240 Hz screen for Alienware Area-51m not coming until next year but there are plenty of other options

Alienware and XPS chief Frank Azor has confirmed that it’s not likely Area-51m laptops will get a 240 Hz display upgrade this year. There will be many users who will be looking at the high-end Alienware device as a potential mobile gaming option, but it’s possible the lack of a 240 Hz screen option will hurt sales. At the present, Dell’s configurator only allows refresh rate choices of 60 Hz and 144 Hz (all at Full HD resolution). Apparently, the reason the Area-51m is not getting this desired upgrade is because of its new narrower bezels.

As mobile graphics cards have become more powerful, laptop displays have also become more capable of escaping from their 60 Hz confines while offering smoother visual reproduction with less tearing. OEMs have caught on to this trend and have started modifying certain products to capture the market. HP has its Omen 15 laptop that is expected to be released in July while Razer has stated its 240 Hz-capable Blade 15 Advance will be available in early May. Both Gigabyte and Asus have also announced plans for 240 Hz additions to their refreshed lineups.

Beyond that considerable selection, there’s even a choice over at Dell for die-hard Alienware fans who desperately want a laptop from this particular brand that can manage 240 Hz. The Alienware m15 thin and light gaming laptop comes in a wide choice of SKUs with different panel options, which include both OLED and 240 Hz screens. With all of these options for those interested, the Alienware Area-51m’s designers could be kicking themselves for choosing a slimmer frame over what could end up being one of the mobile gaming trends of the year in terms of hardware.