Alienware 18 Area-51 is missing one key feature against the MSI Titan 18 HX

The Alienware 18 has proven itself to be one of the fastest gaming laptops money can buy even when compared to alternatives with the same graphics options. Its massive size has allowed for a larger cooling solution and ultimately higher power ceilings to squeeze as much performance as possible from the hardware.

One distinct option, however, is curiously missing on the Dell laptop. When compared to the competing MSI Raider A18 or MSI Titan 18 HX, the Alienware 18 cannot be configured with 4K or HDR-compatible displays. In fact, all SKUs at the moment come with the same 1600p 300 Hz IPS display whereas MSI owners can configure between two options: IPS or 4K Mini-LED. The omission of both 4K and HDR on the Alienware is perplexing given that it is a flagship model retailing for well over 3500 to 4500 USD.

It's worth mentioning that the Alienware isn't the only 18-inch gaming laptop with no 4K options as the Asus ROG Strix G18 is also limited to a 1600p 240 Hz IPS display. The Alienware 18 may be slightly faster than the Titan 18 HX when it comes to gaming, but gamers who want 4K HDR on the internal monitor will have no choice but to go with the MSI system for now.