Alienware 16X Aurora finally shipping with the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, but configurations can be frustrating

The 2026 Dell Alienware 16X Aurora is now shipping with additional configurable options over the 2025 version. The system can be configured with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, and OLED display whereas last year's model topped out at the Core Ultra 9 275HX, RTX 5070, and IPS display instead. The GPU upgrade alone is a healthy performance upgrade over the RTX 5070.

Unfortunately, trying to purchase the 2026 16X Aurora is a completely different story. The problem is that the RTX 5070 Ti can only be configured with the new Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus even though we proved in our review that the new CPU is barely an improvement over the already excellent Core Ultra 9 275HX. The option to configure the RTX 5070 Ti with the Core Ultra 9 275HX instead could have likely saved buyers a few hundred dollars without having to compromise gaming performance.

The issue extends to the new OLED display as well since the RTX 5070 Ti cannot be configured with IPS. However, OLED is a much more noticeable upgrade over IPS when compared to the minor performance jump from the Core Ultra 9 275HX to the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and so the added cost is more easily justified. Nonetheless, Dell should should allow for more freedom in configurations to reach more potential customers especially at a time when laptop prices are higher than ever.