Alienware 16 Area-51
Specifications
Alienware 16 Area-51 (16 Series)
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 24 x 2.1 - 5.4 GHz, 173 W PL2 / Short Burst, 150 W PL1 / Sustained, Arrow Lake-HX
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop - 16 GB VRAM, Core: 1769 MHz, RAM: 1550 MHz, 175 W TDP, GDDR7, 576.52, Advanced Optimus
Memory
32 GB
, DDR5-6400, Micron, 52-51-51-102, Dual-Channel
Display
16.00 inch 16:10, 2560 x 1600 pixel 189 PPI, AU Optronics B160QAN, IPS, AUO5AB1, Dell P/N: 42F9F, glossy: no, 240 Hz, Adaptive Sync
Mainboard
Intel HM870 (Arrow Lake-HX PCH)
Storage
Samsung PM9C1a MZ9L81T0HDLB, 1024 GB
Soundcard
Intel Arrow Lake-S PCH - ACE (Audio Context Engine)
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB4 40 Gbps, 2 Thunderbolt, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750W 320 MHz (BE200NGW) (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/ Wi-Fi 6E 6 GHz be = Wi-Fi 7), Bluetooth 5.4
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 28.5 x 365 x 290 ( = 1.12 x 14.37 x 11.42 in)
Battery
96 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Camera
Webcam: 1440p30
Primary Camera: 8.3 MPix
Primary Camera: 8.3 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Quad Spatial Sound, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Alienware Command Center, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
3.297 kg ( = 116.3 oz / 7.27 pounds), Power Supply: 1.039 kg ( = 36.65 oz / 2.29 pounds)
Price
3500 USD
Price comparison
Average Score:
Average of 10 scores (from 16 reviews)
Average of 10 scores (from 16 reviews)
price: 80%, performance: 94%, features: 73%, display: 76% mobility: 54%, workmanship: 86%, ergonomy: 82%, emissions: 77%
Reviews for the Alienware 16 Area-51
Alienware 16 Area-51 laptop review: Dell's best flagship gaming laptop yet | Notebookcheck
Dell is refreshing its Alienware lineup this year from the ground up with new Arrow Lake CPUs, new Blackwell GPUs, and a new AW30 design language. The Area-51 looks and feels better than what came before it, but it still exhibits a lot of the same Alienware advantages and disadvantages.
Dell is refreshing its Alienware lineup this year from the ground up with new Arrow Lake CPUs, new Blackwell GPUs, and a new AW30 design language. The Area-51 looks and feels better than what came before it, but it still exhibits a lot of the same Alienware advantages and disadvantages.
Alienware 16 & 18 Area-51 Laptops Reviewed: Benchmark-Crushing Gaming Beasts
Source: Hot Hardware
If you are even casually interested in PC gaming, you know about Alienware. You probably know that it's a brand that represents some of the fastest hardware out there, and yes, there's a price premium, but historically, you could rest assured that you were getting one of the fastest gaming PCs in the world. On the other hand, that aspect of the brand also was tarnished in years past, as some reviews found that some Alienware systems had certain design flaws that limited their potential. In other words, these new Alienware laptops are as close to flawless as we've seen in a gaming laptop in a long time. We do wish the 16-inch machine had an integrated Ethernet port, but that's easy enough to work around with a Thunderbolt docking station or even just a USB Ethernet adapter.If you are even casually interested in PC gaming, you know about Alienware. You probably know that it's a brand that represents some of the fastest hardware out there, and yes, there's a price premium, but historically, you could rest assured that you were getting one of the fastest gaming PCs in the world. On the other hand, that aspect of the brand also was tarnished in years past, as some reviews found that some Alienware systems had certain design flaws that limited their potential. In other words, these new Alienware laptops are as close to flawless as we've seen in a gaming laptop in a long time. We do wish the 16-inch machine had an integrated Ethernet port, but that's easy enough to work around with a Thunderbolt docking station or even just a USB Ethernet adapter.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/25/2025
Source: Hot Hardware
If you are even casually interested in PC gaming, you know about Alienware. You probably know that it's a brand that represents some of the fastest hardware out there, and yes, there's a price premium, but historically, you could rest assured that you were getting one of the fastest gaming PCs in the world. On the other hand, that aspect of the brand also was tarnished in years past, as some reviews found that some Alienware systems had certain design flaws that limited their potential. In other words, these new Alienware laptops are as close to flawless as we've seen in a gaming laptop in a long time. We do wish the 16-inch machine had an integrated Ethernet port, but that's easy enough to work around with a Thunderbolt docking station or even just a USB Ethernet adapter.If you are even casually interested in PC gaming, you know about Alienware. You probably know that it's a brand that represents some of the fastest hardware out there, and yes, there's a price premium, but historically, you could rest assured that you were getting one of the fastest gaming PCs in the world. On the other hand, that aspect of the brand also was tarnished in years past, as some reviews found that some Alienware systems had certain design flaws that limited their potential. In other words, these new Alienware laptops are as close to flawless as we've seen in a gaming laptop in a long time. We do wish the 16-inch machine had an integrated Ethernet port, but that's easy enough to work around with a Thunderbolt docking station or even just a USB Ethernet adapter.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/25/2025
The Laptop I'd Buy with My Own Money in 2025
Source: Ben G Kaiser
This powerhouse laptop just replaced my entire desktop setup—and it’s better than ever. With Thunderbolt 5, triple M.2 slots, a 4K matte display, and RTX 5080 performance, the Alienware 16 Area 51 is built to crush creative workflows.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/10/2025
Source: Ben G Kaiser
This powerhouse laptop just replaced my entire desktop setup—and it’s better than ever. With Thunderbolt 5, triple M.2 slots, a 4K matte display, and RTX 5080 performance, the Alienware 16 Area 51 is built to crush creative workflows.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/10/2025
Alienware 16 Area-51 review: A fully retooled gaming mothership
Source: Engadget
Even though the Alienware 16 Area-51 might not be as portable as some of its rivals, it's got a lot to offer. There’s a striking design, a nice screen (though more options would be nice), tons of ports and class-leading performance with plenty of configurability so you can dial in its specs exactly how you like. Granted, Alienware's attention-grabbing space-age aesthetics might not be for folks who aren't ready to be beamed up to the mothership. But aside from its short battery life and high price for well-equipped models, this system delivers pretty much everything you want from a flagship gaming laptop.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/01/2025
Rating: Total score: 86%
Source: Engadget
Even though the Alienware 16 Area-51 might not be as portable as some of its rivals, it's got a lot to offer. There’s a striking design, a nice screen (though more options would be nice), tons of ports and class-leading performance with plenty of configurability so you can dial in its specs exactly how you like. Granted, Alienware's attention-grabbing space-age aesthetics might not be for folks who aren't ready to be beamed up to the mothership. But aside from its short battery life and high price for well-equipped models, this system delivers pretty much everything you want from a flagship gaming laptop.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/01/2025
Rating: Total score: 86%
Alienware 16 Area-51 Review: Part Desktop, Part Laptop and a Whole Lotta Lights
Source: CNet
Generally speaking, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is an excellent 16-inch gaming laptop. Due to its size and weight, it's much more of a desktop replacement than something you'll want to travel with regularly. The display is a bit of a weak spot, and the option to swap it for an OLED would be nice, but it's not a deal-breaker. Plus, its port assortment makes it easy to connect up to an external display and more. Its desktop-like processor performance is truly impressive; its GPU is less so, but it is still plenty powerful for a gaming laptop, and there is the option to pay for a faster 5090 chip. I also appreciate the lights and styling, and the option to upgrade storage and RAM. Again, you might be paying a premium, but it's a fair value for what's on offer.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/16/2025
Rating: Total score: 86%
Source: CNet
Generally speaking, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is an excellent 16-inch gaming laptop. Due to its size and weight, it's much more of a desktop replacement than something you'll want to travel with regularly. The display is a bit of a weak spot, and the option to swap it for an OLED would be nice, but it's not a deal-breaker. Plus, its port assortment makes it easy to connect up to an external display and more. Its desktop-like processor performance is truly impressive; its GPU is less so, but it is still plenty powerful for a gaming laptop, and there is the option to pay for a faster 5090 chip. I also appreciate the lights and styling, and the option to upgrade storage and RAM. Again, you might be paying a premium, but it's a fair value for what's on offer.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/16/2025
Rating: Total score: 86%
Alienware 16 Area-51 review
Source: PC Gamer
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a great pick for someone looking to game primarily on a laptop and still have some semblance of portability. It lacks an OLED panel, which is its biggest miss, and performance is a touch slower than some we've seen. But it more than makes up for these with a price tag lower than others offering the same level of quality.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/28/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Gamer
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a great pick for someone looking to game primarily on a laptop and still have some semblance of portability. It lacks an OLED panel, which is its biggest miss, and performance is a touch slower than some we've seen. But it more than makes up for these with a price tag lower than others offering the same level of quality.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/28/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
BRAND NEW DESIGN | Alienware 16 Area 51 (2025)
Source: Ben G Kaiser
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/15/2025
Source: Ben G Kaiser
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/15/2025
Alienware 16 Area-51 Review: If Only the Display Was as Fantastic as the Mechanical Keyboard
Source: Gizmodo
The new Area-51 laptop feels like Alienware in a way that its most recent gaming PCs like its mammoth Area-51 desktop have not. The gaming laptop is extra: extra glowy, extra clicky, and all too over the top. The bottom panel sports a massive window where you can peer directly at the fan components. The only way you’d catch a glimpse of the rotating fans and the tint of RGB is if you lift up your laptop as if you were looking for a quarter that rolled under your dresser. The Razer Blade 18 has a similar portal on its undercarriage. As pointless as that is on either laptop, for the ever-extra Dell-owned Alienware, it seems more on point.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/12/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Gizmodo
The new Area-51 laptop feels like Alienware in a way that its most recent gaming PCs like its mammoth Area-51 desktop have not. The gaming laptop is extra: extra glowy, extra clicky, and all too over the top. The bottom panel sports a massive window where you can peer directly at the fan components. The only way you’d catch a glimpse of the rotating fans and the tint of RGB is if you lift up your laptop as if you were looking for a quarter that rolled under your dresser. The Razer Blade 18 has a similar portal on its undercarriage. As pointless as that is on either laptop, for the ever-extra Dell-owned Alienware, it seems more on point.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/12/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Alienware FINALLY Nailed It - Area-51 16" & 18" Gaming Laptop Review
Source: Hardware Canucks
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/11/2025
Source: Hardware Canucks
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/11/2025
Alienware 16 Area51 vs Razer Blade 16 - Chonky or Slim, Which is a Better Gaming Laptop?
Source: Mash IT
In this video we check out which 16" gaming laptop is right for you between the Razer Blade 16 and Alienware Area-51 16" Sadly we could not get the exact specs between them so the Blade has a RTX 5090 and the Alienware a 5080.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/08/2025
Source: Mash IT
In this video we check out which 16" gaming laptop is right for you between the Razer Blade 16 and Alienware Area-51 16" Sadly we could not get the exact specs between them so the Blade has a RTX 5090 and the Alienware a 5080.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 08/08/2025
Alienware 16 Area-51 Review: This Gaming Laptop Is a True Heavyweight Contender
Source: PC Mag
The Alienware 16 Area-51 earns its place as a premium gaming laptop in every sense. Our testing proved it has the style, build quality, performance, and indeed the price to justify this classification. It errs on the more understated side of flashy design while retaining a unique look and thoughtful build. This laptop's performance aligns with other top-end machines, even outperforming some better-equipped laptops, ensuring a smooth gaming experience at high resolution. Its high cost is a barrier to entry for many shoppers, but beyond that, the laptop's battery life is its only major pitfall. We don’t recommend the Alienware 16 Area-51 if you plan to use it on the go and off the charger often, but it excels as a desktop-replacement gaming rig.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/26/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Mag
The Alienware 16 Area-51 earns its place as a premium gaming laptop in every sense. Our testing proved it has the style, build quality, performance, and indeed the price to justify this classification. It errs on the more understated side of flashy design while retaining a unique look and thoughtful build. This laptop's performance aligns with other top-end machines, even outperforming some better-equipped laptops, ensuring a smooth gaming experience at high resolution. Its high cost is a barrier to entry for many shoppers, but beyond that, the laptop's battery life is its only major pitfall. We don’t recommend the Alienware 16 Area-51 if you plan to use it on the go and off the charger often, but it excels as a desktop-replacement gaming rig.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/26/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
I've tested laptops for years, and the Alienware 16 Area-51 is easily one of the best gaming laptops ever made
Source: Techradar
The Alienware 16 Area-51 stands out with an eye-catching design that sets a tough standard for competitors. Underneath, it delivers impressive gaming performance, an excellent keyboard, and capable speakers. While the 240Hz display offers fast refresh rates, the overall image quality doesn’t quite live up to expectations, and battery life during non-gaming use is lackluster.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/18/2025
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% mobility: 60% workmanship: 100%
Source: Techradar
The Alienware 16 Area-51 stands out with an eye-catching design that sets a tough standard for competitors. Underneath, it delivers impressive gaming performance, an excellent keyboard, and capable speakers. While the 240Hz display offers fast refresh rates, the overall image quality doesn’t quite live up to expectations, and battery life during non-gaming use is lackluster.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/18/2025
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% mobility: 60% workmanship: 100%
Alienware 16 Area-51 Review - Power From Another Planet!
Source: Jarrod'sTech
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/24/2025
Source: Jarrod'sTech
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/24/2025
Alienware 16 Area-51 review: Performance from another planet
Source: PC World
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is an amazing 16-inch gaming laptop. Yes, it’s a good amount of money — but it’s competitively priced with other high-end gaming laptops with similar hardware, and you also get an amazing package. I love having a mechanical keyboard in a laptop. If you’re looking for a capable PC with the latest high-end hardware and this fits your budget, you’ll be happy with this machine. It’s excellent. But not everything is for everyone! Be sure to consider what type of display you want — if you want an OLED screen, the HP Omen Max 16 may be a better pick. That greenish “Liquid Teal” may give some people pause, too — I like the look, but I imagine it’s not everyone’s style. It’d be nice if Dell offered multiple color options for this laptop.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/11/2025
Rating: Total score: 97%
Source: PC World
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is an amazing 16-inch gaming laptop. Yes, it’s a good amount of money — but it’s competitively priced with other high-end gaming laptops with similar hardware, and you also get an amazing package. I love having a mechanical keyboard in a laptop. If you’re looking for a capable PC with the latest high-end hardware and this fits your budget, you’ll be happy with this machine. It’s excellent. But not everything is for everyone! Be sure to consider what type of display you want — if you want an OLED screen, the HP Omen Max 16 may be a better pick. That greenish “Liquid Teal” may give some people pause, too — I like the look, but I imagine it’s not everyone’s style. It’d be nice if Dell offered multiple color options for this laptop.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/11/2025
Rating: Total score: 97%
Foreign Reviews
Alienware Area 51 Die Spitzenklasse unter den Gaming-Laptops
Source: Gamestar
DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/08/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Gamestar
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/08/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%
Test Alienware Area-51 16 pouces : un lourd parti pris… dans tous les sens du terme
Source: Clubic
FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/07/2025
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 90% display: 70% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70%
Source: Clubic
FR→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/07/2025
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 90% display: 70% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70%
素晴らしいメカニカルキーボードを搭載したゲーミングノート Alienware 16 Area-51
Source: Gizmodo JP
JA→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/18/2025
Source: Gizmodo JP
JA→ENSingle Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/18/2025
Comment
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop: A fast graphics card from the Blackwell family for laptops that is based on the GB203 chip and uses 8,192 shaders and 16 GB GDDR7 graphics memory (256-bit graphics bus).
These graphics cards are able to play the latest and most demanding games in high resolutions and full detail settings with enabled Anti-Aliasing.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Ultra 9 275HX: Mobile high-end CPU for gaming notebooks based on the Arrow Lake architecture. Offers 24 cores consisting of 8 fast performance cores with up to 5.4 GHz and 16 smaller efficiency cores with up to 4.6 GHz clock speed. The CPU can access 40 MB L2 cache and 36 MB L3 cache and is specified with a TDP of 55 watts. The SoC integrates a small dedicated NPU called AI Boost with 13 TOPS (Int8) and optionally supports vPro Essentials.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
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