
Pros
- High-end gaming performance
- Manages warmth and sound well
- Upgradeable RAM and 3 x SSD ports
Disadvantages
- Big and hefty
- Short battery life
- LCD screen does not have terrific contrast
The Alienware 16 Location- 51 sets the phase for Alienware’s brand-new front runner laptop computer design. It certainly supplies some intrigue with its appearances, is rather potent and it operates without too much sound. Nevertheless, thick bezels, huge measurements and significant heft do not make it the best-designed system around (though it does place on a nice light program).
As you could anticipate, the 16 Area- 51 does a terrific task running everyday tasks. Its CPU can compete with desktop Computers, and it boasts impressive graphics performance for high-quality video gaming (even if it’s not near to being on par with the desktop computer counterpart). The system also handles its warm well, obtaining it out and maintaining it far from your hands. Battery life is predictably weak though, barely surpassing 2 hours.
All of it does come at a high cost though. My test configuration was what Dell lists as a $ 3, 349 “approximated value,” yet it rapidly sublimates that to $ 2, 849 While I can’t state I love the method Dell presents its rates for the Alienware 16 Area- 51, it’s a good idea it’s not closer to the “projected worth.” That would certainly come way also close to the lighter, more compact Lenovo Myriad Pro 7 i 16 Gen 10 Lenovo has a knack for squeezing out all the efficiency it can from a video gaming laptop computer. A knack Alienware hasn’t quite shown right here. That said, while the Alienware 16 Area- 51 is definitely a premium gaming laptop computer with the cost to show it, it’s a reasonable value for what’s on offer.
Alienware 16 Area- 51 Specs
Price as evaluated | $ 3, 349 |
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Dimension | 14 37 x 11 41 x 1 12 in/ 365 x 290 x 28 5 mm; 7 24 extra pounds |
Display | 16 -inch, 2560 x 1600, 240 Hz, LCD, Nvidia G-Sync, 100 % DCI-P 3 |
CPU | 2 7 GHz Intel Core Ultra 9 275 HX |
Memory | 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR 5 – 6400 |
Graphics | 16 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop computer |
Storage space | 1 TB PM 9 C 1 a Samsung 1024 GB |
Networking | Intel Awesome Wi-Fi 7 BE 1750 802 11 be, Bluetooth 5 4 |
Connections | USB 3 2 Gen 1 Type-A (x 3 rear), Thunderbolt 5 (x 2 rear), 3 5 mm audio port (x 1 left), HDMI 2 1 (x 1 back), SD card visitor (x 1 left) |
Battery | 96 Wh |
Running system | Windows 11 Home |
Dell has a few preconfigured models of the Alienware 16 Location- 51 with a listed price of $ 2, 999 to get a similar setup to the one I evaluated yet with an RTX 5070 Ti rather. As configured, my Location- 51 has an “approximated worth” of $ 3, 349, though the previously mentioned preconfigured model does not include the mechanical key-board mine has. In spite of their newness, Dell had all configurations greatly discounted at the time of testing, with the base design dropped to $ 2, 549 and our examination system sitting at $ 2, 849 It shows up Dell has taken a page out of Lenovo’s publication and began retail price (the “approximated worth”) it doesn’t mean to bill, so it can seem providing a bargain on its real retail prices.
The aurora borealis-inspired lights around the rear is new with this design.
Dell offers a customized configurator to enable you to blend and match the aspects you desire. This begins with a base of $ 1, 849 that includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 255 HX, an 8 GB RTX 5060, 16 GB of memory and 1 TB of storage. Utilizing the configurator to obtain our test configuration, the rate comes out to $ 2, 849 (or $ 2, 899 if you want the mechanical keyboard). Arrangements can go also greater, with Dell supplying an RTX 5090, 64 GB of memory and as much as 12 TB of storage space by combining 3 4 TB SSDs.
Oddly, Dell supplies two various screen alternatives, however both coincide 2, 560 x 1, 600 -resolution panel with mentioned 100 % DCI-P 3 coverage, 500 nit brightness, a 240 Hz revitalize price and Nvidia G-Sync plus Advanced Optimus. The actual difference is the web cam: One is 4 K while the various other is 1080 p.
Strong, but not pushing the restrictions
The Alienware 16 Area- 51 has muscles to bend. It rocks a mighty CPU that sets up the kind of numbers also desktop computer PCs wish for. In our Geekbench 6 test, the Alienware 16 Area- 51’s Intel Core Ultra 9 275 HX almost appeared the AMD Ryzen 7 9800 X 3 D as checked in the Speed Micro Raptor Z 95 A desktop computer, with the Alienware in fact drawing in advance in multicore speeds. It also resembled matching the Alienware Location- 51 desktop computer’s speeds in this examination, which system was running a complete Intel Core Ultra 9 285 K with a 360 mm fluid colder. It was a comparable tale for the Cinebench examination.
The backlit touchpad is still an emphasize on Alienware’s laptops.
Processor performance like that is excellent to see, specifically in a laptop, however the graphics chip delays well behind desktop equivalents. That’s not to say the RTX 5080 inside the Alienware 16 Location- 51 isn’t strong, yet the margin is much broader contrasted to the RTX 5080 you would certainly discover in a desktop PC. In numerous 3 DMark examinations, the two desktop computers discussed above achieved about 40 % better performance than the Alienware 16 Location- 51
Of course, that simply means you need to solidify your assumptions rather. The Alienware 16 Location- 51 is still a mighty solid system. It ran all our 1080 p pc gaming tests at over 140 structures per 2nd, reaching 183 fps in Guardians of the Galaxy and 207 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. However you won’t make the most of the Alienware 16 Area- 51 at 1080 p, as that sees it in fact fall short of an RTX 4080 -geared up Lenovo Legion Pro 716 IRX 9 H. Rather, dialing up the resolution or graphics setups will certainly let you take far better advantage of the hardware’s potential.
The metal lid looks wonderful but seems to damage quickly.
I had the ability to pleasantly play via the opening hour of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at 1080 p with graphics at the highest predetermined, DLSS set to DLAA setting (i.e., no downsampling) and all ray-tracing results maxed out. It had not been ideal, with expedition locations just striking 30 – 40 frames per second and interiors sitting around 60 – 70 fps, yet it corresponded, not seeing the brief drops to solitary figures that can really storage tank a gaming experience. The system followers were likewise not very loud in spite of the hefty lots of the game, though Alienware’s Efficiency mode does push them to a much more irritatingly loud level.
Speaking of warmth, it’s managed rather well. The Alienware 16 Area- 51 ran 3 DMark’s Steel Wanderer Cardiovascular test with 97 2 % uniformity, so it really did not have to throttle back as the temperature level climbed up. Heat is likewise avoided the player. I didn’t really feel the system obtaining cozy with my hand resting on the key-board deck and fingers on the WASD keys. If you place your computer mouse also near to the side vents, however, you might really feel the exhaust warm.
Battery efficiency isn’t fairly as excellent as various other aspects of the Alienware 16 Location- 51 Leaving it approximately the system, the Alienware 16 Area- 51 didn’t appear to think it must fully deactivate the GPU when I was simply utilizing the Chrome browser. As a result, I was fortunate to overcome 2 5 hours of battery life running our streaming video drain test; you can expect also less while pc gaming. That’s not abnormal for a high-powered video gaming laptop computer, yet it’s not something to overlook, either.
Do not try to find the quantity tricks along the leading row of function keys; they’re down the appropriate side of the keyboard.
A beauty that could have used some condensing
Alienware has actually long been one for distinctive layouts, and the Alienware 16 Area- 51 is no exception. As soon as I drew this beast out of package, I said to myself, “What is going on right here?” On one hand, the Alienware 16 Location- 51 shares clear DNA with the Alienware x 16 R 2 that came prior to it. It births an in a similar way rounded style, the huge back rack and it obtains the brightened trackpad. It likewise has a big grille above the keyboard, though Alienware really did not opt for the honeycomb design of the x 16 R 2 As a matter of fact, the Alienware 16 Location- 51 is smattered with grilles and vents. More intriguing than every one of them, nonetheless, is the window on the bottom of the laptop computer.
A window to your components, or a minimum of the followers that cool them.
This bottom home window gives a look right into a small area of the inside. It’s not a specifically appealing section, yet it supplies a peek at two of the 4 fans and a couple of ribbon adapters. Considering that it covers some of the area where a bottom grille would normally supply air consumption for the fans, Dell has much of the air can be found in with the grille above the key-board. The home window gets on a little platform that itself has a tiny grille, enabling some extra air consumption. There’s a second set of fans near the home window that have their very own base grille. All the air coming in obtains burnt out vents on the sides and rear of the laptop.
Dell has tucked 2 speakers on either side of the keyboard behind grilles of their own. Yet along with those 2, there’s one more set beneath the laptop, providing the Alienware 16 Location- 51 a two-tweeter, two-woofer configuration. A lot more audio speakers do not indicate much better audio though. Maxed out, the speakers weren’t very loud, and at greater volumes, they took care of to separate a bit and audio severe, specifically with Dolby Atmos features enabled. They sound better dialed back a little bit yet still have a harshness from overdone high-frequency audios.
The key-board is oddly recessed as Dell has “pillowed” the reduced part of the deck for functional designs. I can’t claim it really feels poor, however I do not believe it feels any better for the pillowing. The even more obvious “really feels” comes from the optional mechanical keyboard. You’ll hear that you’re utilizing a mechanical key-board, and if you use it in a silent area, individuals are going to discover. It’s not loud like a set of Cherry MX Blues , yet it is noticeable. Other than that, it’s a decent enough key-board for quick typing, with a clear actuation and excellent stabilization. I was comfortable keying at over 100 words per min, but I discovered I had a hard time to go much quicker.
Most of the links are at the back so larger cable televisions avoid of your way.
Regardless of the laptop’s size, the trackpad is in fact relatively little since Dell pressed the key-board down toward the front. It’s not small, but it would feel much more in the house on a 14– and even 13 -inch laptop computer.
The 16 -inch screen is suitable. It’s plenty sharp many thanks to its 1600 p resolution and seems smooth with its 240 Hz freshen rate. Ghosting is faint enough that it’s simple to neglect, though some light inverted ghosting is much more recognizable. Nevertheless the contrast is a little bit lacking. Lots of various other producers go with OLED panels, but Alienware didn’t. It might be just as vibrant, yet the shortcoming on the other hand can make dark scenes in games less impressive.
The display screen joint is also odd, moving out on rails as the display screen opens up. This elevates the display screen up ever so slightly and may aid distract from the large-for- 2025 bottom bezel. What it does not sidetrack from is the somewhat concerning amount of adaptability the screen itself has.
Other than the bendy display, the rest of the machine feels well-built. The keyboard deck is strong and has a plastic coating, while the cover and bottom featured a metal eco-friendly aluminum that looks a little bit like a beetle shell. The thermal rack in the back is made from a translucent plastic that lets extra lighting shine through.
Alienware placed most of the ports on that back shelf. It’s a suitable choice, with 3 USB 3 2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 2 Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI 2 1 output and a power port for the sturdy 350 -watt power brick (side note: Dell utilized GaN technology in this brick, so it’s at the very least smaller and lighter than it can have been). On the left side of the laptop, you’ll additionally find a headset jack and a full-size SD card visitor.
With all that Dell has taking place right here, this was normally mosting likely to be a large and heavy laptop computer. But also after that, it’s surprising just how huge and hefty it is. It ideas the ranges at 7 2 extra pounds and measures a nearly silly 11 4 inches front to back. The 1 1 -inch density isn’t stellar, however at least the 14 4 -inch width is foregone conclusion with 16 -inch laptops.
While the dimension is a disadvantage in and of itself, it does come with a perk. The inside has space for three M. 2 solid-state drives, offering you a lot of upgrade possibility. It likewise utilizes DDR 5 components– not onboard memory– which suggests if you wish to update to more memory down the line, you’ll be able to.
Is the Alienware 16 Area- 51 worth it?
Normally speaking, the Alienware 16 Area- 51 is an outstanding 16 -inch gaming laptop. Due to its dimension and weight, it is more of a desktop computer replacement than something you’ll want to travel with frequently. The screen is a bit of a weak point, and the option to switch it for an OLED would certainly be nice, but it’s not a deal-breaker. And also, its port selection makes it easy to attach approximately an external screen and more. Its desktop-like cpu efficiency is absolutely outstanding; its GPU is much less so, however it is still plenty effective for a gaming laptop computer, and there is the option to pay for a faster 5090 chip. I likewise appreciate the lights and designing and the alternative to upgrade storage and RAM. Once more, you might be paying a premium, but it’s a reasonable value for what gets on deal.
The testimonial process for laptop computers, desktops, tablet computers and other computerlike tools includes two parts: efficiency screening under controlled problems in the CNET Labs and comprehensive hands-on usage by our specialist customers. This includes assessing a tool’s looks, comfort designs and functions. A final testimonial decision is a mix of both unbiased and subjective judgments.
The checklist of benchmarking software we use changes with time as the tools we examine advance. One of the most crucial core examinations we’re currently running on every compatible computer consist of Primate Labs Geekbench 6 , Cinebench R 23 , PCMark 10 and 3 DMark Fire Strike Ultra
An even more thorough description of each standard and just how we utilize it can be located on our How We Evaluate Computers web page.
Geekbench 6 CPU (multicore)
Alienware 16 Area- 51 20043 Lenovo Myriad 5 i 15 IRX 10 17711 Asus ProArt P 16 15377 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 14587 Acer Swift X 14 13349 Dell XPS 16 9640 12855 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 12787
Geekbench 6 CPU (single-core)
Alienware 16 Area- 51 3073 Asus ProArt P 16 2905 Lenovo Legion 5 i 15 IRX 10 2895 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 2738 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 2607 Acer Swift X 14 2402 Dell XPS 16 9640 2226
Cinebench 2024 CPU (multicore)
Alienware 16 Location- 51 2002 Lenovo Legion 5 i 15 IRX 10 1407 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 1220 Asus ProArt P 16 1188 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 867 Dell XPS 16 9640 793 Acer Swift X 14 749
Cinebench 2024 CPU (single-core)
Alienware 16 Location- 51 134 Lenovo Myriad 5 i 15 IRX 10 121 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 117 Asus ProArt P 16 115 Acer Swift X 14 106 Dell XPS 16 9640 105 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 104
PCMark 10 Pro Edition
Alienware 16 Area- 51 8650 Lenovo Myriad 5 i 15 IRX 10 8056 Asus ProArt P 16 7857 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 7509 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 7024 Acer Swift X 14 6774 Dell XPS 16 9640 6667
3 DMark Fire Strike Ultra
Alienware 16 Location- 51 13504 Lenovo Myriad 5 i 15 IRX 10 8015 Asus ProArt P 16 7530 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 6413 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 6285 Dell XPS 16 9640 5239 Acer Swift X 14 4608
Darkness of the Burial Place Raider (Highest Possible @ 1920 x 1080
Alienware 16 Location- 51 207 Lenovo Legion 5 i 15 IRX 10 172 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 155 Asus ProArt P 16 150 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 143 Dell XPS 16 9640 109 Acer Swift X 14 104
Guardians of the Galaxy (High @ 1920 x 1080
Lenovo Legion 5 i 15 IRX 10 195 Alienware 16 Location- 51 183 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 159 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 133 Acer Swift X 14 126 Asus ProArt P 16 124 Dell XPS 16 9640 124
On-line streaming battery drain examination
Dell XPS 16 9640 11: 42 Asus ProArt P 16 10: 52 Acer Swift X 14 8: 28 Acer Nitro V 16 S AI 8: 32 MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W 6: 14 Lenovo Myriad 5 i 15 IRX 10 5: 25 Alienware 16 Location- 51 2: 29
System arrangements
Alienware 16 Area- 51 | Windows 11 Home; Intel Core Ultra 9 275 HX; 32 GB DDR 5 3, 200 MHz RAM; NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop computer; 1 TB PM 9 C 1 a Samsung |
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Asus ProArt P 16 | Windows 11 Home; AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370; 32 GB DDR 5 5, 600 MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070; 2 TB SSD |
MSI Katana 15 HX B 14 W | Windows 11 Home; Intel Core i 7 – 14650 HX; 16 GB DDR 5 5, 600 MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050; 512 GB SSD |
Lenovo Legion 5 i 15 IRX 10 | Windows 11 Home; Intel Core i 7 – 14700 HX; 32 GB DDR 5 5, 600 MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060; 1 TB SSD |
Acer Nitro V 16 S AI | Windows 11 Home; AMD Ryzen 7 260; 32 GB DDR 5 5, 600 MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060; 1 TB SSD |
Acer Swift X 14 | Windows 11 Home; Intel Core 7 Ultra 155 H; 32 GB LPDDR 5 6, 400 MHz RAM; 8 GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070; 1 TB SSD |
Dell XPS 16 9640 | Windows 11 Home; Intel Core 7 Ultra 155 H; 16 GB DDR 5 7, 467 MHz RAM; 8 GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070; 1 TB SSD |