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.
1. HP Omen Max 16 | $2,749.99 at Best Buy (was $3,159.99)
2. Lenovo Legion 5 | $1,009.99 at Best Buy (was $1,559.99)
3. Razer Blade 16 | $2,399.99 at Razer
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.
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