienware Aurora R16, or just shop around for a build that doesn't carry a flagship cost burden.

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Upon gazing at the freshly unboxed Alienware Area-51 as it dominated my living room, I almost thought I was in for a wild experience. Its monstrous stature is largely what originally trickled me into believing I was about to fool around with extraterrestrial tech for the sake of Steam games. However, it turns out this is one of Dell’s most ordinary machines yet, as it takes a large step away from what made the former best Alienware gaming PC models stand out.

If I’m being real, the Alienware Area-51 is just a much bigger version of the Aurora R16 with a silver paint job. Yes, there’s plenty of changes going on under the UFO’s metaphorical hood, but since many of you will associate the brand with space-age case designs and mid-2000s level of gaming PC edge, it’s worth stressing that point. The issue is that with prices starting at an absolutely bananas $3,749.99 for an RTX 5070 build, you’re paying more than ever for something that feels very much of planet earth.

Put it this way, the Alienware Area-51 is like if ET got comfortable in suburbia and started driving a BMW X7 to a respectable office job. Yes, it’s all very flashy, and I’m happy that my glowing little oddball has found a way to fit in, but I can’t help but feel this rig is missing its own point. The spoiler here is that the system has ditched most of the Alienware elements I’d fire into space, like proprietary components and motherboard elements, but has, in turn, forgotten how to flee on a bicycle away from the government.

Design

Dell constantly finds itself in a struggle between otherworldly designs and trying to appeal to standard sensibilities. That back and forth is perhaps how you end up with machines like the Alienware Area-51, as it almost feels like a no-nonsense box with its sights largely on enthusiast wallets. However, while I welcome the stripping back of proprietary innards and embracing practicality, I can’t help but feel like the original target audience wants its eggs back.

I’m of course referring to machines like the R15, one of the last pod-shaped rigs by the brand post switch to the current boxy Alienware Aurora R16 formula. Before actually getting to see the Area-51, I figured Dell would perhaps find a way to bring back weird-shaped cases that serve as a setup spectacle while addressing all of the elements that peeve sensible PC builders, but instead, we’ve got a scaled-up R16 with a silver paint job.

All the newly established Alienware hallmarks are present, like the RGB-accented Stadium Loop side ventilation and glowing Zeta-head on an otherwise plain front. The 80-liter case does have a larger transparent side to show off its roomy innards and expensive components. You can even get the sides off using a knob and a big push button around back (just remove the shipping safety screw first). The top comes off too, if you’re looking to fit fans for an AIO cooler, and the case will support 240 mm, 280 mm, and 420 mm options.

Yes, the Area-51 is the most customizable Alienware PC ever, and the relatively standard case design certainly contributes to that. I’m not saying you couldn’t have made a standard ATX motherboard in something prism-shaped like the original, but it’s certainly easier to fit parts in a cuboid. The extra conventional room means that if the next wave of best graphics card contenders decide to become bigger than a PS2, or you need a specific cooler to combat CPU temperatures, making upgrades will be just as easy as with a regular rig.

There are some nice case comforts included with the Area-51, like dust covers at the PSU, radiator, and intake vents. You’re also getting plenty of real estate for cable management at the right-hand panel alongside support for either 2.5-inch SSDs or even larger 3.5-inch mechanical hard drives. But, those ought to be included, considering prices start just shy of $4,000, and the specific RTX 5090 model I’m reviewing comes in at $5,000.

Specs and Features

The question is, what does spending thousands on the Alienware Area-51 actually get you? Well, if we use the $5,000 unit I’m testing as an example, it’s all about the specs. The RTX 5090 flagship graphics card at the heart of this system alone makes up for more than half the price if you factor in current inflation, and I guess the accompanying 64GB DDR5 RAM is a chunk of the rest. That’s before you get to the fact that it’s packing an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU and a 2TB NVMe M.2 drive.

Here’s the deal - if we go by today’s PC component prices, you’re actually getting a whole lot of rig for your money in the Area-51. This is very much a case of all or nothing, though, as going for the top specs somewhat maximises the value you’ll get. Of course, you’ll always want to play around with Dell’s configurable options to dial things in better for your needs because that will shave a chunk off your end price, but I’d say the trick is to get the best GPU you can while avoiding high costs for elements like storage.

Specs aside, you’re also paying for the privilege of minimal proprietary parts. Dell’s included motherboard is a standard ATX affair, meaning complete overhauls are on the table. I do find the idea of swapping out bits of the $5,000 build pretty funny, but since the components all should remain relevant for at least a few generations, it does mean the system is more futureproof.

Annoyingly, there are still a couple of customization hurdles. For starters, if you opt for a replacement motherboard that doesn’t use Intel’s ATX12VO PSU standard, you’ll have to swap the power supply out too. You’ll also need an adapter kit to keep the AlienwareFX daughter board, alongside its RGB and IO functionality, alive and kicking, too, which rather insultingly costs an additional $35. Dell really should have just thrown this in for good measure if it was insistent on integrating the native support into its mobo, but I digress.

Performance

This is the part where I tell you the Alienware Area-51 is a beast, but of course it is. We’re talking about a gaming PC that costs more than my car, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t boost fps to stupid levels since it’s armed with an RTX 5090. Still, I’ve put the rig through the same rigmarole as every system that passes my desk, and while the results speak for themselves, it should help add some performance perspective.

It might come as somewhat of a surprise that, despite packing a GPU now worth over $2,000, hitting the 60fps sweetspot in Cyberpunk 2077 still isn’t a given. The RPG still serves as a brutal benchmark when AI tricks like DLSS 4 are switched off, and the Alienware Area-51 averages out at around 56fps. That’s still impressive, given that the benchmark was set to 4K Ultra with ray tracing enabled, and ditching the latter lighting options ramps things up to 110fps.

The point is that hitting well over 60fps with little compromise in CD Projekt Red’s ruthless RPG is possible without AI, but that’s a luxury afforded to machines at this price range. If you are of the opinion that the PC gaming scene has a “fake frames” issue, then this is the frame rate range to expect using a high-end RTX 5090 build. If you actually leverage Multi-Frame Generation and Super Resolution features, though, you’re talking well over 200fps with everything cranked up full.

The rest of my test games paint a very similar performance picture, with Hitman 3 staying within the same 60-70fps range and jumping to 120fps with ray tracing disabled. Shadow of the Tomb Raider feels especially slick on the Area-51 since it can easily reach 220fps without fancy lighting, while landing at around 154fps if you need all the bells and whistles. Compare that to the latest Aurora model rocking an RTX 5070 Ti, and you’re talking about a near 100fps gap between the two in the same benchmarks, which perhaps softens the higher price blow.

Results for Total War: Warhammer 3 illustrate the benefits of an all-round high-end build, as this machine hits over 150fps even with max settings. Yes, you can attribute some of those frames to the Core Ultra 9 285K that’s buddying up with the RTX 5090, and it certainly blows my Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 and Intel Core i9-13900K combo out of the water. This is absolutely a “get what you pay for” scenario, and while I’m not remotely on board with paying $5,000 for a rig, it’s very much the going rate right now.

Furious frame rates aside, let’s talk about fighting the resulting temperature fires. The Area-51 is pretty spacious, and that helps the GPU keep things at around 72°C. No surprises there since every Nvidia RTX 50-series card I've tested so far hits those sorts of temps, and the AIO cooler within this rig largely kept the Ultra 9 285K under 60°C under load and during gaming. It’s worth noting that it managed to pull this off without much racket too, and I almost missed the eerie sci-fi hum produced by the Alienware Aurora R15 during testing.

Should you buy the Alienware Area-51?

Technically speaking, the Area-51 is the best Alienware gaming PC on the market today. If you’re looking for a machine with top-of-the-line components and that iconic Zeta head logo on the front, this is it. That said, it’s hard to imagine DIY system builders are enthusiasts splashing out on this rig specifically, especially since its main selling point of being more customizable is just an inherent part of regular systems.

Simply put, the fact that the Alienware Area-51 is trying to appeal to players who like the brand’s space-age vibes and enthusiasts is what keeps it from greatness. That’s not to say this isn’t a good PC, and the RTX 5090 model is pretty beastly. The real issue is that it’s not really doing anything that different, and trimming down on proprietary parts should at least still come with some old-school Alienware design flair.

How I tested the Alienware Area-51

For two weeks, I used the Alienware Area-51 as my main PC for casual play and everyday tasks. In addition to using the machine as my daily driver, I also benchmarked the system’s gaming performance using a specific set of releases, including Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman 3, Total War: Warhammer 3, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Throughout testing, I also evaluated the system’s design, exclusive features, and temperatures while comparing them to previous Dell systems and other builds.

For more information on how we test gaming PCs and other systems, swing by our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Alienware gaming laptops have always been known for their power and sturdy engineering, but their screens have always kept them from the very top of my recommendation pile. While last year saw a number of brands embrace high-speed OLEDs in their best gaming laptops, Dell's rigs were still in the dark ages. No, you don't need a flashy panel for a screen to look good, but Alienware IPS displays simply couldn't keep up with the competition.

Dell seems to be past this hurdle, bringing an anti-glare OLED display to the Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 16X Aurora at CES 2026. These are premium rigs, so the previous generation's IPS panel always felt a little stingy. With reduced gloss and minimal fingerprints, Alienware seems to have been cooking away in the background.

Just how well those extras perform remains to be seen, but for now, it looks like the Area-51 and Aurora could start to trifle with other brands in 2026.

The only other addition looks to be those new Intel Core Ultra 200 series processors, though they're only available in 2026's 16-inch and 18-inch Area-51 models. The Aurora sticks with its RTX 5060 / RTX 5070 setup, with a choice between the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX, Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX.

Those are the changes to the lineup as we know it, but there are new contenders to consider.

Dell is widening its appeal in 2025, launching two new models to hit markets outside of the hardcore gamer.

The Alienware Ultra-Slim is a 17mm thick machine that puts its hybrid philosophy front and center. We're not quite as slimline as the 2025 Razer Blade 14 (15.7mm) here, but it's certainly a development over chunkier Alienware laptops, and players still benefit from a larger 16-inch display. It's your day-to-day companion when you're working, with the grunt to run through lighter games afterwards.

We don't know the full working spec of this one, but it's likely we're looking at an RTX 5050 / RTX 5060 spec, possibly with a more premium RTX 5070 option thrown in.

Dell's own non-Alienware gaming laptops always served the entry-level market well with low price points and solid component value. However, mainstays like the G16 have been suspiciously absent from the shelves over the course of the last year. That's where the brand's final announcement comes into play.

The currently-named Alienware Entry-Class gaming laptop (let's hope that's a working title) is promising the brand's "most accessible price point yet," bringing Alienware engineering and design to a lower-powered rig. Again, this one's due out later in the year, so we don't have anything concrete in time for CES.

If you can't quite wait until the two new models land, it's worth noting that OLED Alienware 16X Aurora and Alienware 16 Area-51 gaming laptops will be available from Q1, alongside the upgraded Alienware 18 Area-51.

• See today's best gaming laptop deals at Dell

Keen to get an eye on the competition? I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Razer laptops on the market. Or, take a look at the best gaming handhelds for something more portable.

Dell's Black Friday deals are here, but not all of them stack the same way. Two gaming laptop deals are at the same price this week, but one represents far better value than the other.

Both discounts sit on Alienware 16 Aurora machines, the cheapest in Dell's current lineup. It's not going to be the best gaming laptop for sky-high framerates, but if you're after an everyday machine with a little extra headroom for lighter titles it's a sound investment. There's just one problem, for $899.99 you can either pick up an RTX 4050 configuration or the much newer RTX 5050. The latter brings with it a whole host of new upscaling tech as well as the naturally more powerful GPU - all for $300 off MSRP.

The processor, RAM, storage, and display are exactly the same across these two machines, but you're spending the same amount of cash to get an RTX 5050 as you would an RTX 4050 (here's the older configuration at Dell for reference). That feels like a glitch in the system.

Both are entry level machines, but the RTX 50-Seires comes equipped with tools to keep your games running slick even on a weaker set of specs. You're not going to be topping the 3D Mark charts with either rig, but the RTX 5050 is going to give you a lot more stability for longer.

Should you buy the Alienware 16 Aurora?

This is Dell's cheapest gaming laptop, so it's not going to wow anyone with sky-high performance. In fact, I'd only recommend this particular configuration to those looking to splash out on an everyday work laptop that can also run some of their favorite lighter games at mid settings.

Compared to the very best Alienware laptops I'm hoping to see in this year's Black Friday gaming laptop deals, these machines are underpowered from their Intel Core 7 processors to their 16GB RAM. However, there's certainly a place for that sub-$1,000 price tag.

Whether you're looking to keep up with the latest indie releases or your backlog is a little older in release dates, the Aurora is still a worthy investment. If you're looking for breakneck speeds in the latest blockbusters, though, you might need to move a little further up the price scale.

• See all Black Friday deals at Dell
• Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050) | $1,199.99 $899.99 at Dell

We're also getting you prepped for more of this year's Black Friday Alienware deals as well as the best Black Friday gaming PC deals we can find as well. For something more portable, check out the best Black Friday Steam Deck deals on the table.

Dell's official Black Friday deals are here, and among them come a whole host of discounts hitting the brand's cheapest gaming laptop. The Alienware 16 Aurora sits right at the bottom of the price range, making it a perfect entry level machine for both work and lighter games. It's also less than $1,000 for an RTX 50-Series configuration this week - much cheaper than the best gaming laptops on the market will be.

If you want to get really technical, the cheapest Black Friday Alienware deal is actually on an RTX 4050 configuration (now $899.99, was $1,099.99) but that's far from the best deal on the site. If you really want to spend as little as possible, I'd stick to the new generation - for only $100 more you can pick up an RTX 5050 spec for $999.99 (was $1,199.99).

I'd actually recommend most players start their search at an RTX 5060, though. This GPU will see you through FHD gameplay, even in some more demanding games, far easier - and can see you running lighter titles well in QHD resolutions as well. Considering the Alienware 16 Aurora is available in this spec for as little as $1,099.99 it could be worth the step up.

Should you buy the Alienware 16 Aurora?

The Alienware 16 Aurora really does sit at the bottom of Dell's pile. However, early Black Friday gaming laptop deals aren't getting this cheap on any other Dell models. I generally tend to recommend the Alienware 16X Aurora model over the base device - you get a better display and slightly better headroom in terms of RAM and GPU pairings.

With only $100 off an RTX 5060 configuration (and it still sitting at $1,449.99), the 16X Aurora isn't exactly hitting these budget-friendly vibes.

Ultimately, if you're after an everyday laptop that can also run your favorite games the Aurora will see you through nicely. If, however, you've got more to invest in a high-end system that will tackle QHD resolutions at high settings it's time to look a little further up the price scale.

The Alienware 16 Area-51 is at the opposite end of the spectrum. It also starts at $2,199.99 this week (that's with a $550 discount in Dell's early Black Friday sale by the way). Still, if you're looking to push heavier titles at higher framerates, the boost to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and 32GB RAM will certainly help you out there.

• See all early Black Friday deals at Dell
• Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5060) | $1,349.99 $1,099.99 at Dell
• Alienware 16X Aurora (RTX 5060) | $1,549.99 $1,449.99 at Dell

I'm running you through all the best Alienware laptops I've had my hands on so far, as well as the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for some different flavor profiles as well.

Alienware has never been my first thought when recommending a starter gaming laptop, but then it announced the Aurora line. These machines take aim at a lower price tag, with the base model heavily restricting its specs and features to aim for three-figure rates.

I often find the best gaming laptop value in the mid-range, though. You can spend thousands on a rig to play the exact same games as a budget entry, after all - it's all about the sweet spot.

With its RTX 5060 / RTX 5070 configuration options, boosted display, aluminum chassis design, and reliable 1080p performance, the Alienware 16X Aurora is the best value gaming laptop Dell has produced so far. It's not without its sacrifices compared to the rest of the market, but there's plenty to celebrate here.

Configurations

The Alienware 16X Aurora occupies the very middle of Dell's middle ground. You're moving up from the base model 16 Aurora's Intel Core processors and RTX 5060 cap, into the world of the Ultra CPU and RTX 5070 here. The difference under the hood comes down to a more powerful version of Intel's latest processor, with either an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070 graphics card twinned up.

Is it sketchy that you'll need to move all the way over to the far more expensive Alienware 16 Area-51 for that RTX 5070 Ti? A little, but you can still swing an RTX 5070 GPU in here for less than $1,600 - and that puts these configurations in a slightly cheaper setting than Dell has dared tiptoe around before.

You're pretty free to play around with components here, with fewer hard locks on storage and processors compared to the competition. You will, however, have to stick with an RTX 5060 if you want to downgrade to an Intel Core Ultra 7, and cheaper 512GB storage options are only available in the UK.

Design

There's something a little more refined about the Aurora design compared to the Alienware M16 R2 that came before it. Whereas the previous generation still had one foot stuck in Dell's angular, blocky past, the 16X is almost sleek in the hands.

It's not quite as slim as the significantly lower-powered 16 Aurora model, but it still benefits from a high front lip, tapered fairly severely towards the base for a comfortable floating effect. Those rounded corners make it feel far more premium as well, taking us away from the squared off aesthetics of other budget models.

Both the top and bottom are constructed from anodized aluminum, with a plastic base inside. That's a satisfying amount of heft for a $1,500 gaming laptop, a far cry from the bendy plastic you'd usually be paying for at this position.

The hinge is suitably tensioned, though one-handed opening does lift the lower portion of the machine during motion. There's also a little flex to the main deck area and some warping of the lid under pressure as well. Those are all minor gripes, though, and they sit inline with what I come to expect from similarly priced gaming laptops.

The upgrade in build quality compared to plasticky rigs does mean that, when closed, this feels far more like a luxury unit rather than an everyday machine you wouldn't mind scratching.

Dell has also replicated the shimmer effect found on its more expensive Area-51 models here as well. The 16X Aurora will mostly look dark navy, almost black, but the light can catch it at new angles to reveal more of a purple hue hiding away in there.

Display

This is where I was surprised. I'm normally disappointed by Alienware's displays. They're slowly improving from the old days, but they still lack brightness, depth, and punch side by side with their competitors and Dell is still dragging its feet when it comes to more interesting panel options like Mini LED or OLED.

The Alienware 16X Aurora doesn't fix everything Dell's got wrong about its displays so far, but it is another step in the right direction. There's more energy to this panel than I've typically seen from the best Alienware laptops, and while there's still no HDR on board, colors appear a little stronger and more contrasted against their backgrounds.

It's not as impressive as the IPS screen I tested on the HP Omen Max 16, and with cheaper alternatives like the Lenovo Legion 5 offering up OLED screens these days the numbers might be a little difficult to balance.

As you'd expect from a mid-range 2025 release, the 16X Aurora carries a 2560 x 1600 resolution with the full 240Hz refresh rate. That's a speed boost you might not reap the benefits of in most games with an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070, but lighter 1080p sessions can stretch into that upper limit. That means it's still a worthy upgrade over the 120Hz 16 Aurora base model.

Ports

One thing I know I can rely on Alienware for is rear ports. Dell's gaming laptops are usually large, stocky, and heavy - making them better suited to a desk-based setup. Throw all your cables into the sides of your laptop, though, and things can get messy real fast.

All hail the rear ports, then.

The Alienware 16X Aurora does offer some versatility on the left if you prefer to keep things within easy reach (here, you'll find one of the USB-As, the RJ45, and 3.5mm audio jack), but everything else is tucked neatly away at the back. Another USB-A, one USB-C with power delivery, a Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 2.1 (but no power delivery), an HDMI 2.1, and your power connection are all laid out here.

Yes, you're taking a step back from the Thunderbolt 5 found in the HP Omen Max 16 and Alienware 16 Area-51. Unless you're really gritty about your speeds or you're connecting to multiple high-refresh 4K displays (unlikely with an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070) you'll struggle to notice the downgrade here.

Keyboard and trackpad

One of the aspects of the Alienware 16X Aurora I was most curious about was the keyboard. The Area-51 model surprised me with one of the most satisfying mechanical decks I've used in a gaming laptop so far, so I was keen to check out Alienware's more basic clackers.

I was glad to find plenty of springy resistance underneath each key, giving way to a satisfying pop at actuation. It's a remarkably precise deck, which does take a little away from typing speed but ultimately more than makes up for it in tactile feel and accuracy.

The 1.4mm travel distance feels tight and sharply tuned to both casual typing and repetitive gaming presses, with a swift return to full height and an energetic feel to the bottom plate. No, it's no scissor switch found in the Razer Blade 16 and it's not going to give mechanical options anything to worry about, but it's certainly one of the more comfortable keyboards to come out of 2025. It's a night and day difference compared to the flex of the Omen Max.

The trackpad is a slightly different story. It's a smaller plastic iteration that doesn't quite have that intuitive snap you'd expect from a modern gaming laptop. Swipe action is smooth and there's a nice (if slightly heavy) amount of resistance behind clicks, but it's got a particularly soft landing that may feel mushy to some.

Performance

The Alienware 16X Aurora sits exactly where I'd expect it to with its RTX 5060 GPU fired up into Overdrive mode and that Intel Core Ultra 7 chugging away in the background. Synthetic 3D Mark GPU tests put it above the similarly-specced Lenovo Legion 5 in easier runs like Fire Strike and Time Spy, while dipping just under for more demanding tests like Steel Nomad.

Of course, the RTX 5070 Asus ROG Strix G16 is well out in front - if you're considering the upgrade beyond the entry-level RTX 5060 configuration it could well be worth it for more demanding titles.

There's also a noticeable upshift in native performance compared to RTX 4060 options of yesteryear. Compared to the similarly-sized Asus TUF A15, the RTX 5060 is flying in the Aurora, with an average performance increase of 22% gen-on-gen.

In-game, the story is much the same.

Starting off with Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Alienware 16X Aurora zips off with average framerates in the high 100s in FHD, only dropping to 124fps in QHD+ Highest settings. That's on par with the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10, and only slightly behind the RTX 5070-toting Asus ROG Strix G16.

Total War: Three Kingdoms represents a larger challenge, where the RTX 5060 in the Aurora only just scrapes ahead of the HP Omen 17 and its RTX 4070 GPU, and we start to see that gap between the Asus and Dell emerge. This is also the first game that drops below 60fps in one of my benchmarks, with the Ultra setting proving too much for this relatively entry-level configuration.

Cyberpunk 2077 really puts the heat on. We're still playable at 60fps+ in 1080p here, though the Aurora is a few points behind Lenovo this time around. This is the only game the two trade places, but the results are replicated across 1600p.

Switching the RTX 50-Series' DLSS 4x frame generation on brought my RT Ultra QHD+ benchmark up to an average of 129fps, so there are tricks in the book to combat the RTX 5060's below-par QHD performance.

The Alienware 16X Aurora matches what I'd expect to see from a rig of this spec, mostly stepping out in front of the cheaper Lenovo Legion 5 but never taking a massive lead.

Battery

Dell has planted a larger battery inside the Alienware 16X Aurora, and it's not quite as power hungry as its Area-51 sibling. That means I was able to bleed a little more airtime out of the device (running at 50% brightness without keyboard backlighting) across productivity and streaming, but gaming runtimes are still under an hour.

I managed around five hours of work at a time while using the Aurora, running it casually between a few Chrome tabs and image editing programs.

Should you buy the Alienware 16X Aurora?

With prices starting at just $1,449.99 / £1,349.99, the Alienware 16X Aurora is one of the cheaper gaming laptops I've tested so far this year. Its RTX 5070 / Intel Core Ultra 7 configuration is nearly $1,000 cheaper than the Alienware 16 Area-51. You're sacrificing a luxury chassis build (but still keeping an aluminum top and bottom casing), Thunderbolt 5, and per-key RGB lighting in that like-for-like comparison. However, the Area-51 will open you up to higher TGP graphics cards like the RTX 5070 Ti.

Compared to similarly priced alternatives, the Alienware 16X Aurora struggles a little. The Lenovo Legion 5 upgrades you to an OLED display and a slightly more understated design, and only performs ever so slightly worse in my benchmarks. It does all that for around $200 less in an RTX 5060 configuration.

I'd still recommend the Alienware 16X Aurora to anyone after a solid gaming laptop with the versatility to perform in both work and play. It's the best value Alienware machine on the market right now, and benefits from the cooling and fan control that this brand is well recognized for as well.

How I tested the Alienware 16X Aurora

I used the Alienware 16X Aurora as my main laptop for work and play over the course of two weeks. In that time, I played Doom: The Dark Ages and Apex Legends outside of benchmarking, while running more dedicated tests across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and Cyberpunk 2077. I also performed synthetic tests in 3DMark's suite of GPU tools; Fire Strike, Time Spy, and Steel Nomad.

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Pointing out entire rigs that are cheaper than single GPUs is admittedly a running gag of mine. However, you can currently grab a whole RTX 5080 Alienware gaming PC direct from Dell for less than even the cheapest RTX 5090 GPU out there. It's also just a fair price considering you're getting a top-end Intel chip, AIO liquid cooling, and 1TB storage space for under $2,000.

The specific build you're looking for is the Alienware Aurora R16 model ACT1250, which is equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, Intel Core i7, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. It's all yours for $1,999.99 at Dell right now, and the $500 discount makes it one of the cheapest ways to grab an RTX 5080 right now.

You can, of course, customize your build if you'd prefer something beefier, and there is also an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 build for $1,349.99 if you'd rather save another $500. The point is that discounts like this mean you're sometimes better off grabbing a whole gaming PC rather than paying over the odds for the best graphics cards, especially while MSRP pricing is out the window.

I've spent a chunk of time with the R16, and I'm actually testing the 2025 version as we speak. These days, it's known simply as the Alienware Aurora, but the RTX 5080 version above still packs all the same subtle space-age goodness paired with wicked specs. I do admittedly miss the bizarre spacepod aesthetic of the older Aurora R15, but the new contemporary design is more efficient and cuts back on a lot of unnecessary bulk.

I wouldn't point enthusiasts towards something like the R16, as proprietary elements like its non-standard motherboard and cooler are a pain to work with. That said, upgrading your graphics card or swapping out the PC's two sticks of RAM down the road isn't out of the question, and since this specific build boasts a 1,000W PSU, it's actually pretty futureproof.

If you really can't stand the idea of anything proprietary but love the Aurora's vibe, Dell also now has an Area-51 model that's fairly traditional. By that, I mean it uses standard components like a regular PC, but still features the same visual case cues that make Alienware rigs distinct. The bad news is that the RTX 5080 version comes in at $3,399.99, and that's with a $500 discount applied.

Most RTX 5080 PCs will set you back over $2,000, and that's why this Dell deal really stands out. Sure, those builds will be more customizable, and many of them will squeeze in more RAM and potentially a higher spec CPU. But, if you're just looking for a straight talking 4K system that will have an easy time running the latest release (yes, even Borderlands 4) without dialling back settings, this Aurora machine is well worth considering.

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Dell is celebrating Inte's Gamer Days sale with massive discounts across pretty much every RTX 50-Series gaming laptop in its roster this week. That means you can save on everything from the cheapest Aurora model to the most premium Area-51 rig.

Prices start at just $899.99 - a rate that would have been difficult to find even on an RTX 40-Series gaming laptop just a few weeks ago. Now you'll find it on an RTX 5050 Alienware 16 Aurora, thanks to a $300 discount from the original $1,199.99.

From there we scale steadily up with each GPU available in the Aurora series, halting at the RTX 5070. That's where one of the best Alienware laptops comes into play. The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a massive $650 off with an RTX 5080 at the helm right now, leaving us at $2,799.99 for an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX model.

Which Alienware laptop should you buy?

I've been keeping a close eye on Alienware's new spread of gaming laptops over the last few months. This is the first time we've strayed from the M-Series and X-Series rosters that have dominated since 2023.

I'll admit it, I wasn't too hyped about the Alienware Aurora 16 when it first entered the fray. It's far weedier compared to the 16X model that launched at the same time. However, with some significant discounts, these make nifty little starter machines - perfect for those after a sturdy laptop for work or school (and some lighter gameplay in the evening).

That still means I wouldn't recommend them to the serious Steam power-players, though. The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a more expensive machine but, as I found in my testing, it works hard to justify that cash.

You're moving up to Intel's Ultra range of processors here, while also staying free to go beyond the RTX 5070 and into the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 heights. As is the case with most Alienware machines, the display still drops behind the competition (particularly the super vibrant Razer Blade 16), and battery life is tight. However, this is a powerhouse of a gaming laptop, with excellent performance, quieter fans, and a super satisfying mechanical keyboard option.

Ultimately, if you're looking to take your laptop out and about with you, the Aurora is going to offer better value overall. If you need a laptop to sit on your desk and connect to an external monitor, Area-51 is your next destination.

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Even as someone who routinely tests the best gaming monitors, I trick myself into thinking 4K panels can't get any sharper. It's only when a screen like the Alienware AW2725Q comes along that I realize I'm a big fool, as Dell's QD-OLED model packs incredible density into its 27.5-inch display.

Originally, the only thing that really kept me recommending the Alienware AW2725Q to players seeking a 4K screen was its price. However, now that it's going for $708.29 at Amazon, it feels far more approachable as a UHD gaming option. It'll normally set you back $900, and this offer beats Dell's own discount by almost $100.

You will absolutely find premium monitors out there that cost well over a grand, so even at full price, the AW2725Q perhaps doesn't feel that steep. But, it is a little pricey for a 27.5-inch panel, especially considering you can get 32-inch screens like the QD-OLED MSI MAG 321CUP for $849.

So, why would you opt for a smaller screen? Well, it all comes down to that delicious pixel density, as the AW2725Q boasts a 166 PPI 4K panel. I originally figured Dell was just throwing fancy figures around to sound more impressive on paper, but once I actually clapped eyes on this screen, my skepticism was completely quashed.

I really hate using the "seeing is believing" line, but I'd say it's certainly the case for the AW2725Q. Upon firing up Bethesda's RPG Avowed, I was absolutely wowed by the game's dense foliage, as even the smallest of leaves felt ultra-defined. Pair that sensation with the QD-OLED's elevated colors, and you've got visuals that pop so much harder than on conventional screens.

The AW2725Q also has HDR more than covered, as the panel provides SmartHDR profiles and True Black 400 certification. High Dynamic Range can be hard to get right, especially when it comes to Windows 11 gaming PC setups, but this Alienware screen hits all the right notes. I was particularly impressed with the way it brought the dystopian hustle and bustle of Night City to life, as Cyberpunk 2077's reflections and neon lights achieved an extra layer of realism.

If you need something speedy for competitive shooters, this 4K display also has your back with a 240Hz refresh rate. I used it extensively during testing to play Overwatch 2, and it felt just as slick as every other premium OLED offering the same abilities. I do think the extra sharpness and clarity do help contribute to visibility when darting around, and I found that I was able to spot rivals a little quicker when blasting around as Pharah.

I'm pretty sweet on this ultra-sharp monitor, but there are a few drawbacks that do hold it back from complete greatness. The first is inherent to QD-OLED panels in general, as since they often use a semi-glossy screen coating, it means reflections can be more of a pain. I certainly noticed a bit more glare in daylight with the AW2725Q during testing, and while it wasn't a catastrophe, it could be more irritating to some players.

The rest of this monitor's caveats do actually tie into using it during the day, as it's also not as bright as some 4K options out there. It was never going to blast you with the same brightness as a mini LED monitor like the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX, but it falls short compared to existing WOLED models like the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, too. Ideally, you'll want to use the panel in a light-controlled room so that it can provide its best results and dodge the blue tint that sometimes shows up when displaying blacks.

If your ultimate monitor setup goal is clarity, the Alienware AW2725Q is worth investing in for its absurdly high PPI. It's also just a fantastic QD-OLED option in general, providing some of the punchiest HDR results I've experienced in a display yet. That said, it is a smaller screen compared to most in 2025, so if you're not fussed about pixel density, you could invest in something larger with the same sort of vibrancy to hand.

• More gaming monitors at Amazon
• AOC Agon PRO AG276QZD2 OLED | $569.99 $484.99 at Amazon
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Still looking for the perfect panel? Swing by the best monitor for PS5 and the best monitor for Xbox Series X for console-flavored options. Or, if it's something extra large you seek, take a peek at the best gaming TVs for living room options.

I've just finished testing the Alienware 16 Area-51, a turbo charged gaming laptop with top-of-the-range components, excellent performance, and a slick new fan design. It's the keyboard that truly has me giddy, though.

I've trialed mechanical keyboards in the best gaming laptops before, but I've recently been burned by the experience of using SteelSeries' keys in the MSI Titan 18 HX. Late at night I can still hear the echoes and pings of those Cherry switches, rattling around in a $5,000+ rig. This isn't the first Alienware laptop to use a mechanical deck, but it's certainly come closest to perfecting the feel overall.

There's a little ping here, but it's far from the levels of volume you'll find in alternative decks. Instead, that noise feels more contained and is easily tolerable when you actually feel the response of these switches for yourself.

On first boot, I actually didn't like them. As is with anything new, I was wary of the change from softer dome decks. After only a short while, though, I was sold. There's a snap and clack to these switches that feels far more satisfying than any other gaming laptop keyboard I've used so far.

With a higher actuation force than typical decks, and a tactile bump to each press I felt faster when typing and more accurate when gaming. Accidental keypresses are almost impossible thanks to that tighter switch, and the speed of that bounce makes for comfortable repeat presses as well.

The Alienware 16 Area-51 also impressed in my testing overall. The rig offers a wide range of configuration options, making it a more well-rounded offering than last year's Alienware M16 R2 and Alienware x16 R2. While its lack of OLED or MiniLED display puts it at a disadvantage against similarly priced options from HP, Asus, and Razer, the Thunderbolt 5 compatibility and rear-oriented ports keep it monitor-friendly.

The numbers speak for themselves as well. The Area-51 battled it out against the HP Omen Max 16's incredible benchmark results, joining it and the Razer Blade 16 at the top end of 16-inch rigs I've tested so far.

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After something a little different? Check out the best Razer laptops on the market and the best Asus gaming laptops I've tested so far. Or, take a look at the best gaming PCs for a more permanent setup.

The Alienware Area-51 is back, but rather than a DIY-inspired giant, this year's iteration keeps things a little more slick. This range now sits at the top of Dell's gaming hierarchy, offering the fastest components in the most premium chassis. The screen is still a downgrade compared to the competition, and you'll either love or hate the mechanical keyboard, but after two weeks with the 16-inch model it's undeniably giving the best gaming laptops something to think about.

Configurations

Dell has positioned its Alienware 16 Area-51 as an Intel machine, with either the top-shelf Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores at max 5.4GHz) or a more affordable Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX (20 cores at max 5.2GHz). Pair those up with everything from an RTX 5070 to an RTX 5090 and this is a nice spread.

There's room for cheaper configurations to take advantage of the Area-51's new chassis, but if you want to pump as much power as possible into your rig (12TB SSD anyone?) Dell has provided plenty of headroom as well. The RTX 5080 inside my review unit can run at its full 175W (with a combined CPU and GPU power of 240W), and once it's revved this rocket shoots for the moon. I won't get ahead of my performance section here, but the Area-51 is well and truly back, baby.

Alienware found itself a little stuck in its previous generation 16-inch gaming laptops. The Alienware M16 R2 offered a cheaper, chunkier body but was capped at an RTX 4070. Meanwhile, the super skinny Alienware x16 R2 could rev up to an RTX 4090 but without the chassis space to truly let those components sing. If you wanted the best of both worlds you needed an 18-incher, here we've got it all in one.

Design

Dell placed a major emphasis on the redesign of its Area-51 chassis on announcement at the start of the year, so it's interesting that, with the laptop open and running my favorite games, I don't really notice any changes.

The top lid features a light-catching iridescent finish that shines slightly blue, slightly purple. It's a neat effect once you notice it, but it's so subtle I doubt many would if they weren't directly looking. The departure from black, gray, and white colorways is appreciated though, and helps the Alienware 16 Area-51 stand out from a particularly monochrome crowd.

Inside, everything looks fairly similar to the Alienware M16 R2, until you hit the Alien-FX-enabled fans up at the top. Otherwise, you're getting the same keyboard layout, embedded in between two speaker grills. Interestingly, the bezels around the screen look a little thicker than previous generation devices, offering a chunkier feel.

That's the same throughout the overall form factor. Area-51 laptops have generally always featured larger, boxier designs, and Alienware has done well to soften its language with rounded corners and a gradual dome-shape to its palm rest. However, the 1.12-inch thickness and 7.49lb weight mean it's not going to be as comfortable to transport as something like the Razer Blade 16 or HP Omen Max 16.

This is a big 16-inch gaming laptop, and it still features the rear cooling shelf that many have come to hate. It's an extra block of chassis that keeps even the best Alienware laptops from feeling truly slimline, and takes some smaller backpacks off the table. Some of that shelf has been reduced, replaced with a Gorilla Glass-covered cooling panel underneath the machine itself. That's a neat feature for the detail-oriented, with a window into the fans underneath, but it's largely out of sight 99% of the time.

The Area-51 line isn't necessarily designed to travel with you. In fact, I have a suspicion this bulky rig is designed to sit on your desk and stay there - preferably hooked up to an external display.

Display

I'm rarely impressed by the displays on Alienware models. Unlike the best Razer laptops and some of the newer Asus gaming laptops, Dell puts far less emphasis on overall vividity. That means you won't find any OLED or MiniLED panels on these shelves, and the 500 nit screens we do have often lack the vibrancy and contrast of competitors.

The same is true here. I booted up the Alienware 16 Area-51 with the hope that the returning hero would ring in a new era of high-end screens for Dell. The Dolby Vision and 100% DCI-P3 color range had me optimistic, and while warmer tones do pack a significant punch here, the overall effect is less impactful than more sophisticated screens. It's also, still, far less bright than alternatives in this price range.

Maybe I'm using it wrong, though. As we'll see below, the Alienware 16 Area-51 comes outfitted with two Thunderbolt 5 ports - perfect for running multiple high-speed 4K monitors. That, combined with the port placement, means Dell has potentially designed this screen to rarely be used at all.

Ports

Everything is located around the rear of this device, and that's a big tick in my notepad. With three USB-As, two Thunderbolt 5s (for configurations featuring an RTX 5070 Ti and above, otherwise you're getting Thunderbolt 4), and an HDMI running out the back you're sorted for permanent and easy-access sockets. Placing these connections out of sight also makes for a far tidier setup and avoids annoying dongles and cables getting in the way of my mouse hand. There's no direct line for a DisplayPort connection, but it's wrapped up nicely in the two Thunderbolt 5 offerings.

Considering the size and stature of the Alienware 16 Area-51 I'm surprised there's no ethernet option included - you'll need the larger 18-inch model to make the most of a wired connection. That's a little disappointing considering alternatives like the HP Omen Max 16 and Asus ROG Strix G16 readily supply an RJ-45 socket.

Still, the Alienware wins in other connectivity arenas. You're dropping a USB-A port and downgrading to Thunderbolt 4 with the HP Omen, keeping all three USB-As but opting for a single Thunderbolt 4 (and a regular USB-C) on the Asus ROG Strix and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, and the Razer Blade 16 swaps out Thunderbolt entirely for USB4 due to its AMD build.

Keyboard and trackpad

If you've been with me on my Alienware journey up to now, you'll know that last year's M16 R2 offered up the best trackpad and keyboard experience of the lot. I loved the snap and softer finish of that experience, so resting my fingers on the CherryMX Mechanical version of the Area-51 was real whiplash.

There's nothing cushioned about this typing experience. Those Cherry switches are clicky, tactile, and incredibly snappy - perfect for longer typing sessions, especially if you hate the mushy feel of cheaper dome options. I started out hating it, I'm a linear gal at heart, but by the end of my testing I've come to appreciate the bounce and energy in these clickers.

There's a little ping to the deck overall, though it's far less than I experienced in the similarly-mechanical MSI Raider A18 HX and doesn't echo nearly as much across the chassis. Each key requires a lot more actuation force than I'm used to on a laptop, or even one of the best gaming keyboards I have in my roster. That means lighter typists might struggle to stay comfortable, but gamers will benefit from increased accuracy.

The trackpad is similarly tight, with a low pressure force-click and a responsive tap. It's a little smaller than you might find on other gaming laptops of this size, but it gets the job done in productivity scenarios and never skipped or dragged in my testing. Anecdotally, it feels just a little stickier than the HP Omen Max 16 from memory, but HP's rig has sadly already been shipped back so I can't test side by side.

Performance

The Alienware 16 Area-51 is one of the more powerful 16-inch gaming laptops I've tested so far, but it can't quite top the list. That crown still goes to the HP Omen Max 16, though Dell's rig can match and outpace the Max in certain battles. The two, with the RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16 in tow, swap places a few times in my FHD and QHD in-game benchmarks. While HP claims the victory more often, the gap between the two is often minimal.

In some instances, the Area-51 even bests the Blade 16's higher-class graphics card. Sure, this RTX 5080 is sitting in a larger chassis with a little more room for ventilation but considering you're spending $1,000 less to grab Alienware's model, framerate hunters are definitely going to be looking away from Sneki for a while.

The toughest test in this roster is Cyberpunk 2077 running in full RT Ultra at 1600p. This is the benchmark that separates the mid-range GPUs from this high-end, and Alienware has firmly positioned itself in a more premium category. I averaged 74fps in this test, a result second only to the Razer Blade 16 in this 16-inch category and a level of power that will comfortably see you running more demanding games in their full glory without having to reach for the most expensive configuration.

Synthetic benchmarks maintain the order of our three front-runners, with the Alienware 16 Area-51 comfortably beating most other RTX 5080 gaming laptops I've tested across Fire Strike, Time Spy, and Steel Nomad. Time Spy is Alienware's biggest success here, it jumps to the top of the pack in this GPU-heavy run, dropping back underneath the Razer Blade 16 and HP Omen Max 16 in the more demanding Steel Nomad arena.

With the RTX 50-series also comes some hefty DLSS features. If you choose to use them, the Alienware 16 Area-51 makes good use of DLSS 5's 4x multi-frame generation, offering one of the biggest boosts over native rendering that I've seen so far. Running Cyberpunk 2077 at RT Ultra with Super Resolution set to Quality, the machine caps out at a (still impressive) 63fps. That jumps all the way up to 197fps (taken as an average over three tests) with Nvidia's tool in play.

Interestingly, when tested in isolation, that Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX doesn't hold up quite the same. This is a top-spec CPU, but its implementation in Alienware's 16-incher isn't handling quite as well as the HP Omen Max or Asus ROG Strix G16. You're still getting a more potent processor than the Razer Blade 16's AMD AI 9 HX 370, but those numbers are a little lower than I was expecting after running through my gaming tests.

That's all with, believe or not, a far less intrusive cooling system. Alienware laptops have, in my experience, some of the loudest fans on the market. I've left gaming sessions with my ears actually ringing in previous generations. Maybe I'm going deaf in my old age, but the fans are actually noticeably quieter this time around. They're by no means silent, and you'll still need one of the best gaming headsets for a pleasant experience, but Alienware is heading in the right direction.

Battery

All that power needs a lot of juice. Despite a massive 96Whr battery, the Area-51 shreds through its charge. I managed just over 20 minutes of gaming time on Doom: The Dark Ages where more efficient rigs can take me up to a couple of hours. Productivity is similarly lagging behind the competition, with no RGB and 50% screen brightness, the Alienware 16 Area-51 lasted just under four hours on its most power-efficient setting.

That means you'll just about get away with running the Area-51 for a couple of movies on a plane or doing some light work in a coffee shop, if you can carry it around for that long. This isn't a gaming laptop designed for portability, and its battery life reflects that.

Should you buy the Alienware 16 Area-51?

I feel like I can see the exact setup in which an Alienware 16 Area-51 will thrive. If you want a gaming laptop you can stick on a desk, keep everything plugged in, and output to two 4K or QHD monitors, you're going to have a good time here. This is a stocky, heavy device, with a display that won't make much sense for those without an additional panel. It's nowhere near as chunky as larger 18-inch devices, so moving it from room to room or between coffee shops is more feasible, but this really is one for those after a home base.

The HP Omen Max 16 still remains the best machine on the market right now, though. It has the Alienware 16 Area-51 beat in display, form factor and overall power, albeit with some port and keyboard sacrifices. The typing experience isn't HP's strongest point, in fact it lets the side down with a cheap-feeling deck. At $3,299.99 for an RTX 5080 configuration (though with half the storage), it's also slightly cheaper than Alienware's beast.

How I tested the Alienware 16 Area-51

I used the Alienware 16 Area-51 for all my daily work and play over a two week period, and that was a busy two weeks. With later work hours and a race to finish Doom: The Dark Ages I was on this machine for the vast majority of my waking hours. I spent half that time working direct from the laptop itself, using the keyboard, trackpad, and internal display, with another half spent connected to a QHD gaming monitor and additional peripherals.

In that time, I stress-tested the system with synthetic benchmarks across 3D Mark's Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad programs as well as PC Mark 10 for dedicated CPU evaluation. I also benchmarked average framerates in-game across both FHD and QHD+ resolutions in each title's 'high' and 'highest' settings (or equivalent). The games used for these tests are Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and Black Myth: Wukong. Each test was run three times, with the final result representing an average of all runs.

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I love playing a game of "spot the pixel" when testing gaming monitors, and even 4K displays can fall short. However, the Alienware AW2725Q is the one screen that has managed to thwart my silly test game at every turn, and despite being a 2025 model, it's been given the Memorial Day deal treatment.

Over at Dell, you can currently grab the 27-inch Alienware AW2725Q for $799.99. It'll set you back $899 at full price, and while it's $50 short of its brief introductory discount, I'm still hyped to see $100 off one of the best gaming monitors I've tested this year.

Keep in mind we're talking about a QD-OLED 4K 240Hz panel, so while $800 is still pricey, you're getting solid premium specs. An incredibly dense 166 PPI count is just one of this screen's high-fidelity tricks, and if you come for the sharpness, you'll certainly stay for the quantum dot contrast.

Compared to standard WOLED panels, QD-OLED displays can typically provide a wider color gamut and elevated brightness. This helps panels like the Alienware AW2725Q pop harder when it comes to HDR and accurate vibrancy, which helps ultra-detailed PC outings stand out even more at 4K. I started my Avowed playthrough using this screen and found that foliage was both super crisp and rich, in turn painting a more magical version of Obsidian's fantasy realm.

Sadly, QD-OLED superpowers do come with a few quirks, as the semi-glossy coating used with the panel type does come with glare issues. You'll also notice a blueish tint to blacks when playing in brighter rooms, which can impact that inky black vibe that makes OLED tech so mesmerising. If you can control your gaming room's lighting, this shouldn't be a deal breaker, but it can be a little annoying in certain environments.

Outside of its visual abilities, the Alienware AW2725Q also happens to be one of Dell's best-looking gaming screens yet. The 2025 line-up wears a curvier pedestal that reminds me of 2000s tech, and the colorway this time around is a subtle purple that's designed to catch the light in a really pleasing way. You're also getting some nice extra features like HDMI 2.1 support (meaning it's a nice PS5 monitor option), eARC audio output paired with Dolby ATMOS, and a USB hub with lighter 15W Power Delivery abilities.

Ideally, you'll want to pair the Alienware AW2725Q with a higher-end gaming PC, as something with a GPU like the GeForce RTX 5080 is going to fill the 4K 240Hz brief without dialing back on settings in new games. My ruile of thumb is that if your rig costs less than your monitor, there are probably cheaper alternatives that will fit the bill better, as there are plenty of strong 1440p contenders like the Alienware AW2725DF that will cost less ($649.99 at Amazon right now) and can hit faster refresh rates.

Still searching for the perfect panel? Swing by the best 4K monitors for gaming or best monitors for Xbox Series X to expand your search. You'll want to peek at the best gaming TVs too if you need something a bit bigger.

With the RTX 50-Series firmly settling onto the shelves, older RTX 4090 machines are looking particularly strong for value. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Dell's latest Memorial Day sales, which has chopped $900 off the final price of the brand's premium Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop.

This is a luxury slimline chassis, but it's still excellent value at $2,699.99 (was $3,599.99) at Dell. You're getting an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor for that price, a pairing that will typically cost you between $3,000 and £3,500 even when the best gaming laptops are on sale. I rarely see RTX 4090 gaming laptop deals straying this far into the $2,000s, and considering the x16 R2 has a reputation for its high price today's Memorial Day deal is particularly surprising.

For reference, Dell is also discounting its brand new Alienware 16 Area-51 gaming laptops ahead of Memorial Day, but an RTX 5080 configuration is still going to cost you $3,299.99 (was $3,599.99) for a weaker graphics card overall. Yes, the chunkier design and DLSS features mean that RTX 5080 could stretch a little further than the RTX 4090 under the hood here, but you're spending $600 more on a rig with a lower-class GPU.

Should you buy the Alienware x16 R2?

The Alienware x16 R2 isn't without its faults, but at $2,699.99 it's far easier to recommend to a wider market. This is a super slimline machine, which is one of the reasons it's one of the best Alienware laptops on the market. Right off the bat, it's going to suit anyone who transports their laptop regularly - far more so than thicker Area-51 or M-Series options. That rear cooling shelf does make finding a backpack a little tricky, but I was able to comfortably transport the rig in a larger bag and the thin profile saves plenty of space by itself.

I tested an RTX 4080 configuration, which middled in its performance compared to other, chunkier, builds. That's likely down to the slimline design. You're always going to sacrifice a little power when you opt for a more portable chassis, but if you're after a machine that isn't going to break your back it's a trade-off well worth making. Plus, this rig packs an RTX 4090 card under the hood, so you'll still be covered for high-settings gameplay at speedy framerates.

Overall, I'd recommend the Alienware x16 R2 to anyone looking for performance value among high-end cards while still being able to cart their machine from place to place. RTX 50-Series rigs aren't looking too great from a price-performance ratio when it comes to native rendering, so it's these older releases that are taking the top spot for sheer cost-effectiveness.

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops I've tested, as well as the best Razer laptops for a look at the wider market. Or check out the best gaming PCs available for a more permanent setup.

Alienware has announced two new gaming laptops joining its lineup at PAX East. The Alienware Aurora 16 and Aurora 16X are set to replace the M-Series as the brand's mid-range offering, while bringing the same interstellar design language as the Area-51s launched earlier in the year. While configurations on the cheapest model start at $1,149, that base spec doesn't just take us to space - it sends us back in time.

Alienware is still shipping these laptops with RTX 4050 GPUs. That in itself is no reason to worry, plenty of media creators and gamers just need a little extra graphical heft but still want a high-end machine feel. However, the overall value of that four-figure gaming laptop against the rest of the best gaming laptops on the market? Not great.

Instead, I'd focus attention on the RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 models. Nvidia's latest mid-range GPUs are available in both the Alienware Aurora 16 and Alienware Aurora 16X, offering solid 1080p and 1600p gameplay with the use of a few extra DLSS tricks.

The spec charts also reveal that the Alienware Aurora 16X is massively overpowering the 16. By comparison, the brand's entry-level rig looks considerably weedier than other brands' cheap alternatives. You're paying close to $2,000 for an RTX 5070 Alienware Aurora 16, with a weaker Intel Core 9 270H processor and a 120Hz 300 nit display. For just $200 more you can pick up an Alienware Aurora 16X with a boosted Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, double the RAM, double the storage, and a boosted 240Hz 500 nit panel.

A 120Hz refresh rate is certainly going to be more than enough if you're only running an RTX 3050 or RTX 4050 GPU, but locks you out of faster competitive performance with an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070 under the hood. Meanwhile, Intel's basic Core 5, 7, and 9 processors are running the show here - the first time I've seen them in a gaming-focused machine at all.

It's likely that the cheaper rig is aiming itself more at professionals and students (the ones who can drop thousands on a new laptop anyway) who want to work during the day and play lighter games after hours. That means the Alienware Aurora 16X is today's real launch for the majority of players.

After all, the RTX 5060 in the Alienware Aurora 16 runs at 80W with a boost of 15W, while the RTX 5070 is capped at 85W (boosted by 15W). Over in the Aurora 16X, the RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 can breathe at up to 115W with 10W and 15W respective boosts on top.

With a 240Hz, 500-nit panel (and trust me, I've tested enough Alienware laptops to know that these screens need all the help they can get), Intel Core Ultra processors, Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 2.1 compatibility, and larger 2TB SSD sizes, the 16X should be where most gamers put their cash. If you're opting for an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070 configuration (the two GPUs shared across both models), it's a no-brainer.

Dell has also learned from some of its best Alienware laptops produced in the last couple of years for this new release. The Alienware Aurora range completely removes the large cooling shelf that has plagued so many portable players in recent history.

The brand first shaved this form factor down on the Alienware M16 R2, allowing for a more compact footprint that actually fits into regular-sized backpacks. The same design is present here, with the addition of a new thermal bump underneath. The "Cryo-Chamber" draws cool air in from underneath the vents up top, spinning it through two ultra-thin fans and out via four exhausts.

The Alienware Aurora 16 and Alienware Aurora 16X are both available in select configurations at Dell, starting today.

If you're more interested in other brands, I'm also rounding up the best Asus gaming laptops and best Razer laptops available now. Or, check out the best Alienware PCs for more Aurora vibes.

Alienware's selection of Area-51 RTX 5080 gaming laptops may have only hit the shelves in the last couple of months, but they're already seeing some significant discounts at Dell's own site. This isn't the first saving I've spotted on new-generation gaming laptops, but it's the first time I've seen Area-51s on the chopping block and the largest price cut so far.

With $500 off the final price, the Alienware 18 Area-51 is the best value right now. Its $3,799.99 MSRP has dropped down to $3,299.99 at Dell this week. That's the same price you would have otherwise been paying for an RTX 5070 Ti configuration.

The smaller Alienware 16 Area-51 is also available for the same $3,299.99 sale price, though that comes from a smaller $300 discount on the original $3,599.99 MSRP. It's less valuable overall, but it's still an early saving on the brand's very latest releases.

Both these rigs are in the running to become some of the best gaming laptops of the year, even without today's offers.

Should you buy the Alienware Area-51?

Both of these Alienware Area-51 configurations come with stacked specs. That 64GB RAM is future-proofing you for a significant amount of time, and the 18-incher comes with a massive 300Hz display. That's all with the brand's tested-and-recommended cooling systems and high-end chassis builds.

These are set to become some of the best Alienware laptops on the market, and with the power of the RTX 5080 under the hood you'll be secure in your investment for years to come yet. That's all at a much lower rate than you'll see from the competition. A similar spec of the MSI Raider 18 HX AI sits at $4,499 at B&H Photo (albeit with a boosted processor, extra storage, and a 4K display).

The 2025 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 does beat the Alienware 18 Area-51 in price at MSRP. It's going for $3,399.99 at Asus with these specs, but that's still $100 more than today's sale price.

Alienware's also winning for value in the 16-inch category at the moment. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 offers pretty much the same specs (though it knocks you down to 32GB RAM) for the same $3,299.99 rate at Adorama, though it's currently on backorder. Meanwhile, the HP Omen Max 16 is $3,799.99 at HP when configured with the same components as the Alienware 16 Area-51 above.

If you're upgrading your gaming laptop and you're looking for a chunky chassis to make the most of those components, Alienware is the way to go this week.

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops on the market. Or, if you're after even more power, check out the best gaming PCs available.

Dell just launched its latest Alienware ultrawide gaming monitor, and this time, its 34-inch QD-OLED curved model boasts a 240Hz panel. That's perhaps a more subtle upgrade over its AW3423DWF predecessor, but the new display also shares design DNA with some strong contenders already battling it out in the ring.

Available now, the Alienware AW3425DW comes in at $799.99 via Dell, so it's far from the cheapest gaming monitor on the block. There are plenty of curved panels out there for less than half that price, but the secret sauce here is Dell's QD-OLED panel tech that has been helping screens like the Alienware AW2725Q really stand out this year.

Ramping things up to 240H is expensive too, and if you're hellbent on sticking with an OLED, similar options like the LG UltraGear 34GS95QE are going to set you back $1,299.99 (although it is down to $796.99 right now, so that's worth checking out.) When you take that into consideration, it's easier to appreciate what Dell is offering here, especially since it doesn't cut back on extras to achieve the higher specs and price combo.

Should you buy the Alienware AW3425DW?

There are so many curved monitors already clashing it out, and the Alienware AW3425DW isn't exactly revolutionary. Sure, you're getting one of Dell's QD-OLED panels that can outperform most other panel types on the market, but if you've got no interest in its faster 240Hz abilities, a generational price cut might make the older AW3423DWF more appealing.

One thing I will say about QD-OLED monitors in general is that while they feature excellent color reproduction and contrast, they aren't always superior to WOLED (the type with a 'white' layer). Ideally, you'll want to use one in a light controlled room since they can struggle to punch through some conditions with adequate brightness, and the fact they use a semi-glossy coating means glare can haunt your sessions. None of that will be an issue if you place your setup in the right environment, but it is another factor to consider before hitting buy.

Let's just assume you've already settled on a QD-OLED Alienware monitor of some kind – why should you grab the AW3425DW over the AW3423DWF? Well, at the moment, the latter 160Hz model isn't going for less yet, so you'll be paying $785.14 at Amazon. Even if you've got no need for extra speed, I'd pick the new 240Hz based on the fact it's only $15 more expensive.

Just to clarify, both the new Alienware ultrawide and AW3423DWF use the same native WQHD 3440 x 1440 resolution. We're not quite at the stage yet where 4K options are a thing in this segment, so if you're more fussed about clarity than immersive curves, you'll want to instead go check out flat UHD options like the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, especially since they can pack even more extras like 1080p 480Hz dual resolution modes.

Compared to the AW3423DWF, the new AW3425DW has stepped things up when it comes to ports. You're now getting two HDMI 2.1 ports alongside two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, and a hub that includes a USB-C port with 15W charging.

I do with Alienware monitors would go the full hog and include something with 100W Power Delivery, as that would mean gaming handheld players will also have access to an integrated Steam Deck dock. But alas, you'll have to make do with what is a fairly traditional hub designed for peripherals.

I want to also pay tribute to Dell's design language with this generation of Alienware screens. Just like the rest of the 2025 line up, the AW3425DW wears a new curvy pedestal stand that adds a softer sci-fi vibe. It reminds me heavily of tech you'd see during the mid-2000s, but somehow manages to also look equally contemporary. The colorway used too is pretty neat since it features a purple tint that elegantly shines in certain lighting conditions.

Looking for more screens? Check out the best 4K monitors for gaming and the best PS5 monitor for UHD displays. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming TVs for living room options.

Alienware has just launched RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5090 configurations of its new Area-51 gaming laptops, with three flavors to choose from on the shelves now. The two GPUs join the RTX 5080 model that originally launched last month, with the former bringing the base price of the 16-incher down to $3,099.99.

These machines are primed to take on some of the best gaming laptops with the latest Intel and Nvidia components and flagship Alienware cooling tech. While that classic CherryMX mechanical keyboard is only available on top-line RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 configurations, the entire suite features the brand's new Cryo-Chamber airflow system.

This isn't the first time we've seen Area-51 gaming laptops on the shelves. The original models strived to bring an element of upgradeability to the best Alienware laptops available, though ultimately proved too restrictive in their list of compatible components. This time around the brand has chosen to focus on raw power.

RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Alienware Area-51 gaming laptops can run at up to 175W TGP, beating the 2025 Razer Blade 16's 160W and matching that of the 2025 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (the most powerful gaming laptop I've tested to date).

That could get toasty, and Alienware is known for its particularly loud fans. The brand has added a new Cyro-Chamber cooling system to the series, raising the laptop further off the surface to increase airflow while increasing the fan size by 32%. Alienware claims its new system is up to 15% quieter with a 37% improvement in airflow.

The new RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5090 configurations of both the Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 18 Area-51 are now available to buy via Dell's own site. There are some quirks to configurations, though, with 1TB storage options only available on the RTX 5080 model and an automatic jump to the CherryMX mechanical keyboard on the RTX 5090 version.

If you're after something a little cheaper, the Alienware M16 R2 and Alienware M18 R2 are regularly on sale for far less as well.

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for a wider look across the industry. Or, take a look at the best gaming PCs if you're after a full desktop setup.

The biggest problem with Alienware gaming PCs has always been their relentless use of proprietary parts. I've heard horror stories from previous Alienware owners about how the second they tried to swap out or upgrade one of their PC's components, they bricked the entire system. Thankfully, the brand has finally turned a new leaf with its latest Area-51 gaming PC, but maybe not quite as cleanly as we'd hoped.

When it was announced at CES at the beginning of the year, it finally seemed as though Alienware was joining the best gaming PCs on the shelves by opening up its chassis and motherboard compatibility to third-party possibilities. In theory, that was exciting because it meant you could customize and upgrade the latest Alienware rig without fear of bricking it. Now though, Alienware has launched the AlienFX board cable conversion kit. It costs $34.99 at Dell, and because the manufacturer has used a slightly awkward daughterboard for its case, you'll need one if you ever want to swap out your system's motherboard.

The conversion kit comes with a 4-pin power-switch cable which you'll need in order to use the case's power switch with a new motherboard. It also comes with a fan power bridge wiring connector and a USB dongle extension. Both of these seem slightly less necessary for future upgrades though, because if a new motherboard and your power supply have enough space for these connections on their own, you may not need to worry. Lastly in the kit, you'll get three ATX nuts for bolting a new motherboard to the chassis.

Arguably, this kit would be better positioned as an included extra with any Area-51 PC purchase. The entire ethos of this PC is Alienware opening up its ecosystem to be more consumer-friendly, and yet, this additional purchase will set customers back even more. Inside the packaging for the Maingear Zero Ruby and the iBUYPOWER Slate, for example, you get all sorts of leftover motherboard cables and goodies for no extra cost. Still, with Alienware taking such a harsh line on third-party components before now, let's praise the new angle it's trying to take. I can still see this as a gesture of good faith to anyone who buys this brand's gaming PCs from now on, which isn't something we've seen previously.

Strange communication and daughterboard selections aside, this is maybe the biggest futureproofing improvement issued to any Alienware gaming PC because it means that your Area-51 chassis will now function like any of the best PC cases.

There's nothing overly complicated about this conversion kit either - these are semi-regular cables that anyone who has built a computer before will likely know, just with specific Alienware twists.

Helpfully, Alienware has also posted a video that explains how to actually go about installing a new motherboard in its Area-51 chassis. I must say as someone who's done a lot of motherboard tinkering and PC building, it actually makes what is quite a daunting process seem fairly uncomplicated.

Of course, like with any PC building task, there are some compatibility caveats you'll need to consider. Firstly, any motherboard you'll want to install in Alienware's case will need to be compatible with ATX12VO power supplies. As you might expect, Dell also can't offer customer support for any third-party hardware you slot into its case, so maybe don't expect any warranties to be in play once you swap out one of the PC's central components.

In fairness, motherboard upgrades really only become a hurdle once in a blue moon. Chances are that if you buy an Area-51 gaming PC right now, you won't need to think about any of this for quite some time. If you do, you may even want a new PC entirely, but if you know for a fact you'll want the option to futureproof your current machine, this new AlienFX conversion kit is good to have.

For more on PC building, check out the best CPUs for gaming, the best graphics cards, and the best RAM for gaming.

Dell has just launched its brand new Alienware Area-51 gaming laptops, but RTX 5080 configurations of both the 16-inch and 18-inch models available to order today. These rigs start out at $3,199.99 and, while we're waiting on additional RTX 5090 options, represent some of the first next-gen gaming laptops I've seen hitting the shelves so far.

Starting specs feature the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor with 32GB DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and QHD+ displays, however there are double-RAM and double-storage options available for both models as well. The rigs were introduced at CES this year, marking a return to a previously established line that the brand ultimately gave up three years ago. Considering that range gave us some of the best gaming laptops of its day, things are certainly exciting here.

The Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 18 Area-51 also represent the twilight years of the existing range. The M-Series and X-Series are due to whirr into the sunset with the release of these machines (and upcoming Aurora rigs), though RTX 40-Series configurations can still be found on the shelves today.

While the original Area-51 label carried the promise of extra upgradeability in those early years, the rebooted line seemingly goes all in on power. With both the 16-inch and 18-inch models slated to offer both the RTX 5080 GPU we're seeing in today's release and RTX 5090 specs, these could well become the best Alienware laptops on the market by the time the year is out.

They join Razer's Blade 16 and Blade 18, as well as a suite of MSI gaming laptops, as the only RTX 50-Series machines to have made their way to store shelves so far, though we're not quite at release day yet. While you can secure your laptop today, shipping dates currently span from mid-April to the start of May.

Of course, I'm also expecting plenty more of the best Asus gaming laptops to join the best Razer laptops on the RTX 50-Series shelves shortly. Or, if you're going down the desktop route, check out the best gaming PCs on the market right now.

I'm pretty much the hardware nerd in my friend circles, so when a pal recently asked me about QHD 165Hz gaming monitors, I immediately jumped on the case. While it's tricky to find 1440p options at that refresh rate for a decent price, I've just come across a perfect Alienware display that checks all the boxes for under $200.

The 27-inch Alienware AW2724DM is down to $199 from $379.99 thanks to a clearance discount at Dell. While the brand is already unleashing a new wave of best gaming monitor options for 2025, this screen is well worth checking out while it's still in stock. I wasn't able to find the 165Hz fast IPS panel at any other retailers right now, and that could mean it's about to vanish from shelves for good.

It's a bit of a novelty seeing an Alienware monitor for under $200 in general, and while it's not the only 1440p 165Hz display out there, it's packing great features. Dell's gaming brand is always going to set you back a little bit more, but I've spent enough time with similar models to know that they're well worth investing in if you dig the aesthetic and want something with excellent build quality.

Should you buy the Alienware AW2724DM?

The Alienware AW2724DM is what I'd call a great mid-range PC monitor, as it's going to serve up balanced specs that will suit 1440p rigs. While you might be tempted to splash out on one of the fastest QHD screens on the market, like the 460Hz Sony Inzone M10S or the 360Hz Samsung Odyssey OLED G6, that could be seriously overkill if your graphics card can't match those refresh rates with appropriate performance.

I've tested a wide range of high refresh gaming monitors, and while you will feel a difference with screens over 165Hz, they'll still feel worlds faster than older sub 144hz models. You'll need to boost fps to the same level to really feel the benefits, but in shooters like Overwatch 2, you'll still gain extra responsiveness that will help improve handling and reactions.

What I will say is that going further up the scale means you'll get a much of OLED and mini LED models. These panel types are still considered premium, but the investment will grant you access to superior colors, contrast, and brightness that are going to make an impression. That's not to say the AW2724DM doesn't boast respectable visuals, but Dell's IPS display tech can't quite produce the same vivid results as something like its Alienware AW2725DF QD-OLED sibling.

Speaking of which, the Alienware AW2724DM actually boasts many of the same features as the QD-OLED AW2725DF. You're getting the same otherworldly design complete with RGB Zeta head logo round back, a near identical bezel, and an integrated USB hub with easy to access connectors at the front. Many screens under $200 skip on including peripheral connectivity entirely, so the fact Dell's screen offers that is a huge win.

As an overall package, the Alienware AW2724DM has a lot to offer mid-range PC players for under $200. If, like my friend, you're rocking a cheap gaming PC with an RTX 3070 inside, Dell's display is going to feel like a nicer fit than more expensive models with faster refresh rates. You're still getting nice speeds and a 1ms GtG response time, so think of it as a more optimized option rather than needlessly splashing out on specs.

Still looking for the perfect screen? Swing by the best monitor for PS5 and the best 4K monitor for gaming to widen your search. Alternatively, take a peek at the best gaming TV options for extra large living room panels.

I’m not ashamed to admit I practically pressed my face against the Alienware AW2725Q during testing. The reason? I was trying to see how close I’d have to get before being able to see an individual pixel on this 4K QD-OLED display. I don’t want to spoil all my findings, but I failed in my efforts to sniff out a single pixel on this 27-inch display, and this screen is absolutely one of the sharpest I’ve used to date.

Naturally, the Alienware AW2725Q has more going for it than a 166ppi panel, even Dell is using that feat to help the screen stand out among its best gaming monitor rivals. The display also boasts QD-OLED innards that aim to provide all the benefits of OLED laced with enhanced brightness and a wider color gamut. It also packs 4K 240Hz abilities that are in line with all the latest premium UHD models in 2025, which makes sense since Dell’s contender will set you back $899.

I hear ya, that’s serious cash for a 27-inch monitor, even one that boasts “the world’s highest QD-OLED PPI.” However, when you take a step back and look at other options within this pricing segment, like the Sony Inzone M10S and Dough Spectrum Black 27, Dell’s pricing makes a bit more sense. Whether opting for this sort of size of UHD monitor is universally useful is another matter, but that doesn’t take away from its incredibly vivid, sharp visuals.

Design

At a glance, the AW2725Q might not look that different from screens like the Alienware AW2725DF, but its getup has changed significantly. Dell is going for a much curvier design language this time around, a departure from the angles and tapers featured in most screens these days. The base is a pretty low profile rounded square that’s almost giving 2000s Apple vibes mixed in with contemporary elements, resulting in a softer aesthetic that’s more likely to fit in with different setups.

The pedestal almost looks like it's defying gravity by balancing on the stand, fixing onto the bulbous back of the screen seamlessly. Dell is certainly leaning into the otherworldly themes of its brand this time around, and I’d argue this screen looks more extra terrestrial than its Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC. Despite this, it still feels like it’s been whipped up to look pretty next to that rig range, with the glowy RGB Zeta head round back maintaining a space age status quo.

One thing you may have missed is the purple hue of the AW2725Q body. In the right light, you’ll get to enjoy this Alienware screen’s “Interstellar Indigo” colorway in all its glory, and it makes for a nice touch rather than sticking with the Henry Ford black approach. Although, if you’re fussy about having a matching setup, the subtle differences could disrupt your hardware harmony.

All the usual suspects, like HDMI and DisplayPort, are sitting under the usual lip. Rather than making a left and right divide for screen and USB ports, everything’s now located near the center, but you’re still getting somewhere to channel cables downwards through two stand holes. There are also two sneaky USB ports hiding under the right hand side of the panel, which makes the built-in hub far more functional than if everything was kept to the rear.

As for OSD controls, we’re dealing with yet another joystick nub. However, the dial is perfectly serviceable and provides menu navigation without too much frustration. I know, I’m just as surprised as you seeing as I’m constantly shouting about wanting wireless remotes to be a standard, but so long as I don’t have to deal with mispresses and mushy controls, I’ll make do with using toggles.

Features

There are certainly monitors out there that pack more physical features, but the AW2725Q still makes sure to pair its QD-OLED panel with some extra abilities. Notably, you’re getting a traditional USB hub that’ll help you hook up peripherals to your rig using a single Type-B cable. At this stage, I’m wondering how long the old connector type can hold out before USB-C completely replaces the connector in the market, but since some expensive displays come with no extra ports, I’m still happy to see it included. Plus, there is a Type-C featured up front that’ll output 15W - not enough to charge most gaming handhelds, but still useful.

On the software side, Dell has given its OSD a bit of a visual glow up. It’s still effectively the same menu included in all its contemporary models, and it still provides you with access to perks like smart HDR, pre-sets, shortcut personalization, and even a direct way to tweak the RGB head round back. So, the changes are simply cosmetic, but they’ve at least kept everything in a sensible place when messing around with new UI ideas.

Since I already mentioned it, SmartHDR is back, serving to add an extra layer of oomph to the panel’s True Black 400 abilities. You’ll be able to choose between a few presets, including Game, Movie, or Desktop, but you’ll be able to stick with native results or calibrate things to your liking using different dials. It’s a handy thing to have at your disposal when it comes to Windows 11 HDR, as from my experience, things are rarely consistent between programs and games.

It’s easy to forget that protective measures are almost mandatory with QD-OLED setups like this. Dell clearly understands the assignment when it comes to preventing burn-in, as the AW2725Q uses active cooling fans alongside software measures to ensure the display can last long into the future. This Alienware screen takes the whole topic pretty seriously, and it actually sort of chastised me with an amber “panel health” status because I skipped a scheduled pixel refresh cycle during use.

That sounds like a bad thing, but while it was slightly annoying, letting the display do its thing for five minutes is well worthwhile. Even if you do try and skip the refresh, the firmware will start automatically adjusting the brightness of things like the Windows 11 taskbar to try and protect the panel until it next gets to have some downtime, which feels aggressive until you realize its all in the name of keeping your screen nice and healthy.

Performance

With every year that passes, QD-OLED panels go from strength to strength, and the Alienware AW2725Q represents how far the tech has come. There are still some caveats to grabbing a Quantum Dot display over a WOLED, like situational lighting drawbacks and some brightness caveats. But, when given a chance to shine away from glare and daylight, this screen packs a vivid punch.

Of course, the AW2725Q doesn’t just have QD-OLED tech on its side, it also has impressive 4K chops since it packs 166 pixels per each of its 27 inches. Again, Dell claims this is the highest PPI yet on the panel type, so you’ll theoretically be getting the sharpest visuals possible on a screen this size. Whether you’ll always notice is fully dependent on how far away you sit from the display and the kind of content you’re viewing, but during my tests, the density helped make UHD gaming feel that bit more magical.

Even just while using plain old Windows 11, text ended up feeling much sharper and more defined on the AW2725Q. I’m used to using QHD screens at this size, and even though 27 inches feels like a good fit for 1440p, you’ll be able to identify individual pixels if you try hard enough. However, with this new Alienware display, doing that is near impossible, even when you do something daft like stick your full face up to the panel in an attempt to physically zoom in (don’t judge me).

I will say that if you’ve already got a 4K OLED display, the enhanced pixel density might not wow you as much during actual gameplay. I have no doubts that it’s contributing to an elevated level of clarity, but you’ll already be used to vivid colors and contrast distracting you from definition. In Cyberpunk 2077, that felt very much the case, especially with HDR adding fantastic realism to the lights and shadows of Night City.

Just like with the AW2725DF, the new 4K AW2725Q effectively provides a similar HDR punch to mini LED without compromising on contrast and vibrancy. The only issue is that in those aforementioned brighter conditions, things don’t pop quite as hard as on a WOLED. The difference is admittedly minimal, and I know some players prefer toned down saturation in any case. But, playing in a room with controlled brightness versus next to a window does matter, and this screen isn’t quite bright enough to punch through in those scenarios.

What I will say is that Dell’s anti-glare coating seems to be working harder this time around. Alienware QD-OLED monitors typically use a semi-glossy coating to add extra depth, but it means reflections are more of a thing. While I fully expected to see part of my office window in the left corner when playing through the twilight-soaked streets of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s opening, I found that it was far less visible compared to the AW2725DF.

Since both the 1440p and 4K Alienware panels feature the same 1,000 peak brightness capabilities, I can only attribute the enhanced anti-glare to the panel's coating itself. It’s still not a patch on the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6, a screen that seems to be almost immune to reflections, but I’m pretty pleased to see fewer caveats tied to Dell’s QD-OLED 2025 screens.

Okay, so the AW2725Q is sharp and vibrant, but what about competitive scenarios? Being a 4K 240Hz screen, this new Alienware display isn’t set up to take on the fastest panels. What it is capable of though is providing more than enough speed for players who like to play fast paced shooters, but aren’t hellbent on boosting fps to match ridiculously refresh rates.

I’m no esports star, but I do tend to notice a difference between refresh rates when playing Overwatch 2 competitively. It’s not always enough to throw me off my game, and it’s safe to say my own daft decisions as Pharah are more to blame for some of my session mishaps. Simply put, this panel’s 240Hz capabilities are more than serviceable and will still provide you heaps more speed than the average monitor, but you will feel a difference if you’ve already tried faster 1440p models like the 480Hz Sony Inzone M10S.

Newer shooters like Marvel Rivals actually feel like a better fit for 4K 240Hz panels since the fps cap is lower. Plus, you’ll absolutely want to keep some visual settings cranked up at least a little so you can enjoy your favorite characters in full QD-OLED enhanced comic book glory. The naturally lower 0.03ms GtG response time included with this panel type always helps keep everything snappy even compared to models with a faster refresh rate anyway, and I wasn’t able to sniff out any latency issues compared to every other OLED I’ve tested this year.

Outside of my go-to test games, I’ve also been making my way through FlyKnight, an indie Soulslike Runscape mashup that puts screens like the AW2725Q to work differently. Less is certainly more with a caper like this, and the contrast between the bold colors against short draw distances stands out phenomenally on a QD-OLED monitor like the AW2725Q. I even found that running around as my brave flyman warrior “Jeff” wasn’t completely compromised in broad daylight since black levels didn’t take too much of a hit or produce the same purple glow as some older models. Neat!

Since DOOM: The Dark Ages is less than two months away, I’ve also started playing through the first game in preparation. I’m fully aware its sequel will flaunt its stuff harder on a 4K screen like this when I get to it next, but the 2016 trip to the malicious playgrounds of Mars feels like an excellent 240Hz fit. Plus, the shooter’s hellish landscapes burn bright on this QD-OLED panel laced with extra UHD sharpness, and the combo is making my re-play feel like I’m playing something that isn’t almost ten years old.

In addition, I've been messing around with Avowed, Obsidian's latest RPG romp, and it feels like a bit of a poster child for the Alienware AW2725Q. The game's luscious, detailed foliage looks good enough to touch thanks to the panel's higher PPI, and its same to say handling big, dense adventures are this QD-OLED display's bread and butter.

Should you buy the Alienware AW2725Q?

The Alienware AW2725Q is one of the sharpest 4K monitors I’ve tested to date, and the extra pixel density helps the panel punch even harder than its QD-OLED rivals. Some of the drawbacks of Quantum Dot tech remain, and it’s still not going to be ideal for every lighting scenario, but Dell’s approach to the display type is going from strength to strength.

While I’m not sure if everyone’s going to appreciate Dell’s pixel density efforts, especially if you like to sit further away from your screen, the AW2725Q still represents what 4K monitors can achieve in 2025. It’s pricey, but if you do choose to invest in this particular panel over faster 1440p options or even larger all singing dual resolution screens like the 32-inch LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, you’ll be getting something that feels fully dedicated to the UHD cause without additional distractions.

How I tested the Alienware AW2725Q

For two weeks, I used the Alienware AW2725Q as my primary gaming monitor while using specific games to test the screen's 4K abilities, refresh rate, contrast, colors, brightness, and features. Throughout my time with the display, I assessed its functionality and design as part of a real setup while using Cyberpunk 2077, Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and DOOM to evaluate performance.

For more information on how we test gaming monitors and other screen types, check out out full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Dell just added two new Alienware gaming monitors to its panel roster for 2025, including a 27-inch 180Hz QHD IPS display and 32-inch curved display. Both are targeting price point that I reckon entry-level and mid-range PC players are going to dig, especially since the former model comes in a chunk under $300.

The tech giant will be sending more Alienware models onto the best gaming monitor track throughout 2025, but the next two to join the fold are a bit more budget friendly. Those of you who're into the idea of a traditional IPS display with a faster than average refresh rate can now grab the AW2725DM for $269.99 at Dell. However, if you'd rather aim for bigger than 27 inches and potentially swing things up to a curve panel, you'll also be able to grab the VA AW3225DM for $319.99. Not too shabby if you're looking for something more immersive.

Out of the two, I'm personally pretty excited about the 180Hz AW2725DM. Dell's screens normally pretty expensive, especially if you end up looking at the new Alienware monitor with the world's highest QD-OLED pixel density, but $270 feels pretty approachable for 1440p setups that require a bit of extra speed. Plus, IPS screens tend of offer up decent colors and contrast compared to VA, so it's not a complete compromise.

That said, I'm not knocking the 32-inch curved Alienware AW3225DM by any means. Many of the best curved monitors for gaming sit in a lofty price range, particularly models with faster refresh rates. 180Hz feels like a nice speed to hit while still making the move to a more immersive 1,500, and Dell's new curvier stand and purple colorway look pretty snazzy.

As for additional features, both models come with a two port USB hub that'll hook up to your PC via USB-A. That's a bit of a standard inclusion, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't craving USB-C and 100W Power Delivery in these screens so I can hook up gaming handhelds. But, at this sort of price point, I always half expect feature sets to be a bit more streamline, and forking out more for additional luxuries is a norm.

Ultimately, I'm pretty hyped to see more Alienware monitors roll out at cheaper price points. The gaming brand doesn't always dish out the more affordable options, and it can be easy to get caught up serving up QD-OLED panels at a premium party.

Looking for more screen? Check out the best 4K monitor for gaming and the best ultrawide gaming monitors. If you're in need of something much larger, make sure to swing by the best gaming TV options for extra large displays.

Dell just unveiled a brand new Alienware AW2725Q QD-OLED gaming monitor, but this time it's 4K 240Hz flavored. Yes, it's not the first UHD panel with such a refresh rate to hit the scene, and it certainly won't be the last. But its $899 price tag could help it claim the throne, especially since it pairs more pixels than ever with extra speed.

Available at Dell from today, the 27-inch Alienware AW2725Q is apparently the first QD-OLED screen ever to hit a pixel density of 166 PPI. That alone more than qualifies it for the best gaming monitor race in 2025, but it's also packing some serious 4K 240Hz heat and some mean extras to boot. Plus, it's got a new curvy get-up that I think looks pretty slick compared to screens like the Alienware AW2725DF, especially since it ties in with the whole Aurora R16 gaming PC vibe.

I've only just managed to get hold of the Alienware AW2725Q for testing, but I'm already completely onboard with its QD-OLED mission. If I'm not using a larger screen like the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, I'm normally sitting pretty close to a smaller 27-inch panel, which means there's a greater risk of spotting individual pixels with the naked eye.

That tends to happen when I'm playing on a 1440p screen, but with Dell's latest model? Even sticking my face up to the panel can't help me identify pixels. It's a striking sensation to say the least, and one that could help you enjoy the PPI of a much larger display in a 27-inch package. Yes, my mom did tell me sitting too close to the TV would give me square eyes, but I have adult money now and my eyes are ruined anyway.

Again, I've only had the AW2725Q for a few days, but it's making a huge impression. Its semi-glossy screen helps its delicious QD-OLED visuals pop while admirably combatting reflections using an anti-glare coating. Over the weekend, I dove into Avowed and used the panel for my RTX 5070 review, and Obsidian's RPG looked ridiculously vibrant and detailed. The higher PPI really adds some oomph to finer 4K textures and things like dense foliage, and I ended up just staring at leaves for five minutes instead of stabbing lizard soldiers with a dagger.

In addition to having a ultra sharp 4K 240Hz panel, the AW2725Q also boasts a double serving of HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning it can also serve as a PS5 monitor, DisplayPort 1.4 for hitting those max refresh rates on PC, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync compatibility, and DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification with Dolby Vision.

That's a nice selection of extras, but I have admittedly got used to having dual resolution abilities to hand. Plus, I'm a pretty big fan of having access to a USB-C hub with Power Delivery since it saves the need for a Steam Deck dock. However, we are talking about a 4K 240Hz QD-OLED for under $1,000, which is pretty neat when you consider the fact the Sony Inzone M10S offers up 1440p 360Hz visuals for the same price.

I'll be putting the Alienware AW2725Q to the test over the next week, and I'm hoping it can reach new heights with its high density QD-OLED panel. Whether it'll become my top display over for 2025 is another matter entirely, as the competition is fierce, but I'm certainly taken aback by what my peepers have experienced so far.

Looking for more screen suggestions? Swing by the best 4K monitor for gaming and best curved monitor for alternatives. You'll also want to check out the best gaming TV if you're looking for a living room display.

Alienware released its selection of Pro Wireless peripherals last year, and having spent the first couple of months of 2025 with the mouse and headset it’s time to turn to the mechanical keyboard. In a time when most gaming brands are adding Hall effect switches to their decks, Dell is keeping things old school. This is a return to the full mechanical clack we all know and love, and while that nostalgia is certainly welcome it’s not quite doing enough to justify its $199.99 MSRP compared to its peers.

Competition in this price range is brutal. The three decks most closely aligned to the Alienware Pro Wireless’s price point just so happen to be some of the best gaming keyboards money can buy right now. Alienware wants its tri-mode connectivity, bold RGB lighting, and thoccy mechanical switches to speak for themselves, but where others are upping the game from a customization standpoint, the brand struggles to be heard against the rest of the market.

By itself, the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard is a nicely constructed piece of kit. A rock solid build quality, excellent typing feel, and strong versatility in its connections puts it in good stead for those after a pure mechanical experience. Problems occur when that $199.99 receipt floats into view.

Design

I received the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard in the brand’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ colorway - that’s black to you and I - but it’s also available in ‘Lunar Light’, aka white. I personally prefer white gaming tech - it just looks more premium and stands out more compared to the hundreds of boring black gadgets on the market. Still, I can appreciate the slightly lighter gray base body and jet black caps here - even if they may be absorbing some of that RGB power.

Don’t get me wrong, Alienware’s deck does a lot to differentiate itself from the usual black bricks that pass over my testing desk. The soft rounded corners make for a more relaxed aesthetic overall, with a gentle slope on the underside providing a little more visual excitement as well. Not that you’ll be picking up your keyboard all too often, but it’s an extension of Dell’s curvy design vibe.

That comfort-factor is compounded by the soft-touch coating across the top of the aluminum top plate. It’s a softer alternative to the cold, hard metal found on the Asus ROG Azoth and SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 and, while the slimline bezels mean I wasn’t coming into contact with the surface all too often, it adds an air of sophistication to the design as a whole.

The aluminum chassis melts into a plastic under-case with a seamless join halfway down the side, with both panels working together to produce a fantastic build quality. This thing is rock solid - exactly what you want for a traditional linear mechanical switch. I never encountered even a whisper of flex in the main deck, and the response to a fully bottomed-out keypress was clean and energetic. Even switch wobble is kept to an absolute minimum across large and small keys - everything is incredibly tight under the fingertips here.

Those old school mechanical switches do make themselves known, with a loud clack to each actuation that takes me straight back to the glory days. It’s a little too loud to truly be considerate in a shared space, though I personally love the auditory feedback in my little den. While there are some dampening foam layers in the internal construction, which work particularly hard to calm any rattle or ping produced by the switches, this is still far from the gasket mounted clicking of the ROG Azoth.

This is a 75% layout, but not as you might know it. Everything is squished into a form factor more in keeping with the traditions of a 65% deck. You’re still getting arrow keys and a full function row, with some extra navigation and media controls on the right hand side. The main alphanumeric area still remains nicely balanced, though, and I never had any issues with mis-presses between keys. It does, however, mean that you miss out on some of the extra features like a display or control dial that you’ll find in SteelSeries or Asus’s boards.

The Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard provides a very slight natural incline due that extended section underneath, with two flippable feet adding extra elevation as well. These are the first keyboard feel that I’ve used to flip out sideways, and I’m a big fan. Unless you’ve got all but the strongest hinges, front-folding feet tend to buckle and fold back into place when moving a keyboard backwards and forwards. Whenever I make similar adjustments with Alienware’s device, the feet simply glide in motion with the deck. A rubber strip also runs along the bottom of the Pro Wireless to keep it in place on a desk as well.

Connection options are a little hidden at the front of the keyboard, and it’s a little frustrating to have to lift the deck and angle it simply to see which device I’m connected to or to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections. Still, I’m rarely tinkering with these once everything is set up - so it’s not going to be a major headache in the long term.

Features

Dell has outfitted the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard with a set of its own linear switches. These clickers are both the deck’s greatest strength and biggest point of contention. At $199.99, you’re not exactly skimping on your new gaming keyboard, so it’s difficult to justify the lack of Hall effect clickers from a pure functionality perspective. These newer magnetic switches provide far more customization of your switch behavior via personalized actuation points and dual-step triggers. They also provide faster repeat presses when a dynamic feature called Rapid Trigger is enabled. Newer gaming keyboards, like the NZXT Function Elite Wireless ($199.99) and SteelSeries’s latest Apex Pro ($219.99), easily throw these switches into their decks.

A longer feature list isn’t always the hallmark of a great gaming keyboard, though. That’s where the stronger side of this mechanical offering comes in. These are particularly smooth, responsive, and satisfying switches, operating at a Goldilocks 40g actuation force for the perfect balance between sensitivity and speed.

While the smaller 75% form factor does limit some of the controls available, the Pro Wireless still features dedicated volume buttons along the right, with a preset swapper in the top corner. This gives you fast access to your five onboard profiles, with RGB switching as well. Having onboard control over these presets is a fantastic bonus, especially if you regularly switch between control schemes on the fly. I appreciated being able to make the change from a sniper position to a full run’n’gun playstyle with the tap of a button, rather than having to tab out and head into Alienware Command Center. It does, however, mean that the delete button has been pushed to the left, which never felt intuitive during day to day productivity.

The squished form factor also means media playback and navigation buttons are relegated to a separate function layer, though they’re all neatly placed around the right for easy access.

Wireless connectivity is also one of the Pro’s strongest assets. A USB-C 2.4GHz receiver takes care of all your low-latency gaming needs, while slots for three Bluetooth connections keeps things flexible across separate devices as well. 1,000Hz polling is nice and speedy for everyday players but those with their sights set on tournament stardom will be disappointed to learn that there’s no additional polling gains to be had from a wired connection. While the NZXT Function Elite relies solely on a wired connection, it runs at a faster 8,000Hz polling rate for the uber competitive.

Alienware Command Center is back in action to set up all your personalized keybindings, configure RGB settings, and enable power saving features. It’s a little basic compared to some of the controls available in Razer Synapse, for example, but it does the same core job. Everything is nicely laid out, with three main tabs for lighting, keybinding, and general settings. I do prefer the single-page layout of NZXT’s CAM software, though this is a better experience compared to Asus’s Armory Crate.

Performance

I’ve been testing a hell of a lot of Hall effect gaming keyboards in the last few weeks, so hitting these linear mechanical clackers felt like coming home. The typing feel is fantastic here, offering just the right level of tension behind each switch while still providing a nicely sensitive actuation threshold. I missed not being able to set a higher actuation for certain keys I’m more likely to need to twitch into, but there’s a reason mechanical keyboards lasted so long in the gaming world. These factory-lubed switches are smooth and bouncy with strong feedback that feels tactile without getting in the way of comfort during longer typing sessions.

That means accuracy and speed are maintained at high levels. I was able to hit my dodges in Avowed just as well as I would on a controller, while also benefitting from a range of quick-tap commands elsewhere on the deck. I also appreciated the slightly narrower design when it came to holding caps or shift for certain maneuvers, as my fingers didn’t need to stray as far from WASD to keep everything locked in.

Battery life also holds its own, coming in at up to 72 hours over 2.4GHz (with RGB switched on), and up to 798 hours without that lighting enabled. With these LEDs engaged, I was able to run the deck for around a week and a half from a full battery - using the deck between seven and ten hours per day, and a few hours on weekends. Asus still wins in the battery department, though, with a massive 2,000 hours of charge in its ROG Azoth provided you keep those LEDs off.

Should you buy the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard?

There are a few gaming keyboards the Alienware Pro Wireless needs to beat. The $249.99 Asus ROG Azoth has long been the best wireless gaming keyboard on the market, and its age means that price is much closer to $199.99 these days. It’s a 75% deck with a little more breathing space, a better battery, extra control and display features, and a softer typing feel. Not all of those benefits are going to appeal to everyone, if you’re after a more traditionally clacky switch then Alienware is the better choice, but overall value is on Asus’s side.

The $219.99 SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL swaps the Alienware Pro Wireless’s cable-free connection for infinitely more customizable Hall effect switches. It’s a much more sensitive experience if you need it to be, and also comes with more onboard controls, higher headroom for faster inputs, and a wrist rest included. If you’re going all out on speed over a classic mechanical typing feel, SteelSeries is the deck to beat. It’s currently my favorite TKL form factor plank on the market.

Then there’s the NZXT Function Elite ($199.99). This is a newer release that also takes advantage of Hall effect switches while keeping the price closer to that of the Alienware Pro Wireless. It’s got a similarly squished TKL form factor, though includes dedicated navigational keys at the expense of media controls, and provides a solid light show in the process. The build quality doesn’t match Alienware’s, and it’s a wired-only device, but if you’re climbing those competitive ranks fast its more sensitive switches and increased polling rate could make it the better buy.

Overall, I’d recommend the Alienware Pro Wireless to players who have cash to burn on an old school mechanical experience. If you don’t want to tinker with switch actuation points, and would prefer a deeper, richer key feel you’re going to be right at home here. It’s not one for the pros, and its far from entry level, but if you’re upgrading to a hot-swappable keyboard with plenty of versatility for extra devices it’s a solid option.

I'm also scouting down all the best membrane gaming keyboards for something a little cheaper, or check out the best Razer keyboards to see what the competition has to offer. If you're outfitting your whole setup, take a look at the best gaming mouse models I've tested so far.

I’m not normally the biggest fan of QD-OLED displays, but the Alienware AW2725DF makes a compelling case for the panel type. Not only does Dell’s 27-inch 1440p screen fully embrace Quantum Dot tech to deliver delicious visuals that can punch harder than WOLED in the right sort of room, it also gently adds a glossy coating into the mix for extra oomph. Is that enough to keep up with the best gaming monitor options out there right now? Well, perhaps, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking respectfully at this striking screen (just don’t tell some of my favorite displays).

Unfortunately, the Alienware AW2725DF is a bit like a vampire – and not the glittery Robert Pattinson dreamboat type. I’m not saying it won’t be up for a daytime date playing some PC games, but it certainly won’t be the vibrant soul it’s capable of being in darkened rooms. Instead, it’ll succumb to some of the usual pitfalls of QD-OLED tech by providing less of a punch in terms of brightness and contrast. However, draw the curtains and you’ll be treated to handsome HDR abilities that many premium QHD panels could only dream of achieving.

At full price, the AW2725DF is going to set you back $899 / £679. That places it in the same ballpark as the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6, and while I’m not convinced it beats that panel in every department, Dell’s QD-OLED monitor is winning me over. So long as its price shifts downwards this year, it should also be able to stand up against faster options like the 480Hz Sony Inzone M10S, and it’s certainly worth looking at over most premium IPS contenders.

Design

Modern Alienware screens tend to strike a balance between futuristic flamboyance and subtlety, and the same can be said for the AW2725DF. From the front, you’re getting that staple hexagonal base feeding up to a curvy pedestal that feels in keeping with the Alienware Aurora R16, all while its dark grey matte plastic finish prevents it from standing out too much.

There is a bit more junk in the back of the AW2725DF’s trunk than I’d like for an OLED panel. The hump feels pretty hollow, and I can’t really work out what the extra space is for besides the usual illuminated zeta-head logo on the right-hand side and a small fan setup. There are some cut-outs for cable management built into the lip, but those contribute to a plasticky feeling that I just don’t vibe with.

On that note, the monitor’s port selection is indeed tucked away, which makes concealing cables easier at the cost of easy access. Reaching from the front to plug things in is near impossible, so if you’re the kind of player who likes to hot-swap HDMI devices out, you’ll likely have to get up and peek around the back. Considering the setup only offers one HDMI port and two DisplayPorts, that journey might be more likely than you’d think.

What you will be able to use without too much strain is the OSD joystick positioned underneath the center. I am not remotely a fan of using nubs for option controls, but Dell’s toggle feels pretty tactile and provides decent navigation. I doubt you’ll end up experiencing many miss-presses with this dial, and while I’d love for monitor makers to come up with something different, this specific implementation is serviceable.

Features

Dell always goes pretty heavy on software, and the AW2725DF’s OSD doesn’t disappoint. Within the menu, you’ll find a whole banquet of settings relating to picture pre-sets, OLED protective measures, and Alienvision overlays, not to mention you can customize that back RGB logo without the need for any additional PC apps or programs. You can download Command Centre if you’d prefer to access things using Windows 11, but it’s far from mandatory.

You’re getting DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification with this screen, which makes sense given we’re talking about a high-end QD-OLED panel. However, the results can be enhanced using “Smart HDR” which tunes things in using pre-sets. I’m a pretty big fan of these options since they provide some customization on top of natural high dynamic range results, and it’s something I’ve made full use of in mini LED alternatives like the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX. Of course, this screen potentially doesn’t need extra tweaks since it doesn’t suffer from the same halo effect and local dimming issues, meaning less intervention is required.

While this display has pixel and panel refresh countering long-term burn-in risks, it could benefit from the same protective OLED measures included with models like the Dough Spectrum Black 32. That specific lineup of screens comes with additional perks like a logo extraction algorithm and menu bar detection, which will ultimately extend the lifespan of the screen by preventing any permanent damage through use.

An extra perk that's included with this specific model is a USB hub that'll hook you up with two full sized ports and a USB-C port for good measure. It's always an appreciated feature since it'll help channel wires to a central place, and the latter connection comes with 90W Power Delivery. It does skip out on KVM abilities, though, so it's not as handy as a Steam Deck dock alternative as some models.

Performance

There’s no getting around the fact the Alienware AW2725DF is a good-looking screen. It has QD-OLED tech to thank for that, but it certainly leans into the drawbacks of the panel type. Compared to some of the latest WOLED displays, particularly the likes of the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B and Dough Spectrum Black 32 with their rival MLA+ (Micro Lens Array) approach, things are a little less resilient to bright conditions. But, it ultimately still sings from the same hymn sheet in terms of colors, contrast, and vibrancy, all while sporting extra flair via a semi-glossy coating.

I used the AW2725DF as my main gaming screen for about a week and kicked things off with a visit to Night City. Cyberpunk 2077 makes for a fantastic setting for assessing a monitor’s HDR abilities, and the neon glow of signage and vendors is really something special on this display. The intentional glare of bright street lighting actually manages to hit some of the same notes as mini LED panels while still maintaining better vibrancy and depth. Colors pop slightly less than on a WOLED, but many of you might dig that things are a little more toned down.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard looks similarly impressive on the QD-OLED panel, and I noticed glowing sigils catching my eye more on the 27-inch screen than usual during the opening act. I was already aware that the AW2725DF would have the upper hand thanks to its Quantum Dot qualities, but actually exploring worlds with high dynamic range switched-on hammers home why you’d want to pick up the screen type in the first place. The only caveat I could sniff out in this scenario is that the screen’s brightness struggled to combat the natural light in my room during the day, making some of the semi-glossy screen reflections more noticeable.

Being a 360Hz display, the Alienware AW2725DF absolutely holds up in terms of competitive performance. Am I a bit too used to playing at 480Hz now that dual-resolution 4K screens are a thing? Absolutely, but I feel like this model's refresh rate and QHD abilities make for a nice pairing. Diving into my usual Overwatch 2 sessions, the panel provides great responsiveness that avoids feeling sluggish compared to the Sony Inzone M10S, but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a visual difference. Keep in mind that response times in both instances measure in at 0.03ms, so you’re getting ultra response input regardless.

The other shooter I consistently dabble with right now is Marvel Rivals, and screens like the Alienware AW2725DF feel like they’re made for the comic book caper. Playing at 1440p means you’ll have a better chance of boosting fps to match the screen’s 360Hz abilities, all while letting the QD-OLED’s contrast and colors bring the vibrant semi-cell shaded battles to life.

Outside of my big-budget and competitive haunts, I’m still diving in and out of the indie darling FlyKnight. The bold color pallets of the weird little Runescape homage really pop against the black abyss of the romp’s deliberate short draw distance, but playing darker games does highlight the cons of using a not-as-bright QD-OLED screen with a semi-glossy coating.

Yes, the gloss does contribute to a level of extra definition and contrast, but it’s easy to see why the anti-glare coating of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 would appeal to players who consistently game in a room filled with daylight. My setup specifically is positioned next to a large south-facing window with not many buildings blocking out the sky, which results in being able to see quite a lot of the outside world reflected in the top left corner of glossy screens. The Alienware AW2725DF isn’t the only screen to suffer in this scenario, but it certainly hinders the QD-OLED experience.

Should you buy the Alienware AW2725DF?

Out of all the QD-OLED monitors I’ve tested so far, the Alienware AW2725DF makes the strongest case for the panel tech. The 27-inch screen packs a far greater HDR punch than the vast majority of displays out there, not to mention it’ll take color volume to the next level if provided the right setup environment. That said, you’ll really want to use this specific display in a room where you can vanquish other light sources to suit, as you’ll otherwise notice a lack of brightness and compromised vibrancy.

My main concern with the Alienware AW2725DF is its price. I’m not saying Dell’s display isn’t necessarily worth $899, but there are so many contenders out for blood on the battlefield that it’s easy to see a higher-spec WOLED panel emerging victorious during the sales. While there are clear advantages to investing in QD-OLED, there also plenty of caveats to match, and if you’re able to get a 4K 32-inch screen for the same money, especially one with an LG MLA+ panel, you’re not going to be left wishing you’d joined the Quantum Dot club instead.

How I tested the Alienware AW2725DF

For just over a week, I used the Alienware AW2725DF as my main gaming monitor at my setup. To assess the screen’s brightness, contrast, and colors, I made sure to play a variety of games in both full daylight and in a light-controlled scenario to check how the panel performs in both scenarios. During testing, I used Cyberpunk 2077, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and FlyKnight to get a feel for the monitor’s abilities, taking note of responsiveness and attributes like HDR.

For more information on how we test gaming monitors and other screens, check out our full GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

Alienware currently has two 16-inch gaming laptops on the market, and with the arrival of portable Area-51M machines in the next few months, they could be heading to the clearance section of the site fairly shortly. These are both luxury rigs no matter which way you slice it, but with the M16 coming in significantly cheaper, and the X16 offering far more in the looks department, it might be difficult to work out which one you should be scouting for deals on. I’ve got both, so I’ve put each machine through its paces side by side to see exactly what you’re paying for in the premium model, and what you’re dropping in the cheaper one.

After all, either machine could be the best gaming laptop for you - it just depends on your needs and preferences - they’re certainly two of the best Alienware laptops to have graced the shelves. I’m pitting the Alienware X16 R2 against the Alienware M16 R2 across their components, price, design, keyboard and mouse, ports, display, and overall performance to help you work out which one suits you best.

Alienware M16 vs Alienware X16: Price

At first glance, the Alienware M16 R2 is a clear winner for price - but it's not quite so simple. It’s a cheaper machine with, as we’ll see below, less powerful components on its roster. If you don’t want to spend more than $2,000, the M16 R2 is going to be your only option. You can spend as little as $1,499.99 on a base model - nearly $1,000 less than the cheapest Alienware X16 on the market ($2,459.99).

Things get a little blurred when you get closer to $3,000. Both options have gaming laptops at this price, but you will only be upgrading your RAM and storage amounts on the M16. This machine caps out at an RTX 4070, which can be achieved at a $2,049.99 price tag. Instead, $3,000 can bump you up to an RTX 4080 GPU in the X16 R2 model - better value over the diminishing returns of the more expensive M16 configurations.

Overall, the Alienware M16 R2 offers a better price for the majority of players - though if you’re looking to invest in a high-end system, the X16 offers better value in its more expensive configurations. You can pump the same amount of cash into an M16 and not get the same payout at the end. This one’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Alienware M16 vs Alienware X16: Components

Dell is using Intel’s Meteor Lake processors for both of its 16-inch Alienware machines this time around. It’s not my first choice of CPU (it doesn’t perform as well for gaming as the Intel i9-14900HX you’ll find in something like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9), but it makes comparisons between the two models pretty easy.

Both are configurable with the same processors and storage amounts, so the choice is well and truly yours - but graphics cards and RAM could bend your decision. The Alienware M16 R2 occupies the cheaper, entry-level seats. This is the only 16-inch Alienware laptop that uses Nvidia’s RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 GPUs at the moment, so if you’re looking to save cash on a lighter Steam library it’s going to be your go-to. There are cheaper gaming laptops offering similar configurations for far less, but we all know about that all important brand tax.

Both rigs converge at the RTX 4070, the mid-range wunderkind with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. This is where you’ll want to be looking if you want solid QHD framerates on more demanding games, with some frame generation thrown in for ray tracing effects. Neither rig ships with a 4K built in display, but if you want to connect to one of the best 4K gaming monitors, you’ll want to stick with the X16. The premium rig reaches all the way up to an RTX 4090 GPU, with an RTX 4080 in the middle while the M16 caps its components at Nvidia’s mid-range card.

You’d think the more expensive machine of the two would offer the most RAM, but it’s actually the Alienware M16 R2 that wins this matchup. You’ll be spending more, but this rig is configurable with up to 64GB of DDR5 whereas the X16 stops at 32GB. That’s a little odd considering it’s using the same processors and weaker graphics options. It’s also worth noting that we’re still yet to see much of a need for more than 32GB in even the loftiest of game worlds. If, however, you also want to use your laptop to multi-task between intensive work or content creation applications, that extra headroom is a massive benefit.

The Alienware X16 and M16 both serve different markets in their GPU configuration options, so there’s a tie in this arena. However, the addition of the 64GB RAM option on the M16 means it just edges into a win here.

Winner: Alienware M16 R2

Alienware M16 vs Alienware X16: Design

Besides the more premium materials used in the construction of the Alienware X16 R2, there’s one glaring difference between the designs of each machine. The X16 still features that massive cooling shelf to the rear. I’ve always wondered why Dell needs to add this extra footprint to its gaming laptops - other brands easily keep their rigs’ thermals under control without adding a whole second shelf. It makes it difficult to find suitable backpacks for transport and takes up far more space on a desk. I was elated, then, when the Alienware M16 R2 shipped without this shelf for the first time. It feels far more compact than its large 16-inch display would suggest and is much easier to carry around as a result, especially considering it’s a touch lighter as well (even if it’s slightly thicker). If you’re looking to take your gaming laptop on the go regularly, this is a massive factor in choosing the M16 over the X16.

However, it’s undeniable that the X16 looks better. The anodized aluminum chassis is sturdier and more luxurious than the metal and plastic construction of the cheaper model, and its Lunar Silver aesthetic is far more visually striking. While the darker grays and blacks of the M16 will blend into more situations with ease, the X16 has that wow factor that can really help a gaming laptop stand out if you’re looking for a high-end experience.

That extra pizazz comes with more RGB options for those LED-heads as well. Both the Alienware X16 R2 and Alienware M16 R2 feature glowing Alienware logos on the lid, and full RGB in the keyboard, but the X16 extends this show to the trackpad and a trim around that cooling shelf.

The X16 looks better, but from my testing the M16 feels better. While the former keeps its cold, hard exterior running through the whole build, the latter switches things up under the hood. There’s a soft-touch, almost rubbery feel to the palm rest area in here, which feels great under the hands during longer work sessions and holds grip particularly well when gaming. I was concerned that things would get a little too sticky when temperatures started to climb, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this material still felt more satisfying than the X16’s even under heavier loads.

Overall, the Alienware X16 R2 looks better and is made from higher quality materials for longer term durability. However, the M16 features a more portable design in its more compact footprint and slightly lower weight. This one’s a tie - if you’re after a better look, the X16 wins, if you’re after a better feel, it’s the M16.

Winner: Tie

Alienware M16 vs Alienware X16: Keyboard and Mouse

The Alienware X16 features a Premium Precision glass touchpad, while the M16 keeps things streamlined with a simple plastic pad. The difference is immediately noticeable. The M16’s tracking is smooth and clicks are fast, but the actual clicks feel softer and more shallow. The X16 has a much crisper click to it, with more travel and a deep, robust feel. The X16 easily wins out in the trackpad department, and I didn’t even need to switch its RGB on.

Both the X16 and M16 are available with Alienware’s base keyboard, though they’re again delineated by their series. However, the X16 can also be configured with a CherryMX fully mechanical deck as well. I’ve tested similar decks (in the MSI Titan 18 HX), and in general they do offer a better snap and faster repeat presses than traditional laptop keyboards. There’s always the risk of ping and rattle in these mechanical decks, though if you’re pushing the boat out with a luxury purchase it’s worth the investment.

Side by side, the standard AlienFX X-Series and M-Series keyboards are fairly similar. Both 16-inch machines feature the same layout (with dedicated volume buttons, a function row, and full-sized arrows), with a tactile snap to key presses. There’s plenty of travel in both models, making for a satisfying full press, but they both bounce back energetically for a speedy debounce. These are particularly nice keys in both instances, among the best I tend to test in gaming laptops.

With its optional extras and better trackpad, the Alienware X16 R2 wins this one - though the M16 still provides a fantastic experience. The only thing holding the X16 back is the inline power button, placed in the usual position of the Delete key (it’s heavier so difficult to accidentally hit). The M16 has a much safer separate button above the main keyboard area.

Winner: Alienware M16 R2

Alienware M16 vs Alienware X16: Display

Both the Alienware X16 R2 and Alienware M16 R2 ship with QHD+ 240Hz IPS level panels as standard. This display makes far more sense for the M16 - it’s a little duller than the HDR-friendly panels you’ll find on other luxury laptops, offering slightly washed colors that struggle to compete with the latest Razer laptops or the best Asus gaming laptops. I can forgive that much easier in the cheaper M16 R2, it’s more than a little disappointing on the X16. It’s also interesting that, side by side, the panel on the M16 appears to be just a little brighter as well. This doesn’t translate into better color reproduction, but it certainly makes the screen feel a little more impactful.

A QHD+ resolution running at 240Hz is the sweet spot for most players, but if you’re a competitive FPS tournament-winner, the X16 has an extra trick up its sleeve. It’s also configurable with an FHD+ display running at a whopping 480Hz. That’s incredibly fast, so fast it’s only going to be worth it to incredibly competitive players at the top of their game. There are no HDR or OLED options on these spec sheets, which means both rigs fall behind the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 in their screens.

The Alienware M16 R2’s display actually runs a little bit brighter on average in my observations and, while there is a faster 480Hz option on the X-Series, most players won’t need to move beyond 240Hz refresh rates. This one goes to the cheaper rig.

Winner: Alienware M16 R2

Alienware M16 vs Alienware X16: Ports

The Alienware X16 R2 gives and takes away with its port offerings. You’re getting the same number of connections across both devices (two USB-C and two USB-A), but both of the X16’s USB-As feature Dell’s PowerShare functionality, the ability to charge devices while running on battery power. It’s a trivial feature, rarely used even in testing, but if you’re going to be using your laptop on the road a lot, the extra power supply could come in handy. That being said, you’re still getting one of these ports on the M16 as well.

You do lose Ethernet functionality (instead the X16 R2 ships with an adapter for an RJ45 cable) out of the box, though. That’s not going to be a deal breaker for those with WiFi sufficient for downloading games and running through daily tasks, but if you prefer a wired connection for competitive titles, the M16 is going to offer a better experience overall.

Everything else remains the same between the two devices, besides from the placement. The X16 keeps that rear cooling shelf, which means you can keep all your cables tucked away and out of view. The M16 does still feature some rear ports, though, and they’re helpfully the ones most likely to remain permanently attached when in a desk setup. I keep my wires to the back and use these side ports for 2.4GHz receivers, keeping that sprawl to a minimum.

The X16 R2 does have some benefits to its port selection and placement, but with its Ethernet connectivity straight out of the box and versatile port options, the M16 wins this round.

Winner: Alienware M16 R2

Performance

I tested an RTX 4080 Alienware X16 and an RTX 4070 M16. The latter machine is running with the cheaper Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, but it’s pretty close to a top spec (and therefore a best case scenario for what you can expect from its overall performance). The Alienware X16 R2 can spread its wings up to an RTX 4090, so if you’re going for a top-of-the-range configuration, expect your framerates to improve upon mine slightly.

As expected, the RTX 4080 Alienware X16 R2 performs better than the RTX 4070 M16 across in-game benchmarks. While this is a narrower gap in easier games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider at FHD, dialing things up to a full QHD resolution and revving up Returnal and The Talos Principle 2 highlights the jump between these GPUs. The Alienware M16 R2 can still comfortably see you past the 60fps threshold in its top graphics configuration, but if you’re looking to push ultra settings in full native resolution you’d be better off with the X16 R2.

Both machines are in the upper-middle of their classes. The Alienware M16 R2 beats the slimmer Razer Blade 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 in its RTX 4070 Time Spy scores, despite some oddities when running the easier Fire Strike benchmark. Similarly, the Alienware X16 R2 sits square in the middle of my RTX 4080 testing pool, coming in ahead of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio in Time Spy, and just nudging the MSI Raider GE78 out of the way in Fire Strike.

Each Alienware laptop draws pretty average numbers out of its hardware, tie-ing in overall performance. However, the additional ability of the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 configuration options in the X16 R2 puts it out in front.

Winner: Alienware X16 R2

Alienware M16 R2: 3 | 2 | 2

Alienware X16 R2: 2 | 2 | 3

Out of seven categories, the Alienware M16 R2 wins three, ties two, and loses two while the Alienware X16 R2 wins two, ties two, and loses three. Overall, the Alienware M16 is the better 16-inch rig thanks to its extra RAM, slightly better performing display, and additional versatility in its ports. However, the X16 offers better performance from its more expensive configurations and packs a much more satisfying keyboard and mouse. While both models are expensive when set against the wider market, the Alienware M16 R2 offers a cheaper starting price while the X16 offers better value for money if investing more than $2,500 overall. They also tie on design, where the M16 wins for its more compact form factor and soft-touch internal deck while the X16 fights back with a more premium build quality and additional RGB features.

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Alienware has a long and storied history in the world of gaming laptops, producing some of the most expensive, chunkiest, and best looking rigs in the game. Two of those hereditary features continue to the Alienware X16 R2 - it’s certainly attractive, and definitely premium - but it’s certainly trimmed down compared to the machines that ran before it. The 16-inch market is a heavy one, though, and with some of the best gaming laptops available using this middling form factor, the latest Alienware X16 has some serious competition.

This is by no means a gaming laptop for all. Its high price point, premium chassis, and luxury extras put it firmly in the upper echelons of the market. It is, however, one of the best Alienware laptops on the shelves today - especially if you’re happy to splash a little extra cash for a true investment.

Design

Very little has changed between generations, with the Alienware x16 R2 still offering the same slimline, svelte form factor as its predecessor. This is a skinnier machine than you’d usually find among enthusiasts, but it’s not exactly the lightest on the market. The super-thin profile is hiding a lofty 6lb weight - the Razer Blade 16 only weighs in at 5.29lbs and the slightly chunkier Alienware M16 R2 slides in at 5.75lbs. Still, it weighs less than the 6.17lb Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9, and is still carryable in a backpack - though I did feel the relief when removing it after an extended period of time.

I received the Lunar Silver version, a lighter, almost white design. A previous black model was also available, but it seems to have been lifted from Dell’s store at the moment. With the new Alienware Area-51 gaming laptops on their way, its return is a little difficult to predict. Still, I prefer the crisp finish of the metal build I received. It’s not exactly understated, that RGB lighting flashing across everything from the Alienware logo on the back panel to the touchpad under the hood certainly makes your intentions known from the outset. However, the slimline design certainly makes it feel more professional than chunky RGB-laden machines like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16.

The top lid is fairly subtle, not counting those vivid logo LEDs, with a simple soft-touch metallic finish and an embossed ‘X’ in the lower left corner. I switched that RGB off when working from a coffee shop during testing, though the large rear shelf is still pretty imposing. I’m not a fan of this cooling vent, and I haven’t been since I reviewed my first Alienware laptop all those years ago. I had hope when the M16 R2 shrunk its footprint, removing the shelf entirely and finally leaving some space for the rest of my desk. Unfortunately, it’s back here - and it’s just as annoying as ever. It means the Alienware X16 R2 struggles to fit in some smaller laptop backpacks.

I also missed the softer finish of the palm rest area in the M16 R2 here. While the cheaper device features an almost rubbery surface that provides excellent grip and ironically feels a little more premium under the hands, we’re back to cold hard metal in the X16. It’s plenty solid, with no flexing to the main rest area, even under heavier pushes, and the main keyboard stands firm against heavier keypresses. However, it doesn’t feel quite as smart as the brand’s cheaper alternative.

Those classic Alienware hexagonal grills remain along the top of the deck, with additional stripes lining each side of the keys. They make for an understated internal design that still has fun with its gaming focus - the perfect combination of class and individualism in its aesthetic.

Features

The Alienware X16 R2 I’ve been testing features an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, which puts it around the middle of the configuration pack. The base model drops things down to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with an RTX 4070 GPU for just under $2,500 / £1,950 - a costly price tag for the power you’re buying. These are premium machines, and you’ll easily find similar specs to my test unit that could well be $1,000 cheaper than its $3,199.99 / £2,999.99 MSRP - but there’s more to the Alienware X16 than its internals.

This is a rig for those who want the headroom to reach higher framerates in a portable chassis, sure, but it’s mostly for those who want to do it in style. The rig I tested uses Alienware’s standard laptop keyboard, which feels snappy and controlled under the hand, but it can also be configured with a Cherry mechanical deck for a super slick experience. I tested a similar deck on the MSI Titan 18 HX, produced in collaboration with SteelSeries, and loved the clacky, responsive feel overall (minus some ping). The keyboard I received is nice and all - everything still feels rigid and secure, there’s no mush or flex to the deck, and repeat keypresses are fast and accurate, but if you’re already spending $3K on a gaming laptop you might as well spring for the boosted experience.

That seems to be Alienware’s whole ethos with the Alienware X16 R2’s feature list. From the massive 8TB of configurable storage to the customizable RGB trackpad, the brand wants you to really treat yourself to this investment.

That philosophy may have been backed up when the X16 first launched, but in 2025 there are a few signs of aging. The display is a perfectly serviceable 16-inch QHD+ IPS level panel running at 240Hz, but it lacks the punch and brightness I loved on the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9. OLED screens aren’t for everyone, but the Razer Blade 16’s display is running marathons around the X16 from both a contrast and brightness perspective.

This is a trend I’ve noticed in quite a few Alienware laptops, their faces are often a little too muted to truly compete with the vibrancy from the rest of the market. I like my games to pop - it’s unfortunate that I’ve also been testing the fantastic 2025 Asus ROG Flow Z13, but side-by-side, the X16’s display appears a little lackluster. I could overlook these drawbacks in the cheaper M16 R2 model, but at over $3,000 this is a considerable sacrifice.

While it’s not exactly a treat for the eyes, the ears are well catered to. The Alienware X16 R2 features two 2W tweets, and four 3W woofers, with Dolby Atmos certification. Straight out of the box, the basslines are certainly working overtime. There’s a considerable lean towards the lower ranges in this default setting, which pleased me personally but provided a clearer audio profile across all ranges with a few tweaks. Some more bass-heavy songs did come across fairly muffled, but these are powerful speakers overall, tuned to a high volume. I did notice some distortion when set at the full 100%, but kept to a reasonable 20% there was a nice sense of texture and force.

Ports are all located towards the rear of the device, which is a massive win for those neat freaks among us. I much prefer this orientation, keeping all those wires and dongles out of the way at the back for a more attractive desk-based setup. Quickly adding or removing accessories is a little trickier (when set on a desk I had to pull the whole laptop away slightly rather than just reaching over), but it’s a tradeoff I would make any day of the week.

The X16 R2 offers a fairly standard collection of ports, with two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 options (a little older than others on the market, but the real-world differences are negligible in most cases), a Thunderbolt 4, and a DisplayPort compatible USB-C 3.2 Gen 2. You’ll get more USB-A connections with the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 (which offers four), and the Razer Blade 16 ups both the generation of those ports and adds an extra for a total of three. I was able to get by with a wireless gaming mouse and keyboard receivers plugged in, and a separate dock connected to the Thunderbolt 4 slot. If you use a gaming headset and like to keep a PC controller connected, things might get a little tight. There’s also a suspicious lack of Ethernet support here - while it’s generally reserved for larger 18-inch rigs, both Lenovo and Razer’s competitors include the necessary RJ45 slot.

Performance

The Alienware X16 R2 is a firm middler, coming behind the Razer Blade 16 in accordance with the price and GPU disparity, but often also being beaten by the more affordable (relatively speaking) RTX 4080 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9. This is still a lightning fast device, it would be difficult not to be with an RTX 4080 at the helm, but it's not topping the charts in the same way as its price tag.

Easier titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider give the X16 R2 a chance to spread its wings. While the difference between the PC's 'performance' and 'overdrive' settings are negligible from a framerate perspective, the system scored highly in older titles like this. Not as highly as other RTX 4080 gaming laptops, but high nonetheless. It's really competing against the MSI Stealth 18 AI in the thin 'n' light category - both rigs aim to offer luxury experiences with a portable form factor, without sacrificing framerates and both were tested with RTX 4080 GPUs.

In-game, the Alienware X16 R2 is comfortably the better performer when faced with the cooling limitations of a more slimline system. Its thermals are better managed, allowing that GPU to run at framerates that regularly beat out the clunkier MSI model at 1080p. Things are a little more squeaky in this matchup when we dial things up to 1600p. Here, the MSI Stealth actually leads the pack in its class across Total War: Three Kingdoms, with the Alienware X16 R2 falling to the bottom of the RTX 4080 pack. Still, these two are trading places, as Returnal's 1440p benchmark proves far easier for Dell to manage.

If the Alienware X16 R2 is simply holding its own in in-game benchmarks, it's striding out in front across synthetic tests. It sits at the top of my testing pool in the Fire Strike test, coming in at 33,420 - beating a similarly slimline RTX 4090 Razer Blade 16 in the process. While Time Spy is a tougher battle, it's still comfortably outpacing the larger MSI 18 AI Studio and the chunkier Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 as well.

I rarely get to test the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, but luckily the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio in my testing pool also features the Meteor Lake CPU. Unfortunately for Alienware, the extra chassis size goes in MSI's favor, with PC Mark 10 results edging slightly ahead of the X16 R2. This CPU isn't particularly geared towards gaming, so it's easy to see why the more traditional 14th Gen Intel i9 chips in the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 and Razer Blade 16 were so far ahead.

Should you buy the Alienware x16 R2?

The Alienware X16 R2 would have been impressive last year, and it certainly had its fans. In 2025, though, the machine doesn’t make quite enough sense. If you’re a die-hard fan of the space-age brand looking for both power and portability, it’s the only option open to you. The Alienware M18 is too chunky to fit into a backpack, and the Alienware M16 R2 caps out at an RTX 4070 GPU.

I’d recommend the Alienware X16 R2 to anyone who prioritizes a luxury feel and a slick design over raw performance - from both a framerate and overall display perspective. There are plenty of players who will have a ball with this machine, especially if they don’t want to sacrifice speed for form factor - but there are also a wide range of machines doing a lot more for a lot less these days.

If you’re simply looking for a 16-inch investment laptop, I’d point you towards either the Razer Blade 16 at a slightly higher price point or the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 at a slightly lower one. Both rigs are configurable all the way up the RTX 40-Series chain, offer better displays, pack more connection value, and sit more comfortably in a backpack. Neither has the pzazz of the Alienware X16 R2’s light shows or sleek build, but value for money can rarely be argued with.

How I tested the Alienware x16 R2

I used the Alienware x16 R2 for all daily play over the course of one week, further testing alongside the Acer Nitro V 14 for another week, and took a week's break in the middle to use the Asus ROG Flow Z13. In that time, I tested across my usual roster of backlog titles, including Fallout 4, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, and Oxenfree 2, while also running Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and dabbling in Avowed for an evening. I benchmarked against Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Returnal, and The Talos Principle 2, at both High and Highest settings in 1080p and QHD. Each of these benchmark tests were run three times, with the results above representing average framerates over the course of testing. I used 3D Mark's Fire Strike, Time Spy, and Steel Nomad synthetic benchmarks, and PC Mark 10's CPU tool as well.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also hunting down all the best Razer laptops on the market if you're after an alternative brand, as well as the best Asus gaming laptops available now. For more portable play, check out the best gaming handhelds we've tested so far.

Alienware isn’t pitching its latest gaming mouse to everyday players, the ‘Pro’ in that product name is doing more heavy lifting than you’ll typically see in other brands’ marketing. This is a speedster designed purely for competitive play, with the price tag to match. $149.99 isn’t particularly out of this world for a flagship device these days - it’s cheaper than the Razer Viper V3 Pro and Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, but it’s still a far cry from prices aimed towards the more casual market.

I’ll start off by saying this is a clear sign that the Alienware Pro Wireless isn’t going to find its way into the hands of most players, but if you are at a high enough competitive level its focus on speed and precision could well pay off. It’s in direct competition with some of the best gaming mouse models money can buy, though, and it does fall short in some finer details.

I’ve been using the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse for two weeks, directly testing against similarly priced competitors, the $159.99 Razer Viper V3 Pro and $159 Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, as well as cheaper alternatives that still subscribe to that tournament-first approach; the $129.99 Glorious Series 2 Pro, $99.99 Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, and $74.99 Endgame Gear OP1 8K.

Design

Aside from the angular lines shaping the long main mouse clicks and soft, light gray Alienware logo on the rump, the Pro Wireless could be an everyday office mouse. There’s no RGB fanfare in this design, and both the black and white models fly under the radar with a simple matte finish and curvy silhouette. It’s a shape I’ve come to recognize in this new generation of FPS-first gaming mice. Gone are the skinny frames and low domes, instead we’re embracing comfort with wider bases and a higher profile. It means those with larger hands are well catered for, but my smaller grabbers feel a little less nimble when battling with the extra surface area.

I can easily spend hours in a palm grip, with the slight cinching in the middle of the device offering a good level of purchase to hit the two side buttons reliably, and the tail end nestling neatly in the base of my hand. However, I do prefer a claw hold and there’s just a little too much mouse here for me to fully retain control during more frantic moments. I have to adjust a little too much weight to keep those side buttons engaged in a claw grip, with the back of the mouse leaning more towards the base of my thumb than it does in skinnier models. Still, that palm grip remains nicely comfortable, with just the right amount of height to keep strain off the wrist.

This is a larger device than I would typically choose for myself, but looks can be deceiving. At 59g it’s one of the lighter wireless gaming mouse options on the market, beating the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 by a gram. It’s not, however, the lightest out of my comparison pool, with the wired Endgame Gear OP1 8K coming out top with just over 50g to its name. The Viper V3 Pro is 5g lighter with all that wireless functionality - but actual numbers aren’t the end of the story here.

There’s a reassuring weight that only makes itself known when you need it. With a set of particularly slick skates underneath and a well-balanced feel, the Alienware Pro Wireless mouse can keep its precision without sacrificing raw speed. It also means that, for the most part, it feels more luxurious in the hand, compared with the initially cheap-feeling OP1 8K. Dell says this is the optimum weight it’s found during tests with esports players and, since this is a mouse geared towards those same professionals, I’m not inclined to disagree. If, however, you prefer to keep things as floaty as possible, there are lighter options on the market.

I’m not a professional esports player, but I still found the shape and weight to be well-tuned with each other. That said, when I first laid hands on the Alienware Pro Wireless, I was concerned. This is a boxy shape with only a very slight groove on the thumb and pinky rests. In everyday play, I found the deeper curves of the Razer Viper V3 Pro to be more comfortable and controllable. Like Razer’s newer releases (and Logitech’s Superlight series) the matte finish coating everything feels smooth under the hand, but does provide a good friction grip that means it never slipped during my testing.

Features

The biggie here is that 8K polling rate. For the uninitiated, mouse gaming mice poll (send information to the PC) at a rate of 1,000Hz. You can get a more reliable response by upping that rate to 4,000Hz - your mouse will send these packets of data to your PC four times more often, ensuring fewer missed messages. A lot of mice also offer this feature nowadays. The Alienware Pro Wireless can up that polling rate to 8,000Hz for an even more consistent response, but only over a wired connection. This is a feature seen in competitive-oriented pointers, but it’s also making its way to the mainstream thanks to the magic of marketing. Unfortunately, the vast majority of players simply don’t need it, nor will they see a difference in their experience.

This is a spec for the fastest players among us, and we regular folk are generally wasting money opting for a gaming mouse that prioritizes such a feature over other, more useful, customization options. However, it’s a feature being quickly adopted in competitive circles for peace of mind. The problem here, though, is that the Alienware Pro Wireless doesn’t do 8,000Hz polling as well as other, cheaper, mice.

That’s because you’ll need to plug in for that full speed, whereas the Glorious Series 2 Pro can have you hitting the full polling rate with just the wireless connector. The Razer Viper V3 Pro needs the brand’s separate dongle to do so, but it can also poll at 8,000Hz wirelessly. Even the sub-$100 Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed can hit these heights without a cable (though you’ll be paying extra for the receiver to do so). Alienware has gone all-in on this speed, so for it to fall short against cheaper alternatives in the very arena it’s placing its bet is disappointing.

Instead, Dell should have been screaming about its battery life. Save for the Turtle Beach Kone II Air (130 hours), this is the longest-lasting rechargeable battery I’ve used in a gaming mouse when running a 1,000Hz polling rate over a 2.4GHz connection. Alienware’s 120-hour suggestion rings true in my own testing - I’ve been running this rodent all day for two weeks now and I still have 20% charge left. Considering both the Viper V3 Pro and Logitech Superlight 2 come in at 95 hours per charge, that’s pretty impressive. Bumping things up to 4,000Hz does drop that battery considerably, but there are settings in the Alienware Command Center software that automatically drop your polling rate when the battery hits a certain threshold.

Command Center is a fairly basic piece of software, but it still provides access to DPI, polling rate, lift-off, battery, and keybinding settings in an easily digestible menu format. I’m a fan overall, it covers all the basics without throwing ads in your face - even if Razer’s Focus Pro sensor means it can offer additional settings within the brand’s Synapse program. There’s space for five onboard profiles here, which is pretty standard fare.

The actual device features everything you would expect to find on a competitive gaming mouse, though its 26K / 650 IPS Pixart PAW3395 sensor is neither the fastest in Pixart’s own line nor the highest spec on the market (the Razer Viper V3 Pro reaches up to 35K with 750 IPS and space for extra fancy mapping features). The two main click buttons use optical switches, but with Alienware’s magnetic-force system that promises enhanced speed. Essentially, two magnets oppose each other on each side of the switch, allowing for a snappy bounce when returning back to their original positions after a press. It’s a benefit over similar options from Razer, Logitech, and Endgame if you’re looking to tune speed in all areas of the experience.

Extra buttons are limited to the two side clickers you’ll find on similar mice, with a DPI / profile shifter button placed underneath. It’s a faff to flip the mouse over every time I want to change settings, and it’s a placement I’ve criticized on even the best Razer mice in the business. If you’re ultra-competitive and prefer to set and forget, though, it’s kept neatly out of the way.

Performance

The sensor at the helm of everything does a fantastic job of keeping up with the action, though very few gaming mice can’t zip across a battlefield these days. The skates underneath and fantastic weight distribution, however, make the Alienware Pro Wireless feel particularly smooth in action. I was twitching and flicking my way through Counter Strike 2 in near serenity, thanks to the float-like feel of the chassis overall and the extra space afforded by a chunkier base. While my smaller hands mean that I didn’t exactly feel as nimble as I do with a slimmer device, like the Razer Viper V2 Pro or, more recently, the Glorious Model O 2 Mini Wireless, I was still able to hit my marks with speed and ease. I didn’t notice any jittering at any of the set polling rates, but equally couldn’t feel the difference between a 1,000Hz and 8,000Hz experience - other than the extra sensation of the cable plugged in.

I was initially surprised by the main click switches, and not in a good way. Coming from the Glorious Model O 2 Mini Wireless, with its particularly short, tactile click-feel, the Alienware Pro Wireless almost felt too heavy at first glance. After a week of work and play, I realized it wasn’t a sensation of weight that stopped me in my tracks, but one of space. There’s a minute feeling of extra depth to these clickers, but the snap of those magnetic contacts was masking the slightly longer travel distance. I generally prefer a shorter stop, so I was confused at why I wasn’t hating the experience of using them day to day. It’s because the debounce is so fast and so responsive, you get the best of both worlds - a more precise initial press and a faster return to neutral.

The very thing that initially had me worried about the Alienware Pro Wireless quickly became my favorite part of the experience (other than not having to charge). Shots felt incredibly fast but I was in complete control of them the whole time, with laser-focused repeat presses that felt both measured and intuitive.

Unfortunately, I can’t sing quite so loudly about the side buttons. A $150 gaming mouse with so much emphasis on a smooth, luxury feel has no business using these clickers. They feel hollow and cheap while also being too heavy in their actuation to truly feel intuitive and fast. They’re positioned in a perfect spot for my thumb, but compared to the soft, quiet main clicks they’re obnoxiously loud and could threaten to ruin the experience if you rely on them day to day.

Should you buy the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse?

There’s a lot that I love about the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse; its excellent battery life, responsive main clicks, smooth glide-feel, and intuitive software. Its focus on competition-level play means its price won’t make sense to the majority of players, but I could say the same about the Razer Viper V3 Pro, my current favorite gaming mouse overall. If you’re an everyday player looking for a wireless mouse that can still keep you at the top of your game you’ll find far better value in the extra features of the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed. You’re dropping out-the-box 8,000Hz polling but you don’t need it - instead, the DeathAdder has a range of additional sensor controls while beating both the Viper V3 Pro and Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 in battery life.

That’s fair enough, the Alienware Pro Wireless is a competitive mouse with its sights firmly set on tournament-level players with cash to burn. Unfortunately, Razer still wins the matchup, with a faster sensor, better side buttons, wireless 8,000Hz polling, and better grip curves on its Viper V3 Pro model. It’s $10 more at MSRP, but it’s also older and those numbers move south far more regularly. Yes, you’ll need to use the Razer HyperPolling dongle for the full 8K speed whereas Alienware can get you there straight out of the box (albeit with a wired connection), but the overall package is better value for money.

That’s not to say nobody should be looking at the Pro Wireless. Those magnetically debouncing main clicks have me excited, and that battery life can’t be denied. If you’re sticking to 4,000Hz in wireless mode, prioritize glide-feel over extra grooves for grip, and always forget to plug your mouse in overnight, the Alienware Pro Wireless should be your go-to.

How I tested the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse

I used the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse for two weeks, running the device for all my daily work while also playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Counter Strike 2, The Sims 2, Fallout 4, and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. I tested in direct competition with the Razer Viper V3 Pro, Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, and Endgame Gear OP1 8K. For more information about how we test gaming mice, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I’m also on the hunt for the best Logitech gaming mouse on the market, as well as all the best left-handed gaming mice available. Or, check out the best mouse pads for gaming to get that glide right.

I've only just wrapped up my testing of the Alienware Pro Wireless headset, so I was surprised to see Dell offering its lowest ever price on the impressive device. These cups have stayed pretty close to their $229.99 MSRP since launch, but those numbers are trickling down this weekend.

You'll find both the Dark Side of the Moon and Lunar Light models available for just $199.99 at Dell right now, a $30 discount over that launch rate. That's the first significant saving I've seen (a brief $5 discount on the white model at Amazon a few months ago is pretty easy to compete with). The sales price brings the Alienware Pro Wireless into direct competition with cheaper mid-range models that don't offer the same attention to tuning and ANC features.

The value in this offer is looking particularly strong. While the Razer BlackShark line will cost you a little less, for example, you're dropping that fantastic comfort, noise cancellation, and slick aesthetic. At $199.99, the Pro Wireless is punching above its weight in features and performance and that's a compelling case against even the best gaming headsets on the market.

Should you buy the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming headset?

I wasn't quite prepared for how much I would enjoy using the Alienware Pro Wireless. The brand's previous headsets always seemed a bit so-so, carrying a hefty brand-name tax and offering the same as everyone else. Active noise cancellation, a richly textured soundstage, and a particularly clean microphone tell a new story, though.

The slick design takes a defiant step away from the space-age aesthetics of previous releases (and the brand as a whole). Instead, this could well be a high-end Bose or Sony set of headphones at first glance. Those soft rounded corners force us to forget about the angular days of Alienware's past, instead painting a more serene picture alongside its soft-touch matte plastic cover.

I was particularly impressed with the level of comfort these cups provided, though. The cushioning feels softer than you'll find in the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (currently on sale for $179.99 at Amazon, was $199.99), while still providing an excellent noise isolation seal. I was able to wear these cushions for hours on end, the oval shape perfectly snapping around my ears but never asserting too much force, without feeling a single pinch.

I'd easily recommend the Alienware Pro Wireless to anyone looking for a particularly comfortable device, it comes only second to the Turtle Beach Atlas Air (with its unique mesh headband system) in this arena.

Audio performance across PC and PS5 is fantastic, while not quite as full-bodied as the more premium SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless it's still bouncy and shows plenty of detail across all ranges. The headset is better on PC, though, as that Dolby Atmos app truly pushes its lower ranges to their full potential. Annoyingly, this is a separate download to the Alienware Command Center. With only a USB-C wired connection, I wouldn't recommend it to Xbox players.

You're also getting ANC features (and a Transparency mode), a rare addition at this price point. The Nova Pro Wireless is one of the few other headsets with the tech packed in, and it comes in $120 more expensive at MSRP. That makes the Alienware Pro Wireless an easy recommendation for anyone who plays in a louder environment - aside from the noise cancellation itself there's particularly good natural sound isolation in these cups and the microphone benefits from both as well.

There's a but here, though. The Pro Wireless does have its shortcomings, and they're largely based in the productivity arena. The cups don't swivel, so placing them into a backpack can be a little spooky (there's no carry case included either). The headset has a sturdy design overall, but I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone taking their setup on the go regularly, especially considering pretty much every other model released these days offers a 180 degree rotation.

We're rounding up plenty more of the best wireless gaming headsets as well as the best PS5 headsets and best PC headsets for extra options.

Alienware headsets have always stuck to the peripherals of my vision. Their space-age cups have sat on the shelves for years now, but it’s not a market the PC brand has invested too much time in. That all came to an end with the Pro Wireless range, a selection of sleek accessories that bring the brand into more conversations with the likes of Razer, Logitech, and SteelSeries.

These brands produce some of the best gaming headsets on the market, and Alienware is finally starting to tread on their toes. The Alienware Pro Wireless headset sits in the upper mid-range of the market, at $229.99 / £221.99 it’s a good deal cheaper than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and Astro A50 X that dominate the top shelves. And yet it’s considerably more expensive than the majority of mid-range options, territory of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, and Turtle Beach Atlas Air.

The Alienware Pro Wireless takes some strong steps to distance itself from these cheaper alternatives. Active noise cancellation, a super comfortable set of cups, and a wider 20Hz - 40kHz frequency range makes for a compelling feature set. I’ve spent the last three months using the latest Alienware cups to see where they sit among the best wireless headsets on the market.

Design

If you thought Alienware only dealt with fantastical designs you can think again. The Pro Wireless is muted compared to the aesthetics of previous releases, with a slimline, low profile design complimented by a soft-touch matte plastic cover and soft, rounded corners. That’s in direct opposition to the chunky, angular frames of yore, and one I prefer for more versatile use. From looks alone, this headset can easily join you through work, commuting, and everyday activities - the detachable microphone might be a pain to keep track of, but without it this looks like any other high-end set of headphones.

The Alienware logo stamped on each side might give you away to fellow gamers in the know, but it’s in-keeping with the style of the headset as a whole, subtle and classy.

That logo sits on the side of each oval-shaped earcup, on a slightly extended section of the can itself. Designers may have been tempted to slip back into old habits with this ledge, but its smooth rounded corners keep those angles toned down and instead creates a more dynamic visual effect that keeps the gentle curves of the wider design.

On the inside of those cups are perhaps the most comfortable cup cushions I’ve ever experienced. The Turtle Beach Atlas Air holds onto the top spot overall in this category, but if I could combine that headset’s floating mesh headband with these memory foam leatherette pads I’d be a very happy player indeed. The contours of the cushions sit perfectly around my ears, never encroaching on the tip or lobe, and provide a tight enough fit to feel secure while never clamping down particularly hard. It’s as close to a perfect balance I’ve ever felt, and despite this material being known for its warmer qualities I never overheated during longer sessions.

That’s surprising, because the actual amount of padding in here isn’t too substantial. You’ll find much chunkier cushioning on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and Nova 5 models - but the difference is this memory foam is much more pliable. That means it sits against the side of the head a little easier, bending to whichever shape it needs to be with less resistance behind it.

At 315g, the Alienware Pro Wireless isn’t the lightest headset on the market, or even in my comparison pool. It’s heavier than the Arctis Nova 5, Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, and Turtle Beach Atlas Air, but brushes just under the 363g weight of the Astro A50 X and 339g Nova Pro Wireless. It’s in the middle of the pack, but still manages to eek towards the top for comfort. While the headband could benefit from a little more padding, it’s easy to adjust and still proves more tolerable than the Asus ROG Delta II.

The Alienware Pro Wireless comes in both black and white (Dark Side of the Moon and Lunar Light if you’re Dell), with an all-plastic construction save for the aluminum headband. I love the finish on this plastic, though - this is far from your average cheap headset material. Most high-end headsets still keep a plastic frame, it’s lighter and more pliable than a slightly sturdier material, but it’s nice to see the Pro Wireless taking steps to feel as premium as its price tag suggests. I much prefer it to the shiny exterior of the Astro A50 X.

The build is solid underneath that coating as well. The headband can withstand a good amount of flexing without creaking and the cushions are pinned to the side of the cups without a single crinkle. That’s one of the bigger benefits over a cheaper headset like the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, which - straight out of the box - presented with some joinery issues around the cups. However, I find the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless to be just as flexible (and more) in their durability.

Everything’s looking good for the design of the Alienware Pro Wireless, then, which is why I was so disappointed with one minor design decision. These cups don’t swivel - at all. For a headset that wants to be taken on the road that feels like a major oversight. I usually put my headsets in a backpack with their cups at a full 180 degree angle to keep everything safe (and preferably in a case, which Alienware doesn’t provide either). Without that flexibility it feels a little too risky to keep the Pro Wireless with me wherever I am. It also means the cups don’t sit well when worn around the neck and don’t shape themselves around the side of your head as much. While it ultimately creates a more durable strut design, pretty much every other headset I’ve tested in the last three years has been able to swivel and they’re all still going in my roster.

Features

There are a couple of features in here that you won’t find in too many other gaming headsets. Active noise cancellation, for example, is a particularly rare offering. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the only other device in my testing pool that carries the feature, and it does so at a much higher price point.

It’s a solid system that works wonders under light and moderate sound loads, though louder, particularly high-frequency noises can still sometimes catch it out. It’s as good as I’ve heard it on the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, though. As with many ANC headphones, there is a faint hum to the overall sound profile, so I’d only recommend using it when you really need to. I can say that fairly easily, though, because even without that extra grunt these cups are particularly impressive in their sound isolation. I can’t hear my own keyboard clacking away as I type this and listen to some chilled lo-fi, and ANC is firmly off.

ANC is easily controlled via a small button on the left cup, where it’s joined by the volume dial and mic mute button. On the right, you’ll find power and connection switches distributed a sensible distance from each other. There’s no chat mix or sidetone controls available on the headset itself, but I do appreciate the simplicity of these controls - especially compared to headsets that load one on top of another.

As is to be expected at this price point (though many headsets still get away with not offering it), the Alienware Pro Wireless supports both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. You can also connect via the included cable, though note this is a USB-C affair (with a USB-A adapter should you need it) - that means it’s not a particularly console-friendly fallback option. Xbox players need not apply, this is a PC / PlayStation / Nintendo Switch only device.

The included microphone is detachable, which means you won’t have to worry about it when you’re out and about. In previous years that would have been a benefit, but now that SteelSeries and the Razer Kraken V4 have started hiding their mics in retractable pockets it feels a little outdated.

While you’re home, though, that boom mic is one of the Alienware Pro Wireless’s biggest assets. Voice recordings and in-game chat is crystal clear, textured, and robust - in a manner that’s only comparable to the fantastic super wideband mic on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. That’s also complimented by ANC noise canceling working to keep your background noise firmly away from your recording space. This also works well, keeping keyboard and mouse clicks out of chat while also taking on larger background noises.

Battery life officially clocks in at 75 hours on Bluetooth without ANC, only dropping to 70 hours over 2.4GHz. That’s a solid runtime that easily beats cheaper options from SteelSeries and Razer, though both the Nova Pro Wireless and Astro A50 X have their own battery workarounds via charging cradles and hot-swappable batteries. You could argue that the Alienware Pro Wireless has its own trick up its sleeve with its 15 minute fast charging, but it’s still behind more premium models in how it handles power overall.

I found that 70 hour rate to ring true during my own testing. During my full battery run (without ANC), I was able to keep the headset alive for around a week and a half, using the headset for music and gaming for between five and eight hours per day. Sporadically switching noise canceling on does drain that charge quicker - the Pro Wireless was dead after five days when using ANC for a couple of hours every now and then.

Everything is controlled via Dell’s Alienware Command Center software, but options in this program are limited. This where you can configure power settings including adjusting the sleep time, set the volume of the main cups and microphone, enable or disable ANC or toggle Transparency Mode, and download the Dolby Atmos software. It’s in this latter app that you’ll actually be tinkering with EQ and choosing different presets. That’s a frustrating split, it’s a small nitpick, but having to rely on two separate pieces of software to alter a $200+ headset’s EQ is disappointing. Most gaming brands host their own settings on their software directly, and Alienware is still catching up in this department.

Performance

Underneath those cushions you’ll find a set of 50mm graphene drivers, similar to those found in high-end sets like the Logitech G Pro X 2 and Corsair Virtuoso Pro. It’s a more stable material that allows for the oscillation of sound waves at higher frequencies to be more controlled, resulting in greater detailing and less distortion at high volumes. Alienware hasn’t implemented these drivers quite as well as other brands.

Unlike the Astro A50 X that benefits from all the above, Dell has tuned these headphones at such a high volume that even a sheet of graphene produces distortion in the upper ranges when pushed to its limit. As a result, I barely made it past 10% volume during my testing - anything much higher simply wasn’t comfortable to listen to and often produced screechy highs and murky lows, with a mid-range that seemed to be caught in the crossfire and lost as a result.

I can’t complain too much, though, with the volume at a reasonable level these things sound incredible. When the volume is kept under control, there’s a particularly energetic interplay between different ranges at work here, with fantastic balancing between them. A powerful low range can thrum up to deep, resonating pumps of bass while the top-end has plenty of space to include finer details as well. I needed to tweak a few settings before getting the most out of this soundstage, but once I upped the bass a little and levelled out the mid-range, music, movies, and games were represented with equally deft handling and plenty of texture.

Horizon Forbidden West is always a struggle for gaming headsets. The game features a particularly clustered mid-range, eeking slightly into a busy low-end with machine sounds. Placing myself squarely in the middle of some roaming beasts, I was impressed with the clarity in the lower-mids - though cranking the volume collapsed the soundstage as the headset started to spin out.

There’s a fantastic sense of atmosphere between these cups, though, proven in my testing across The Last of Us Part 2’s The Descent mission. This smaller soundstage provided a good opportunity for the Pro Wireless to show off its directional audio, but also its textural qualities. There’s enough space in the lower ranges for that looming sense of dread to pervade through this mission, with every lurking enemy’s groans and shuffles echoing between the ears beautifully.

That low end is well and truly put to the test in Doom Eternal. With Dolby Atmos on PC I did prefer my experience at my desktop in this game - being able to fine-tune the EQ for these metal-heavy runs is a must, and without these individual settings a lot of information was lost on PS5. The bass is slightly weaker by default, and the game didn’t pack the same punch as a result.

Directional imaging and accuracy is impressive, with a clear and distinct sense of placement and movement in both CS:2 and Apex Legends. Audio information isn’t quite as detailed as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro in this regard, but it’s still impressive.

Should you buy the Alienware Pro Wireless?

The Alienware Pro Wireless occupies a tricky spot in the current headset market. It’s cheaper than the reigning premium champions but drops a few of those luxurious features, while being more expensive than the traditional mid-range and adding its own extras into the mix. This isn’t the only device in this spot - I’ve recently finished reviewing the Asus ROG Delta II at the same MSRP. It does, however, work much harder than others to justify its position. Active noise cancellation, a supremely comfortable cup design, fantastic sound performance, and a rich, vibrant microphone make this a must-see for anyone looking to splash a bit more cash than usual on an audio upgrade.

I’d primarily recommend the Alienware Pro Wireless to PC players over those on console. While its comfortable form factor could make it one of the best PS5 headsets in isolation, tweaks only available in Dolby Atmos, and the USB-C cable required for wired listening, mean PC players are going to see the biggest benefits. If you regularly swap between PC and PS5 you’re still going to have a great time here, with the added benefit of ANC and a more versatile form factor.

If you want more flexible microphone integration, the freedom of a hot-swappable battery (no more charging), and still excellent audio quality, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is still the better buy, and current sale prices tend to dip it down to around $279.99 at the moment anyway.

How I tested the Alienware Pro Wireless

I used the Alienware Pro Wireless over a period of three months, testing alongside the Asus ROG Delta II and SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. During that time I spent one month exclusively using the Pro Wireless for all daily work and play, primarily running the headset across Ghostwire Tokyo (PS5, PC), Fallout 4 (PC), Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (PC), Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC), and Oxenfree 2 (PC). I also performed our usual tests across Horizon Forbidden West (PS5), The Last of Us Part 2 (PS5), Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5), Doom Eternal (PC, PS5), and both CS2 and Apex Legends (PC). For more information on how we test gaming headsets, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also rounding up all the best Xbox Series X headsets as well as the best Nintendo Switch headsets - or check out more of the best PC headsets on the market.

Generally speaking, I'd put any PC purchases or rig upgrades on pause right now ahead of the RTX 5090 launch. However, Dell has discounted its Alienware Aurora R16 in such a way that it's impossible to ignore, especially since it's rocking an RTX 4090, Core i9 14900KF CPU, 32GB RAM, and might end up costing the same as custom Blackwell GPUs.

Here's the skinny - you can grab the Alienware Aurora R16 at Dell right now for $2,899.99. It'll normally set you back $3,699.99, which makes sense given the caliber of components dwelling within its ominous black case. But, the $800 discount means that you're getting a monstrous rig for under $3,000, which is still a lot, but perhaps pretty reasonable since those of you looking to pre-order the RTX 5090 will pay at least $2,000.

I say at least, as it's easy to forget that custom graphics cards come with their own MSRP. If you don't end up with Nvidia's Founders Edition model, you could be looking at a much higher price tag. I don't have exact figures yet, but there's a strong possibility you'll be looking at closer to the three grand mark. Simply put, potential pricing puts this Alienware Aurora R16 deal into perspective seeing as it's an entire premium machine.

Should you buy the Alienware Aurora R16?

It's certainly a strange time to recommend the Alienware Aurora R16, but I stand by it being one of the best Alienware gaming PCs yet. Dell seems to think so too, as its upcoming Aurora 2025 model and new Area-51 models are going to effectively use the same blueprint, with the latter only standing out due to its more standard innards.

It's probably a good time to note that even though you'll soon be able to buy an RTX 5070 GPU that can supposedly keep up with the current flagship, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is still a beastly GPU. Even those of you picking up an RTX 5080 likely won't be steamrolling the current frontrunner in terms of native FPS, and the Alienware Aurora R16 makes great use of the powerhouse card. We're talking over 111fps in Cyberpunk 2077 with 4K Ultra settings enabled, and DLSS 3.5 tricks help give frame rates an extra kick where compatible.

Now, here's the tricky part - the RTX 4090 won't be compatible with Nvidia's new Multi-Frame Generation tech included with DLSS 4. You'll need a shiny new Blackwell GPU for that, and depending on how widely adopted the AI tech becomes, you might feel a performance difference down the road. Will splashing out closer to $4,000 on an Alienware Aurora with that card inside be worth it? Only if you're an enthusiast that likes fussing over reaching new performance heights. And besides, if that's you, the last thing you'd probably do is pick up Dell's not-so-upgrade-friendly machine.

What I'm getting at is that the Alienware Aurora R16 is for players who are willing to pay top dollar for incredible 4K performance, but would rather avoid used car pricing. I can see this specific RTX 4090 rig lasting players a pretty long time before system requirements remotely become an issue, not to mention you're getting a rig with water cooling, a top-end Intel CPU, and a chonky 2TB SSD.

If you've got the cash, you could do much worse than the Aurora R16. I won't remotely judge those of you who are willing to pay more for an RTX 5090 build or even a single graphics card, but I think it's worth doing some system soul searching first.

Looking to upgrade your rig? Check out the best gaming CPU and best RAM for gaming. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming handheld for portable PCs you can take on the go.

Competition in the 4K gaming monitor space is heating up, but the Alienware AW3225QF is sitting pretty at the top thanks to its 240Hz abilities. It just so happens to also be back down to its lowest ever price right now, and it's well worth your attention seeing as its a curved QD-OLED panel.

At Dell, you can grab the 32-inch Alienware AW3225QF for $899.99 thanks to a chonky $300 discount. This is actually only the second time this specific model has reached under $900, as it leaped back up in price just before Black Friday. Not too shabby considering we're just weeks into 2025 and it's still what I'd describe as one of the best 4K monitors for gaming.

Plus, this Alienware AW3225QF offer helps put other 4K price cuts into perspective. For instance, you can pick up the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 for $1,099.99 at Amazon right now, I would argue you're better off spending $200 less for Dell's take on QD-OLED tech. That's not to say the G8 is a bad monitor, very far from it, but specs are certainly on the Alienware model's side.

Should you buy the Alienware AW3225QF?

I have a thing for big 4K monitors, and the Alienware AW3225QF is out to impress with its 4K 240Hz QD-OLED panel. Dell hasn't remotely held back on spec with this curved model, and it's the type of gaming monitor you'd want to have to hand if you're going to pre-order the RTX 5090 or buy an RTX 5080 when the new-gen GPUs arrive.

This is also a screen that'll satiate anyone craving an extra level of PC immersion. Dell's 1700R curved panel is going to fill your field of view with exceptional visuals that pop thanks to the QD-OLED side of things, while DisplayHDR 400 will trick your eyes into believing lighting effects. Even if you're looking for a PS5 monitor, this screen will fill that brief too thanks to its HDMI 2.1 compatibility and low latency abilities, although I'd only do that if you use Sony's console at a gaming desk since it's a curvy panel.

That said, its illustrious specs also serve as a reason not to pick this monitor up. That might sound a little odd, but hear me out, as I'm trying to stop some of you more budget inclined gamers out there needlessly splashing out. Yes, the QD-OLED screen is going to inject your favorite PC games with vivid colors and contrast regardless, but if you're rocking a cheaper build, chances are you're not going to be pushing 4K 240Hz.

With that in mind, anyone with a cheaper graphics card or a more budget gaming PC should have a peek at lower-spec models instead. Dell has also discounted one of our best gaming monitor picks, the 34-inch Alienware AW3423DW, bringing it down to $649.99 from $899.99. It's packing the same QD-OLED heat as the 4K model, but dials things back to 1440p 165Hz - a more reasonable bar to try and hit using a midrange PC.

Ultimately, you'll want to think carefully about whether you need a 4K 240Hz monitor before splashing out on the Alienware AW3225QF. Now is certainly the time to strike if you are able to play the latest games with maxed out specs and zero settings compromise. However, I'd always match your screen desires to specs before going deal hunting, as that'll be the thing that'll save you more pennies.

Looking for more displays? Check out the best ultrawide monitor and best monitor for Xbox Series X. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming TV for larger living room options.

I've been waiting on an Alienware gaming handheld for years now, and Dell just finally explained why it doesn't exist yet. Before you get too excited, the PC maker isn't about to release a Steam Deck rival, but it says it's a "space we are looking at pretty heavily."

In a recent CES 2025 press briefing, Indian Express (paywalled article) delves into Alienware gaming handheld comments made by General Manager Matt McGowan. Rather than diving straight into portable PCs, the Dell GM first conceded that the Switch has a "clear advantage" within the scene. He then praises the console for featuring a lightweight design and providing a "seamless experience" in terms of games and software - two reasons why it's still my best gaming handheld pick overall even in 2025.

As for McGowan's take on handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED, he believes that portable PCs don't "quite meet all those factors." He then serves up a sort of backhanded comment by stating they "do an okay job," before proclaiming he isn't satisfied with that.

Ultimately, the Dell GM shoots down any notion of an Alienware handheld using the current format. He recognizes that "people are willing to accept those deficiencies," in systems like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, but affirms that it's "not a step we are willing to take yet." McGowan rounds off the comment with a bit of a quip, suggesting the company doesn't want to say "Hey, consumer, this is good enough, right?" while presenting a portable PC on par with current options.

Will Dell release an Alienware handheld gaming PC?

Dell hasn't outright dismissed the idea of an Alienware gaming handheld, but the company appears hesitant to enter the space. It's clear to me that the PC brand has thought long and hard about the format in general, and all signs point towards it not wanting to come third to the Switch and Steam Deck.

That's not to say we won't see an Alienware handheld gaming PC eventually. It's more that Dell will want to offer a balanced device without glaring caveats. I love devices like the Steam Deck, but trade-offs like battery life give the hardware genre an experimental vibe.

Do I think it's possible to build a portable PC with no pitfalls? The short answer is no, and I don't think aiming for such heights is productive. Rather than using the notion that the Switch performance "meets expectations for the Nintendo ecosystem," as a reason not to compete with the Steam Deck, I'd prefer to see Alienware innovate within the handheld space by serving the growing player base an elevated experience.

Why can't Dell be the company to better balance runtime and portable PC performance? Perhaps it feels like current APU and battery life tech isn't quite up to scratch yet. I'll be asking myself that very question as I get hands-on with new AMD Ryzen Z2 devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S, especially since the launch marks a new generation of handheld gaming PCs.

Already got Valve's handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock. Alternatively, check out the best Alienware gaming PC if you want an out of this world rig.

Dell just revealed two new Alienware gaming PCs at CES 2025, but one of them could break the brand's upgradability curse. While I'm naturally excited about the latest Aurora build and what the RTX 5090 can help it achieve, the company is also cooking up a new Area 51 system that's designed specifically with upgradability in mind.

Rather than simply releasing a new Alienware Aurora R17 and calling it a day, Dell has instead announced both a 2025 successor to the Aurora R16 and an "Area 51" version it dubs as its "highest performance desktop." At a glance, that latter model looks like last year's rig with a silver paint job, but its innards bring non-custom sensibilities and a standard ATX motherboard to the table.

Dell says the new Area 51 model caters to "PC gamers, technology enthusiasts, and even gamers who enjoy engaging in a DIY approach to desktops." I'd normally raise an eyebrow at that last claim, but the machine's new motherboard and wide AIO cooler compatibility means it's as customizable as an ordinary rig. Even it's PSU is "industry standard", with Dell providing 800W and 1,500W options.

In addition to being more upgradable, Dell claims its layout choices for the Area 51 help it run up to 13% cooler and "45% quieter." In turn, that improves airflow by up to 25%, which naturally aids its Intel Core Ultra CPU in terms of performance capabilities.

In a nut shell, the Area 51 is a "standard" gaming PC that looks like an Alienware rig. Everything from its 2.5-inch and 2.5-inch storage caddies to its three M.2 SSD slots to its extra headroom for longer graphics cards make this build feel as customizable as any other, which should help entice anyone who was previous put off by Dell's more proprietary designs.

Of course, if you're merely looking for a successor to the R16 with a shiny new GPU and processor inside, you'll still be able to pick up an "Aurora R17." Dell has seemingly dropped the number moniker, instead referring to the machine as the "2025" version. Basically, this is a revamped Alienware with an Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU, an Intel Core Ultra CPU, and up to 64GB DDR5 VRAM, but takes up 55% less space than its Area 51 sibling.

Will the Area 51 change Alienware as we know it?

I'll be putting both the new Alienware Area 51 and Aurora 2025 to the test ASAP, but part of me is wondering whether Dell is currently at a crossroads. While I get that the company is pitching both a mid-size boutique desktop as well as a more customizable machine that targets enthusiasts, both systems are providing access to mostly the same components.

Naturally, I'd want to advise grabbing the Area 51 based on upgradability alone, but sticking with the more traditional Aurora build could save you some pennies. I'm still waiting for entry-level model pricing, but the top end build will set you back $4,499, which is actually cheaper than Dell's $4,694.99 R16 price at launch.

If the Aurora is able to offer up an RTX 5090 and a 14th gen Intel chipset for significantly less than that, I'd perhaps be inclined to trade away upgradability perks. Sure, Dell's proprietary motherboard is a bit of a pain when it comes to sizing, but it is still possible to swap out its two DIMM sticks of RAM and its GPU. So long as you're not looking to massive overhaul cooling or change fundamental components, the would-be R17 could end up winning if it bears the right price tag.

Looking to upgrade your system? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best gaming RAM options for ways to revamp your rig. You'll also want to peek at the best SSDs if you're in need of more storage.

Alienware's Area-51 gaming laptops have been absent for the shelves for years now, with the most recent Area-51 MR2 only ever seeing an RTX 20-Series graphics card. The brand is bringing the beast back to town this year, with a new range of 16-inch and 18-inch machines sporting Nvidia's 2025 GPU set and Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX and Ultra 9 275HX processors.

The 18-incher will launch with Alienware's latest quad fan design, propelling up to 37% more air through the system while also reducing operating noise by 15%. Throwing those top of the range components in with a total power level of 280W (10W more than the Alienware M18 R2) will make for a seriously speedy machine. On paper, this looks like one of the best gaming laptops heading our way in 2025, especially if the prestige of previous Alienware Area-51 rigs holds up.

There's enough power in here to send the Area-51 to the moon and back, and in true Alienware fashion the brand has kitted its machine out with true space vibes. An anodized metallic chassis reflects light in a manner inspired by the aurora borealis. That's combined with that classic Alienware RGB running through the rear cooling shelf and logo. There's more from those LEDs as well - a window beneath the main chassis reveals the internal fan system with full AlienFX lighting. It's not going to be seen too much during everyday use, but it's a continued nod to the PC / laptop hybrid system of the original Area-51 machines.

The 18-inch Alienware Area-51 will ship with a QHD+ display running at a blistering 300Hz refresh rate, while the 16-inch model bumps that speed down to 240Hz.

Dell is keeping quiet on upgradeability. The original Area-51m machines launched with that sweet promise of future proofing - a promise that was never particularly fulfilled. Limited upgrade options meant that these components could only be swapped out for a select few options, a disappointment that eventually saw the model phased from the shelves. Last year's Alienware M16 R2 and Alienware M18 machines are staying put on the shelves for now (though with new Nvidia GPUs on the market we could see further refreshes in a few months time), so the Area-51 is looking to satisfy those after extra power rather than upgradeability at the moment.

The 2025 Area-51 will join both of these Alienware gaming laptops in Q1 of this year, with high-end configurations at $3,199. The base model will follow with entry level components at $1,999.

Keeping an eye on the other brands this CES? We're also rounding up all the best Razer laptops and best Asus gaming laptops on the market. Or, for something more permanent, take a look at the best Alienware PCs available.

Dell is a big players in annual sales each year, and we're already seeing Black Friday Alienware deals picking up in the last few weeks. The retailer's site plays host to doorbuster offers ahead of the main event before opening its shelves for a full discounting bonanza from the start of Thanksgiving week.

We typically see everything from the brand's best gaming laptops to high-end configurations of Alienware Aurora gaming PCs included, but monitors, chairs, headsets, keyboards, and mice all play their role as well. Of course, the biggest savings are usually reserved for those high ticket items.

How much can you save during Alienware's Black Friday sale?

Dell runs discounts on its Alienware laptops and PCs year-round, with savings usually sitting pretty competitively against the rest of the market. These are premium devices, so you're never going to price match something like an Acer Nitro 16 with an Alienware 16 Area-51, but considering the build quality and engineering under the hood, Dell's own discounts regularly offer up promising value for money. Those prices tend to trickle down the scale as we get closer to Black Friday, with the retailer rotating different discounts on and off the shelves in the weeks leading up to the main event.

Dell is one of the few retailers that still plays into Black Friday's on-the-day rush ethos - incorporating flash sales that drop some of the year's best prices on high-end tech and are quickly snapped up by shoppers. Strangely, this is one of the last bastions of what Black Friday used to be - after all, most stores simply run their full Black Friday sale in the weeks leading up and only add a few extra discounts once the clock strikes midnight.

That means Alienware's official Black Friday sale may well improve on the kinds of prices we'll be seeing over the next few weeks. But it also means you've got less of a shot of actually securing those discounts. While Dell runs Alienware sales pretty much constantly, the actual configurations and models taking part in those discounts change much quicker than I tend to see at other stores. I regularly check back on a deal a day later to find a price change, and that's during the low season. When Black Friday comes, these discounts move quickly.

Dell drops a whole wad of Black Friday gaming laptop deals and Black Friday gaming PC deals on us every year, and they often make up some of the more impressive savings to boot. If you're on the hunt for a new Alienware rig this holiday season, it's well worth keeping in touch with the brand's own retailer site for all the biggest savings.

We're also looking forward to some Black Friday gaming monitor deals this year, but we're also keeping you topped up with all the latest Black Friday gaming chair deals and Black Friday gaming headset deals as well.

Off the back of reviewing one of the latest Alienware gaming PCs, I found myself questioning whether picking up a new rig right now is wise. After all, there's a strong chance AMD and Nvidia will release next-gen graphics cards in the new year, and that'll no doubt come with a sense of frame rate FOMO. However, I've just stumbled across an excellent Aurora R16 discount that could be used to make a cheaper RTX 5070 system when the time comes.

Over at Dell, the Alienware Aurora R16 is down to $1,499.99 from $1,899.99, and the specific build boasts an RTX 4070 Super, Intel Core i7 14700F CPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The $400 discount brings the rig to a new record low price, shaving an additional $100 off compared to deals that made the rounds last week. Not too shabby considering this is one of the best Alienware gaming PCs around that boasts quieter cooling and less garishly intergalactic design.

Placing my upgrade ideas aside for just a moment, this 4070 Super Aurora R16 actually comes close to the price of many ordinary builds at Amazon. One of the closest I could find is the MSI Aegis R, which happens to currently down to $1,399 (was $1,649), but while specs are very similar, there are boons tied to buying the Alienware rig that make it worth looking at instead.

Should you buy the Alienware Aurora R16?

I've spent a lot of time with the Alienware Aurora R16 lately, and the RTX 4090 version really tears up the 4K performance track. Of course, I'm also aware that most players aren't going to be gunning for a system with the best graphics card and high-spec CPU, so I've been thinking a lot about configurations. So, in order to come up with a nice middle ground solution, I decided to explore the idea of upgrading the discounted rig above with a shiny new card next year, and I genuinely think it'll be the way to go.

Don't get me wrong, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super will provide more than enough oomph for mid-range players. It can even pull off some neat 4K tricks thanks to DLSS AI upscaling, so long as you're not a stickler for native performance. But, the value of such components will soon be thrown into question when the RTX 5090 and its siblings charges into battle, and the idea of turning the R16 into an RTX 50-series machine before the R17 gets the chance to show up excites me a little.

To avoid any hypocrite accusations, I want to touch on the fact that in terms of general upgradability, the Aurora R16 isn't the best. Quirks like the fact it only has two DIMM slots for RAM, bespoke motherboard, and proprietary PSU can limit just how far you can easily bump specs. The GPU, however, is more of a straight swap-out, and since the size is already designed to accommodate an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, lower tier next gen GPUs should slot in without a hitch.

I'm aware that I'm focussed in on next-gen upgrades when, in fact, you could actually simply use the arrival of new GPUs to make the RTX 4090 jump next year. I can't guarantee the next gen flagship will ever get much cheaper, as the RTX 3090 before it sort of just upped and left rather than drop in price. But, you'll still have various options when it comes to choosing a "better" card once the next generation kicks off, and if it were me, I'd carve out an upgrade path to the theoretical RTX 5070.

Could you go the full ten yards and invest in an RTX 5090 for the Aurora R16? I believe so since you'll have a 1,000W PSU and a capable i7 CPU to hand. The only thing that makes me feel silly recommending this tactic instead is that it'll probably cost more than the entire Alienware build. But hey, you might still end up paying less for a 2025 machine with the flagship graphics card inside.

The TLDR here is this - yes, there are similar gaming PC builds out there that could become RTX 50-series systems next year. However, since many of you will be gunning for a new Alienware specifically, I'd honestly pick up the Aurora R16 at a discount now then swap the GPU once next-gen options arrive next year.

Looking for more savings? Check out Black Friday graphics card deals and Black Friday gaming PC deals for rig upgrades. Alternatively, swing by Black Friday Steam Deck deals if you'd rather head outside with your PC library.

I love quirky gaming PCs, but the Alienware Aurora R16 is a rig that’s designed to shake off any weird kid allegations. Unlike its R15 predecessor, Dell’s latest system has ditched the Portal turret getup and instead wears a sleek little black case that embodies conventional efficiency rather than eye-catching aesthetics. Is that ultimately a good thing? Absolutely, but I can’t help but feel that many players looking for an oddball gaming machine will end up eyeing other brands.

With prices starting at $1,249.99 / £1,149.99, The Alienware Aurora R16 is pretty approachable. At least, it is if you’re looking for a low-key machine, as the RTX 4090 model I’ve been testing comes in at a whopping £4,179.00 / $4,694.99. There’s no getting around the fact that’s a lot of money to pay for a rig, even if it will produce fantastic results in even the most demanding new releases. Normally, I’d take that fact for what it is, but with Dell stripping back its latest system to what is essentially a black box with some complicated, proprietary innards, the new best Alienware gaming PC contender on the block is a harder sell.

That aside, I am actually on board with this down-to-earth powerhouse, and the Alienware Aurora R16 targets many of my gripes with the R15. For reasons I’m about to delve into, I do think this system is worth checking out, even if Dell is going through that same “trying to be normal” phase I experienced after leaving high school.

Design

Since I’m already rattling on about the Aurora R16’s looks, let’s flesh out the latest Alienware’s composition. Compared to the Alienware Aurora R15, this system lacks the same level of visual identity, with its getup boiling down to a black box with a glowing Zeta-head button at a glance. It’s only when you lean in for a closer look that you realize Dell is still embracing a subtle level of design shenanigans, particularly when it comes to its choice of cooling setup.

Alienware PC fans are normally concealed to some extent, but the R16 takes a leaf out of Dyson’s book with its AlienFX stadium loop. The crevice is used to channel air into the system using what is otherwise a standard setup, with exhaust fans occupying the top and back of the case. A honeycomb-shaped grill on the side panel also contributes to shifting air in and out – something that ordinary builds will often skip for space-saving and style purposes.

The weird void at the front is charming in a way and the RGB-lit stadium loop helps turn it into a spectacle. Only the left side of the trap features illumination, so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you have a specific place picked out for your rig. I’m also not convinced the cove won’t become a dusty realm after a little while, but I’ve yet to see any build-up after a few weeks of use.

Dell may have ditched a lot of redundant plastic with its Aurora rig, resulting in a volume reduction of around 40%, but not much has changed inside. You’ll still be greeted by a very similar custom motherboard and AIO cooler, with your choice of graphics card eating up any remaining space. Things are a little cramped inside, but that means nothing since you won’t be delving inside that often. Upgradability pretty much caps out with swapping the GPU, popping in an extra SSD, or switching out the two DIMM sticks of DDR5 RAM – an unfortunate inheritance carried over from the R15.

At this stage, the fact that Alienware PCs aren’t for tinkerers is well documented. Despite its more ordinary case shape, that absolutely applies to the R16 too, and it’s not really a con for players looking for one of Dell’s rigs specifically. The new Aurora effectively splits its potential target audience down the middle into those seeking a subtle, boutique powerhouse and setup enthusiasts looking for a showstopping piece of hardware. If you’re in the latter camp, you’ll either want to get hold of an older R15 or hope the next system starts leaning into the brand’s instinctive weirdness again.

To round off my design thoughts, I want to touch on two elements around the back. The first relates to Dell’s PSU, as it now uses a standard cable rather than a C19. This put me in a pretty good mood before realizing there’s still a lack of thumbscrews for getting inside the rig, with the case opting for a single screw release system instead. In theory, this should be easier, but daftness will ensue if you don’t unscrew it all the way before pulling, leading you to think the catch is faulty. Yes, this happened to me, and rather than take any of the blame, I’m going to be grumpy about it.

Features

Where the R16 loses points for its proprietary motherboard design, it gains them by offering a versatile array of ports. The main IO is rocking a hearty number of USB ports (six USB-A and two USB-C) alongside a trio of surround sound jacks, optical out, and a coax phono. If you’re big into gaming sound systems, this array of connectors alone should grab your attention, as you’d have to spend a pretty penny on a mobo to achieve the same level of connectivity.

There are three USB-A ports, a USB-C, and a headphone jack parked right at the front, hiding within a recess. This feels like the right number of front-facing connectors for me personally, as I can’t imagine having to hot-swap more than two devices at any given time. But, it is still slightly fewer than what’s offered on some larger PC cases, and worth keeping in mind depending on your usage rituals.

Moving back inside the case, I want to chat a bit more about Dell’s AIO cooler and accompanying fans. Despite the strategy appearing almost the same, the changes to the case shape and overall streamlining actually help the cooling innards to shine. Perhaps “shine” isn’t the right word since my praise relates specifically to audible traits, as I could barely hear anything going on inside during use. Gone are the harrowing groans, wooshes, and moans of the R15, and the silence is truly golden.

I like to think that good gaming PCs should be seen but not heard, and Dell’s Alienware Command Centre helps the rig adhere to the former. The AlienFX tab within the suite will let you play around with RGB patterns, colors, and brightness, in turn giving you control over the rig’s light show. Of course, the app is more than just a way to play with pretty lights, as you’ll also want to use it to switch up performance profiles and keep an eye on metrics. At least, you will if you aren’t simply going to crank everything to the max, which is exactly what I tend to do when faced with management programs.

Performance

To start, let’s kick off with my usual test suite of games and Cyberpunk 2077. At 4K Ultra settings, the Aurora R16 managed to maintain a 111fps average, which is exceptional considering the R15 only managed 81fps. What I will say is that from spending a lot of time in Night City throughout 2024, I’m fairly certain these figures have improved due to updates and tweaks, which is somewhat backed up by there being a frame of a difference with Ray Tracing enabled, resulting in a dip to 42fps.

Hitman 3 on the R16 pretty much hit the exact same notes as the R15 with 172fps versus 170fps. Ray tracing results measured in at a similar 77fps too, adding weight to similarities between both systems. Notably, Total War: Warhammer 3 managed to break through the 100fps barrier on the latest Alienware build, something that can be attributed to the generational CPU upgrade.

Outside of benchmarking, I used the R16 in a few scenarios worth covering. The first was during my AOC AGON Pro AG246FK review, as it provided me with an opportunity to see how high a frame rate I could reach in shooters like Overwatch 2. I don’t want to spoil my rundown, but the Aurora managed to easily satiate the screen’s 540Hz refresh rate at 1080p, resulting in a remarkable night of chaotic matches as Pharah. I also had a blast playing Halo Infinite at faster speeds than usual, but didn’t quite manage to reach over 500Hz consistently.

Fun fact, but I used the Aurora R15 for a chunk of my Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough last year, so booting it up on the new R16 just felt right. Stepping back into Faerun on the Alienware rig felt just right, and the new design means those eerie noises from before are minimal. In a way, I do miss the almost atmospheric hum of the older system, but only for the sheer novelty of thinking the PC might be a mimic. Plus, the 2024 model kept CPU temperatures under 90°c in almost every game I tested, including Larian’s epic D&D outing. All in all, an exceptional experience, especially when paired with a punchy panel like the Philips Evnia 42M2N8900 with killer 4K OLED visuals.

Should you buy the Alienware Aurora R16?

Having spent a good chunk of time with the Alienware Aurora R16 as my main rig, I can say with confidence that it’s a worthwhile RTX 4090 investment. Dell’s redesign has spoiled some of the interstellar magic most people will associate with the line-up, and there’s a strong case to be made for picking up the Aurora R15 instead if it receives a decent discount. However, with killer 4K performance on its side and minimal noise, the new model better represents Dell’s capabilities within the PC space.

How I tested the Alienware Aurora R16

I used the Alienware Aurora R16 as my main PC for gaming and work for one month. During that time, I used a selection of test suite games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Returnal to benchmark the system’s GPU and CPU capabilities alongside synthetic tests in 3DMark and Geekbench. In addition, I used the rig to play Overwatch 2, Halo Infinite, and Baldur’s Gate 3 in my spare time.

For more information on how we test gaming PCs and other systems, check out our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Looking for more ways to play Steam games? Swing by the best gaming PC and the best gaming laptop for a selection of rigs. Alternatively, take a peek at the best gaming handheld for more portable options.

The Alienware x14 might be the brand's lowest-spec gaming laptop, but it's also the thinnest - coming in at an almost impossible 0.57-inches. That means it's perfect for those after a work machine that can also double up with a Steam library in the evening, or for content creators needing a little extra graphical grunt under the hood. That means Dell still charges a premium (this is the luxury X-Series after all), but a $700 discount can get you there for far less this week.

The RTX 4050 Alienware X14 R2 is currently available for $999.99 at Dell right now, down from the original $1,699.99 MSRP. That's a considerable saving, and the first time I've seen the latest R2 model go below $1,000. Yes, you'll find cheaper RTX 4050 machines on the market but if you're going for a luxury feel and high-end engineering, this is where you'll be looking.

This is the thinnest gaming laptop I've ever tested, and while budget-minded alternatives can get you an RTX 4050 and 13th Gen Intel i7 processor for around $700 - $800, they're often chunkier, with cheaper plastic chassis' and less of a focus on display quality. Alienware keeps the price on its x14 low by restricting it to lower-end components, but that means you're getting the build quality and features of something like the premium x16 at a much cheaper price point.

Should you buy the Alienware x14?

The Alienware X14 is the best Alienware laptop for those after a hybrid device. It's a super slimline machine - offering a footprint that would barely make a difference in a backpack, all while still offering plenty of power for heavier workloads and lighter games. I'd recommend it first and foremost to those after a super portable machine to work from during the day, before booting up a less demanding Steam library in the evening. That's not to say this is a slouch in the performance department - it's still easy to achieve three-figure framerates with an RTX 4050 at the helm. You may need to drop a few settings or rely on Nvidia's DLSS system to get there, though.

If you're a more competitive player relying on high-speed images, or you play heavily demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2 on the regular, you might need to invest a little more into that GPU. The lowest GPU I would recommend for demanding games is the RTX 4070, which you can find in a slightly cheaper Alienware M16 R2 chassis for $1,699.99 ($300 down from $1,999.99 at Dell). You're dropping the super skinny form factor that makes the Alienware X14 so unique, but boosting your core gaming performance considerably.

If you're after a slimline machine that can move up to an RTX 4070, I'd recommend the HP Omen Transcend 14 instead. This isn't nearly as luxurious as the Alienware x14, featuring a cheaper plastic construction and a lower build quality overall (I noticed quite a lot of flex in this build). However, it can boost your components up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and even slot 32GB RAM in there. You'll be moving far away from that $999 price point, though.

Should you opt for a different brand? We're also rounding up all the best Razer laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops. Or, keep an eye out for the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals for more savings next month.

They say good things come to players who wait, and if you’ve been watching the Alienware AW3423DW for a while, now is your time to strike. While Black Friday is still a couple of months away, Dell’s exceptional QD-OLED display just dropped to a record-low price, and its discounted ticket makes it a fierce QHD contender even in 2024.

Over at Amazon right now, the 34-inch Alienware AW3423DW is down to $799.99 from $1,099.99. The 27% discount brings the gaming monitor contender down to the same price we’d expect during an annual sale, and I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if we see the same price again when Black Friday monitor deals roll in. Prior to this latest offer, the 175Hz 1440p display has only managed to dip to the $900 mark, so it’s safe to say I’m thoroughly impressed with this deal. 

At just a cent under $800, Dell’s Alienware display is still pricey, but represents pretty good value within the space right now. We’re talking about a curved ultrawide QD-OLED panel that boasts a commendable 0.1ms response time, making it perfect for vivid adventures and speedy shootouts in FPS games. It's those feats that ultimately resulted in us giving it a perfect score a few years ago, and its specs still more than hold up today.

Should you buy the Alienware AW3423DW? 

The best gaming monitor scene is ever-evolving, and while 1440p won’t suit every PC player amid the rise of approachable 4K gaming, the Alienware AW3423DW stands tall. At its discounted $800 price, the screen makes for a spicy alternative to excellent 2024 models like the Samsung Odyssey G6 and more boutique offerings like the glossy Dough Spectrum Black, especially if you’re looking for something larger. 

Ideally, you’ll want to use Dell’s QD-OLED display at a gaming desk, as its 1800R curve is designed to provide immersive visuals head-on. If you already have a PS5 monitor that you like to park right in front of or if PC is your primary platform, this ultrawide display’s format will suit you to a T. However, if you prefer to kick back at a distance, you’d benefit from checking out larger models like the Philips Evnia 42M2N8900 – a screen that serves as a nice gaming TV alternative.

It’s also important to consider your setup before automatically jumping on this Alienware deal. As a golden rule, I always try and match up monitor specs to whatever system I’m using, whether that happens to be a PC or a console. If you’ve got a monstrous rig with one of the best graphics cards inside, it’s worth looking at 4K monitors at around the $800 mark. If you’re not really sure what the OLED fuss is about, you could instead pick up the UHD BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U for $699 and still end up with respectable contrast and colors. 

On the flip side, if you simply need a PS4 monitor, something to plug your Steam Deck dock into or you’ve got a GPU older than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, there are far cheaper options. The KTC G27P6 lives in my head rent-free as a fantastic value OLED screen, and it’s perfect for players who aren’t really into the whole curved ultrawide thing but want superb colors. Naturally, 1080p models are also a dime a dozen, but I reckon spending that bit more to at least gain an OLED screen is worthwhile. 

With all that said, should you buy the Alienware AW3423DW? If all you’ve been waiting on is a lower price, I’d say yes. Chances are that this screen won’t fall any lower for now, and it’ll make for a fabulous QHD experience for those of you craving premium visuals.

Looking for more screens? Swing by the best curved monitors and best ultrawide monitors for gaming. Alternatively, take a peek at the best Xbox Series X monitors for something console-flavored.

Dell is known for making Alienware gaming monitors with exceptional visuals and speed on their side, but the next model will embrace both qualities within a single package. While the upcoming AW2725QF isn’t the first dual-resolution screen to emerge on the scene, I’m excited to switch from crisp UHD visuals to a rapid 360Hz refresh rate on the fly.

Dubbed the Alienware AW2725QF, the company’s next best gaming monitor contender looks fairly ordinary at a glance, featuring the normal Dell hallmarks. Where things differ this time is with its dual-resolution panel lurking within, as the IPS display supports both 4K 180Hz and 1080p 360Hz. Effectively, this screen can produce the same results as UHD models and the Alienware AW2724HF using a single IPS display.

Of course, the AW2725QF also manages to squeeze a bunch of other handy gaming features in despite its dual-resolution superpowers. DisplayHDR 600 certification, G-Sync compatibility, and Dolby Vision support are all on standby to help elevate visuals even further, and offering two HDMI 2.1 ports means it’ll also pair nicely with your PS5. 

From competitive to adventurous 

I’ve never liked the idea of deciding between a high refresh rate monitor or a 4K monitor for gaming. That perhaps explains why I tend to gravitate towards screens like the Samsung OLED G6 that strike a balance between resolution and refresh rate, but I’d ideally like a panel that can be both furiously fast when needed and serve up delicious UHD visuals. 

Now that dual-resolution displays like the AW2725QF are becoming a reality, we might finally be at a stage where choosing refresh rate over resolution is a thing of the past. Sure, there’s always going to be a divide between ultra-fast and the highest resolutions possible, and proper enthusiasts will still likely opt for speeds upwards of 500Hz for that competitive advantage. But, for everyone else out there, having both 4K and 1080p 360Hz modes available will be super accommodating, especially for those players who want to give some serious performance-driven first-person shooter sessions a go. 

Chances are that most of your Steam library isn’t dominated by FPS games. Instead, you’ve likely got a few shooters sprinkled on top of a genre soup, including adventure games, indies, etc. I can speak from experience when I say playing more detailed adventures and colorful romps on a 1080p display that trades most qualities to achieve a higher refresh rate isn’t remotely fun, leading to a rather lackluster experience. So, keeping a mode like that for when you’re trying to get serious about CS:GO, while using 4K visuals for those other big outings just makes sense.

It’s worth noting while I’m excited about this specific Alienware configuration, I’m already putting a dual-resolution monitor to the test right now with elevated capabilities. Specifically, I’ve been using the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, which can switch between 4K 240Hz and 1080p 480Hz using an OLED panel. Those monstrous abilities naturally come with an elevated $1,399.99 / £1,300 price tag, so while it trumps Alienware’s new screen on specs, its MSRP could be the deciding factor here.

On that note, Dell says it’ll confirm pricing for the Alienware AW2725QF very soon, and the screen will be officially available worldwide from September 12, 2024. 

Looking for more screens? Swing by the best monitor for PS5 and best monitor for Xbox Series X for console options. Alternatively, take a peek at the best gaming TV if you need something for the living room. 

The Alienware M16 is back, and this machine means business. This is a redesign of the R1 model (and pretty much every Alienware laptop that came before it). Gone are the chunky sides and unwelcome shelf area to the rear - the new M16 R2 looks and feels like a new generation rather than an iterative update. 

This is a more holistic machine, designed to slot into your work and gaming life equally. That's a trend many of the best gaming laptops are following these days, so I put the RTX 4070 rig to the test to see just how well it sticks to its RGB roots. 

Design

I've had my hands wrapped around a fair few of the best Alienware laptops, and this tops them all by far. The machine itself retains that classic Dell look, with a slightly curved panel on the main lid and underside, and a soft form factor running throughout. There are no hard corners here; an aesthetic that condemns lesser machines to look and feel cheap. Instead of the rigid lines of something like the Razer Blade 16, though, you're getting a far more relaxed experience here. Whether that's preferable is down to personal opinion. I've always naturally leant more towards slimline laptops with more of a slick edge to them, but the comfort of the Alienware M16 R2 may be turning my head elsewhere. 

The main deck area is coated in a gorgeous matte soft-touch finish, one that I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing before but one I'll certainly be missing once this machine is all wrapped back up in its box. I first noticed it when scooting around Chrome tabs during work, and initially worried that it would become sticky and clammy once those internal temperatures rose. However, I was surprised when everything remained nicely cool to the touch and the touch of extra softness made the whole experience feel even more luxurious. 

Luxury really does run through this entire design; from that comfortable finish all the way through to the satisfyingly tense keyboard and easily tapped touchpad. The M16 R2 even fixes one of my biggest gripes with Alienware machines; the dreaded shelf. I couldn't understand why these gaming laptops needed to add so much to their footprint all in the name of cooling when they already typically run pretty loud and hot - and other rigs can get away with a much smaller waistline. Thankfully, the shelf has gone which means this is finally a gaming laptop I can fit into a backpack and recommend others do the same as well. I didn't think we'd get there, but we did. 

Not only does the R2 benefit from reduced dimensions, but you're still getting rear ports (a personal favorite) to keep cables away from the sides when docking or simply using the laptop at a desk. 

You'll still find waves of RGB LEDs running throughout the main design, with the obligatory per-key lights keeping your keyboard illuminated but also a new lit trim around the trackpad. This, in particular, adds to the sense of prestige when first opening up the lid - and one that few gaming laptops can really replicate. Of course, the reduced size and weight might have you itching to take the M16 R2 on the road with you - and Alienware has your back here as well. All this lighting can quickly and easily be switched off. 

Features

There is a downside to that smaller footprint - Alienware can no longer stick an RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 GPU inside its M16 laptop. That's a considerable blow considering you'll find this kind of power inside gaming laptops that have been running without giant wedges attached to the back for generations. Still, we've got an RTX 4060 or RTX 4070 running with Intel's latest processors in a chassis that's more than equipped to get the most out of them. 

It's a shame you can no longer configure the M16 higher, giving it a comparative chance against some of the more premium Asus gaming laptops or Lenovo's legion of rigs. Without getting into the weeds of my performance section, though, the current roster should see most players through whatever they want to run. This is an RTX 4070 running at its full 175W TDP, and while - like pretty much all gaming laptops released in 2024 - performance levels are a minor uptick compared to last year's, you're still going to get more out of an RTX 4070 here than you would in a skinny Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 which runs at 105W, for example. 

Still, with an RTX 4070 and Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (not to mention the 32GB RAM) at the helm of my test unit, and the $2,049.99 / £2,028.99 associated price tag, the Alienware M16 R2 has both the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 beat in one area; value. 

Sure, the 240Hz QHD+ display isn't going to rival Razer's Samsung-developed OLED panel, but it holds up beautifully for the big-screen 16:10 experience. This isn't a high-end panel, with no HDR, variable refresh rates, or the full DCI-P3 gamut. However, it's a faster base screen than last year's model (which tapped out at 165Hz) - that's nothing particularly new, and more of a necessary upgrade to fit with the times. It's the one weakness in this value proposition, though, and once those discounts start rolling in these specs are going to start looking good.

The keyboard is perhaps my favorite of all the gaming laptops I've tested so far. There's a crisp quality to each clack that's hard to find (outside of Alienware laptops anyway), with just enough resistance to feel satisfying while also actuating quickly. I have my hands over a lot of laptop keyboards (and regular gaming keyboards for that matter), and I was surprised when I needed no time to adjust to the new layout. I was typing at my usual speed from the get-go, a real rarity. The trackpad, bathed in its own RGB perimeter feels smooth and tactile as well, with super responsive taps and clicks.

There's a healthy selection of ports, split between the two sides and the rear of the device. In total, you're getting two USB-As, two USB-Cs (one carrying Thunderbolt 4 functionality), HDMI 2.1, an ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's an improvement in speed and compatibility from last year, even if the number of connections remains the same.

Performance

The Alienware M16 R2 performs well for a mid-range machine, with the RTX 4070 configuration comfortably out-performing cheaper options like the Acer Nitro 16 and smaller models like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. I've tested both of these machines with similar RTX 4070 configurations under the hood, though they offer slightly different value propositions; the Nitro is a chunkier but cheaper 16-inch classic and the Zephyrus slims things down into a more compact chassis for about the same amount of cash. 

In clinical benchmarks, the M16 R2 outperforms both machines, likely down to the fact that the M16 R2 can really let the RTX 4070 roll at its full power capacity, unlike the Acer Nitro. Yes, it's slightly more expensive, but if you're looking for overall value this is where it's at. It runs at between 8% and 16% higher performance than the Acer within Fire Strike and Time Spy benchmarks, and 9% - 16% faster than the admittedly slimmer Zephyrus. 

In-game benchmarks were similarly strong, though even the full-throttle RTX 4070 and Intel Core Ultra 7 155H couldn't push through to 60fps in full QHD resolution on more demanding games.  It's worth noting that the Acer Nitro 16 did perform better under this kind of pressure in my testing. QHD Returnal benchmarks put the Nitro at 72fps in High settings and 58fps in Epic settings. Alienware struggled here, particularly, when it came to more clustered moments on-screen. I was able to drop a few settings to achieve a smoother 60fps result, though, so it's still capable of moderately demanding titles. 

The pattern was the same in FHD, with the M16 R2 beating both the cheaper Acer Nitro 16 and the more slimline Zephyrus G14 in older benchmarks, but struggling to compete in heavier experiences like Returnal. Still, this is slick performance at a lower resolution. The M16 is a fantastic 1080p system, with room to stretch into higher resolutions with some settings tweaks on more demanding titles.

Should you buy the Alienware M16 R2? 

The Alienware M16 R2 offers solid value for money, especially if you're after a whole experience rather than pure performance. That means anyone after an everyday workhorse of a laptop, that can also keep up with your Steam library, should be interested - especially if the chunkier designs of previous iterations have always held you back before. While it can struggle with more demanding titles in full QHD+ resolution, it packs a 1080p punch and can easily be configured to run higher up the scale with a few graphical tweaks. Throw in a fantastic look and feel and you've got yourself a compelling machine. 

If you want to play demanding games in full QHD+ resolution, I'd recommend either opting for a lower quality chassis with an RTX 4080 GPU or upping your budget to a more expensive model. The Razer Blade 16 is currently my favorite 16-inch gaming laptop on the market, and pushes some blitzing framerates in the $4K RTX 4090 model I tested (but an RTX 4070 rig still comes in at $2,999). The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is perhaps more realistic. I tested this rig with an RTX 4090 and got generally better performance results than the Blade 16, and it's featured in deals and discounts far more regularly. An RTX 4080 model was sitting just under $2,000 very recently, so it's well worth investigating the latest gaming laptop deals. 

How we tested the Alienware M16 R2

I used the Alienware M16 R2 for all my daily play over the course of three weeks, while also using the device for one week of work at the same time. I primarily played Gears Tactics, Octopath Traveler, and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla during that time, while also directly benchmarking across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Returnal, and The Talos Principle 2. I also completed extra benchmarks using 3D Mark's Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad tests. For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. 

We're also rounding up all the best Razer laptops on the market. Or, for something more portable check out the best gaming handhelds (or the best gaming PCs if you're after a permanent setup). 

The Alienware M18 stormed the shelves last year, riding a wave of larger gaming laptops making their way back into the mainstream. After testing a number of behemoths from various brands, though, I came to the conclusion that the aliens have done it best. Between the cheaper configuration options compared to Razer and Asus, and the turbo charged power under the hood, the Alienware M18 was a standout rig for me last year - and it made its way to my ranking of the best gaming laptops on the market because of it. 

Flash forward to today and we've got a particularly special discount. The RTX 4070 configuration of last year's model is taking a massive $700 discount in Dell's latest gaming laptop deals. That means you can scoop up the Ryzen 9 setup for $1,799.99 (was $2,499.99). That's a fantastic price for an RTX 4070 gaming laptop of this size, especially considering the extra space in the chassis can draw plenty of power out of that GPU. 

If you're looking for something a little cheaper, the RTX 4060 configuration is also on sale for just $1,499.99 (was $2,049.99) at Dell. That's a full $550 off the final price, leaving us with an excellent rate considering I rarely see machines of this size dropping below $1,500. If you're after a desktop replacement that won't break the bank this is as good as it gets this week. 

You'll find all the details on both these Alienware gaming laptops just below and plenty more gaming laptop deals further down the page.

Today's best Alienware gaming laptop deals

Should you buy the Alienware M18?

The Alienware M18 is a powerhouse, but it's not quite as powerful as something like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. Both of these machines offer up a sturdy 18-inch portable PC with plenty of grunt coming from their components - even in the case of the lower specced RTX 4060 model featured above. I would still generally recommend the M18 over Asus's entry, though. 

While it's a little chunkier around the rear, there are way more configuration options open to you (you won't find a Scar 18 for under $2,499.99), the keyboard features full-sized keys with smooth switches, you're upgrading to a 1080p webcam, and adding additional ports to the mix as well. 

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 does throw a better display and higher performing components into the ring, but unless you're willing drop over $3K you won't be seeing those benefits anyway. At the price point of today's gaming laptop deals, the Alienware M18 is the go-to. At over $1,000 more for a similar RTX 4060 spec, the Razer Blade 18 is out the window.

But should you buy an 18-inch gaming laptop at all? It's a lot of PC to lug around, so these kinds of rigs aren't best suited to those looking to work and play on the go. Instead, you'll get the most out of your purchase if you're after a static device to take over from a desktop PC setup. That is, it's going to sit on your desk and stay there.

Read more: Alienware M18 vs Asus ROG Strix Scar 18

We're also bringing you plenty more of the latest Alienware laptop deals as well as all the best Razer laptops on the market right now. If you're going for another brand, though, check out the best Asus gaming laptops available.

There’s a new Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC in town, and the latest configuration comes armed with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super. The new build on the block comes in at $1,899, meaning it’s technically cheaper than the OG RTX 4070 model listed alongside the system. However, there are a few spec differences between the two that are well worth considering, and it might be worth waiting for more models to enter the fold.

When the Alienware Aurora R16 arrived in 2023, it somewhat changed Dell’s approach to winning the best gaming PC crown. Not only did the system maker scale back the R16’s out of this world aesthetic, but it placed more focus on performance and efficiency, something that matters more to most players than a bulky shell. That said, that hasn’t affected the way the company rolls out new SKUs, and it’s already kitting out its latest build Nvidia's shiny new best graphics card contenders.

You'll find the Alienware Aurora R16 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super, Intel Core i7 14700F CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD for $1,899 at Dell. You're getting largely the same specs as the first RTX 4070 system that released for $1,999, which comes with a Core i7 14700F chip and 1TB drive but double the amount of memory with 32GB installed. 

Unlike some configurations, this one doesn’t appear to be customizable, meaning you’ll have to make upgrades yourself if you’re not completely happy with the build. It’s likely that Dell has conjured up this specific concoction of parts to hit what it thinks is an eye catching price, and while I don’t entirely disagree with that, the original 32GB RAM RTX 4070 build is $100 more at $1,999.99.

DDR5 RAM for gaming isn’t cheap, and the Alienware Aurora R16 makes things slightly awkward when it comes to upgrading. That’s largely down to the fact it only features two DIMM slots, which means you’d need to swap out the two existing 8GB sticks of memory for a higher capacity set. Sure, you could argue that 16GB is still perfectly fine in 2024, but as someone who regularly puts system requirements to the test, I reckon it’ll swiftly become the minimum as more new games arrive on the scene. 

Opting for the non-Super model isn’t ideal either, as the RTX 4070 Super will provide a substantial performance boost. I’m currently working on putting the new souped-up line-up to the test, but we’re talking about a 22% higher CUDA core count. It’s still got the same 12GB GDDR6X VRAM as before, though, so you’ll need to take a peek at the RTX 4070 Ti Super R16 for $2,399.99  if you’re looking for more video memory headroom. 

The new Alienware Aurora R16 will no doubt provide an extra punch thanks to its new RTX Super cards, but I do think it’s worth waiting for more builds. RTX 4080 Super options are also missing from the line-up, and it’ll be interesting to see where it falls price wise compared to its siblings. Of course, if you’re looking for something with even more oomph, you might be better off checking out our Alienware Aurora R15 review, as the RTX 4090 version is one of the best Alienware gaming PC builds out there in terms of raw performance.

On a related note, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super is now available at Newegg from $999.99, with various custom cards by a variety of brands.

Looking for something portable? Check out the best gaming laptop and best gaming handheld options for something that'll fit in your bag. Alternatively, check out the best PC cases and put together your own powerhouse rig.

QD-OLED gaming monitors have picked up some serious traction over the last few years, with Alienware and Samsung leading the pack. Both brands have stepped up the game at CES, though, unveiling new 4K panels with HP in tow as well. Previous QD-OLED gaming monitors have tapped out at QHD resolutions (or various versions of them), and while it'll take some serious grunt to run each panel at its highest possible refresh rate, those after a high-end setup are well served here. 

We've got Alienware, HP, and Samsung bringing 4K resolution to QD-OLED gaming monitors this year, with new announcements springing up all over the showfloor. All of these competing panels feature 32-inch form factors with UHD resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, but there are some more important differences between the three. 

The HP Omen, for example, employs KVM switching technology to allow you to use a single monitor as a hub between two PC devices - dragging and dropping files between them and seamlessly switching between inputs. Samsung's Odyssey G8 has a similar function, but only with Samsung technology (no surprises there), and Alienware is behind in this department with no such feature that we know of baked in. However, if you're after a curved gaming monitor you'll be heading to Dell - unlike Samsung's previous form in the 1000+ R space, the Odyssey G8 is a flat screen, leaving the Alienware AW3225QF the only option for those after a more immersive experience.

It's no surprise that these aren't going to be cheap gaming monitors. QD-OLED panels already command a high price tag and these first few steps into a 4K world aren't going to be budget-friendly. Not only that, but with 240Hz refresh rates packed into the UHD resolution and a whole plethora of extra KVM and HDR features baked in, these panels are going to be for the enthusiasts.

We have, however, fallen in love with the super crisp QD-OLED panels we've seen so far - the Alienware AW3423DW still sits at the top of our shopping list. With speedy panels and 4K resolutions, these monitors truly can do it all - and if you're in the market for an investment piece now's a fantastic time to jump in. After all, we've been waiting for 4K resolution, but 8K is still too far off to be thinking about. Refresh rates used to be low on 4K OLED panels, but 240Hz is a sweet spot we'll be happy at for a long time. There's nothing on the horizon to scare off potential upgraders - we'll just have to see who wins out of this three-way race. 

In Association with ROG Ally

We're also rounding up all the best 4K gaming monitors on the market, as well as the best ultrawide monitors for those after a particularly immersive experience. If you're building a console setup, though, be sure to check out the best monitor for PS5.

A new year brings a whole new crop of Alienware gaming laptops to the CES showfloor and 2024 isn't disappointing. Dell is showing off three new devices this year; the Alienware M16 R2, Alienware x16 R2, and the massive Alienware M18 R2. 

While the biggest changes have hit the M16 R2, there are still incremental upgrades to the more expensive X16 and M18 lines in here. Between a jump to Intel's Core Ultra and 14th generation processors and additional storage options there's a solid amount for new buyers to be aware of in these latter two models, though the overall developments are less exciting than that of the M16. 

That's because Alienware has taken some of its loudest feedback to heart with the latest iteration of one of the best gaming laptops on the market. With a smaller footprint and a far more portable form factor, everything's ticking in the right direction away from the cumbersome juggernauts we've been reviewing for years in a row. 

You'll find more information on each of Dell's Alienware gaming laptops unveiled at CES 2024 just below. 

Big changes hit Alienware M16 R2

We'll kick off with the biggest changes to the lineup. The Alienware M16 R2 has been redesigned for 2024, aiming to provide players with the more portable form factor the machine has been crying out for over the last few years. That shelf towards the rear of the machine is completely gone - a massive relief for anyone after the power of Alienware without the unnecessary extra bulk. Overall, the footprint has been reduced by 15% while also upgrading the internals to Intel's Ultra H Series processors. 

There's a drawback to this more portable design, though. The new Alienware M16 R2 will only be configurable with Nvidia's RTX 40-Series graphics cards up to an RTX 4070. The previous generation was available with 4080 and even 4090 cards, so those after a more performance-heavy machine are being pushed towards the x16 R2 model instead. That's not as bad a deal as it first sounds - after all, the M16 R2 is being marketed as a more everyday player-friendly device. Casual users won't need the additional power provided by these top shelf graphics cards, and will find far greater benefit in the more compact design instead. 

Dell has also redesigned its Alienware Cryo-tech thermals with two ultra-thin fans running with 94 blades a piece and four copper heat pipes for airflow. That makes way for a new Stealth Mode, which aims to keep those fans quiet while reducing other battery draws like RGB lighting. The Alienware M16 R2 will ship with a 240Hz QHD+ display panel on all models, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processors, up to 64GB of user upgradeable DDR5 RAM, and up to 8TB of SSD storage. 

Alienware x16 R2 catches up

If you're after something with a little more power in 2024, the Alienware x16 R2 has also had a refresh. The headline here is the x16 R2 now comes with a 240Hz refresh rate QHD+ display as standard (up from the 165Hz that felt particularly old school in last year's market). Elsewhere, however, the x16 R2 has been updated with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processors, additional 8TB storage options, boosted Cyro-tech Cooling tech under the hood, and WiFi 7 ready connectivity. 

This is an iterative upgrade, then, rather than the full redesign we've seen with the M16 R2. You're still getting the full spread of RTX 4060 - RTX 4090 graphics options, all in that super premium chassis in all its crisp RGB glory. 

Alienware M18 R2 doubles down

The Alienware M18 R2 hasn't gone through the same design overhaul as the M16 this year, which is sensible - this is a desktop replacement that doesn't concern itself with any semblance of portability in the first place. Instead, Dell has doubled down on the power under the hood here, offering 270W of total performance power in its new model, with upgraded Intel Core HX processors under the hood. The M18 packs Intel's 14th generation i7 and i9 models, (i7-14650HX, i7-14700HX, and i9-14900HX models in particular), with Nvidia graphics running from RTX 4060 to RTX 4090. 

Again, this is an iterative update, though with a boost up to 10TB of potential storage space and those Cryo-tech improvements inside as well. We've still got a 165Hz QHD+ display here, though - concerning with Razer already offering 240Hz on its configuration last year. 

In Association with ROG Ally

We're also bringing you all the best Razer laptops and best Asus gaming laptops if you're after a different brand - or check out the best gaming PCs if you're after a more permanent setup.

I’ve been keeping my eye firmly on Alienware offers all week, and this Cyber Monday gaming PC deal is probably my favorite. While you’ll find plenty of Aurora R15 builds with RTX 4060 and RTX 4080 graphics cards within, Amazon has got a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti build that’s down to its lowest price. If you’re itching to get your hands on a machine that can provide 1440p max settings in the latest games and dabble with 4K, this might be the system for you.

You’ll find the Alienware Aurora R15 system in question over at Amazon right now, and the retailer has knocked it down from $2,799.99 to $2,099 using a 25% Cyber Monday gaming PC deal. The rig comes armed with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti graphics card, a pretty powerful Intel Core i9-13900F CPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD, which makes for a beefy build that’ll breeze through 1440p max settings. Using magical AI upscaling abilities is also going to enable to you actually play new releases at 4K, and I normally can’t really tell the difference when doing so.

I think one of the things that highlights the value of this offer is Dell’s pricing on similar builds, as it has various configurations listed, but not the RTX 4070 Ti version. Don’t get me wrong, there are some decent offers over at the brands site, as the RTX 4080 version is down from $2,899.99 to $2,399.99, but not everyone’s going to be able to afford the extra $400 for Nvidia’s second best graphics card on the market. 

That leaves us with the RTX 4070 version at the opposite site of pricing, which only costs $149 less than Amazon’s higher spec build. Personally, I think it’s worth opting to spend slightly more on the latter than Dell’s sub-$2,000 machine, as you’re going to be able to boost fps significantly further using a full fat AD-104 GPU. Plus, the price difference really just doesn't scream value to me, as I imagine most players spending this kind of cash on a PC are willing to stretch budgets a bit if it means a big performance boost.

Should you buy an Alienware Aurora R15 this Cyber Monday?

I spent a significant amount of time with the Alienware Aurora R15 during the summer, largely sinking too many hours into a chaotic Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign. While I’ve got my gripes with Dell’s approach, it really provides a stellar gaming experience. I was using the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 version, but the same level of quality and scaling performance applies across the board. 

Now that the Alienware Aurora R16 is a thing, you might be wondering whether to opt for the newest design instead. I can see why some of you might want to do so, especially since it’s smaller and a little less eccentric, not to mention Dell has refined its case innards for quieter cooling. That said, I’d strongly advise you to weigh up whether those perks are worth spending more, especially with Cyber Monday gaming deals kicking the R15 down to record low prices. 

Naturally, if you hate the way Alienware PCs look, I’d suggest taking a peek down below for more gaming PC offers. Otherwise, I’d say jumping on current offers is a wise move, and the RTX 4070 Ti above is going to serve players looking for that boutique level of desktop quality well. 

Today's best Cyber Monday gaming PC deals

• Board games: Up to $25 on Disney Villainous
• Chairs: GTPlayer, Lacoo, and more from $45
• Controllers: Xbox Elite Series 2 now $99.99
• Desks: Up to $150 off large gaming desks
• Gaming laptops: $1,000 off the Razer Blade
• Headsets: Cans from $34.95 at Amazon
• Keyboards: Keebs from $35.99 at Best Buy
• PCs: RTX 4000 Alienware rigs from $1,299.99
• Projectors: save up to $650 on BenQ models
• PS5: Up to $30 off games like Spider-Man
• Streaming: Up to $30 off Blue Yeti mics
• Storage: 1TB WDBlack SN850X now $79.99
• TVs: 4K TVs starting from just $196
• Meta Quest: Asgard's Wrath Quest 3 bundles
• Mice: Razer, Logitech and more from $24
• Monitors: high spec screens for under $100
• Nintendo Switch: Great Mario Kart bundles
• Xbox Series X: bundles now live at Amazon

Looking for something portable? Check out Black Friday gaming laptop deals for something you can take on the go. You'll also want to swing by Black Friday graphics card deals if you're looking to upgrade your existing rig.

I have a constantly rotating roster of gaming laptops to review year-round, so when I find one that already offers strong value out the box at MSRP on sale, it immediately piques my interest. I already rate the Alienware M16 as the best value Alienware laptop on the shelves right now, but with $600 off an RTX 4070 configuration Dell's early Black Friday gaming laptop deals are working particularly hard this week. 

You can pick up a solid upper mid-range configuration, with that 240Hz QHD+ display no less, for just $1,399.99 right now at Dell. That's a significant saving over the $1,999.99 MSRP - and a price position I've only seen much cheaper rigs hit over the last couple of weeks (budget Asus A15 and Acer Nitro rigs, for example). Considering the boost in build quality, this is one of the best early Black Friday gaming laptop deals I've come across so far. 

This rig is more powerful than the RTX 4060 model I tested, and I was still seeing reliable three figure framerates in at highest settings in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and managing to squeeze a minimum of 80fps out of more demanding titles like Returnal in the same conditions. That's some serious engineering at a price few of even the best gaming laptops can beat right now. 

Should you buy the Alienware M16?

At the time of my review, the Alienware M16 was one of the cheapest gaming laptops I had had my hands on. This configuration holds a $1,999 MSRP - miles better than the $2,500+ alternatives from the likes of Razer and Asus. Even without today's massive $600 discount, that's pretty impressive. At this low price, I was impressed with the M16's performance. Even in an RTX 4060 build, this machine can go toe to toe with far more expensive models - so I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for new generation components to push their games at their highest settings. 

However, there are some drawbacks to all that power. While the M16 goes to great lengths to remain as thin as possible (and it achieves this form factor far better than the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16), it's heavy. The Scar 16 weighs 2.5kg, but this monster storms in at 3.25kg. That means I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who regularly takes their laptop on the go. For a similarly priced alternative I'd suggest taking a look at the HP Omen 16 Transcend in that scenario. 

Overall, this is the best Alienware laptop on the market for pure value right now - and that's not even taking today's early Black Friday gaming laptop deals into consideration. If you're going to keep your rig on the desk for 80% of its life and you want as much power as you can get for under $1,500 - this is the offer I'd be looking at today. 

Of course, we're getting you prepped for all of this year's Black Friday Alienware deals. However, if you're after a more permanent setup, we'd recommend checking out the early Black Friday gaming PC deals rocking around, as well as the latest Black Friday gaming monitor deals.