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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.
