8.6 / 10
SCORE Alienware 16 Area-51 Pros High-end gaming performance
Manages heat and noise well
Upgradeable RAM and 3x SSD slots Cons Big and heavy
Short battery life
LCD doesn't have great contrast
The Alienware 16 Area-51 sets the stage for Alienware's new flagship laptop design. It certainly provides some intrigue with its looks, is quite potent and it operates without too much noise. However, thick bezels, large dimensions and considerable heft don't make it the best-designed system around (though it does put on a nice light show).
As you might expect, the 16 Area-51 does a great job running everyday tasks. Its CPU can compete with desktop PCs, and it boasts outstanding graphics performance for high-quality gaming (even if it's not close to being on par with the desktop counterpart). The system even manages its heat well, getting it out and keeping it away from your hands. Battery life is predictably weak though, barely exceeding two hours.
All of it does come at a steep price though. My test configuration was what Dell lists as a $3,349 "estimated value," but it quickly sublimates that to $2,849. While I can't say I love the way Dell displays its pricing for the Alienware 16 Area-51, it's a good thing it's not closer to the "estimated value." That would come way too close to the lighter, more compact Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 Gen 10. Lenovo has a knack for squeezing out all the performance it can from a gaming laptop. A knack Alienware hasn't quite shown here. That said, while the Alienware 16 Area-51 is certainly a premium gaming laptop with the price to prove it, it's a fair value for what's on offer.
Alienware 16 Area-51 Specs Price as reviewed $3,349 Size 14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 in/365 x 290 x 28.5mm; 7.24 pounds Display 16-inch, 2560x1600, 240Hz, LCD, Nvidia G-Sync, 100% DCI-P3 CPU 2.7GHz Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Memory 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6400 Graphics 16GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop Storage 1TB PM9C1a Samsung 1024GB Networking Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4 Connections USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (x3 rear), Thunderbolt 5 (x2 rear), 3.5mm audio connector (x1 left), HDMI 2.1 (x1 rear), SD card reader (x1 left) Battery 96Wh Operating system Windows 11 Home
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