Dell shook the gaming world in 2021 when it introduced its Alienware X-series product line to meet the thin and powerful gaming laptop market. Alienware will be at CES 2023 with two new additions to the x range, the Alienware x16 and the Alienware x14 R2, the x14’s replacement.
Both devices include the most powerful CPU and GPU available on the market, including the brand-new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series Laptops GPU, which debuted at CES. Both feature a similar architecture, however the Alienware x16 weighs 6 pounds and has more powerful configuration possibilities than its lighter (4.6 pounds) x14 sister.
Dell bills the Alienware x16 as the “world’s most premium gaming laptop,” and it can be bought with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 13620H, a Core i7 13700H, or a Core i9 13900HK.
Dell calls the x14 R2 the “world’s thinnest 14″ gaming laptop,” and it comes with only two processor options: Intel Core i5 13420H or Core i7 13620H.
On the graphics front, the x16 provides five GeForce RTX 40-series options: RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6, RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6, RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6, all with a maximum GFX power of 140W, or RTX 4080 12GB GDDR6, RTX 4090 16GB GDDR6, all with a maximum GFX power of 175W.
The Alienware has only three options: 3050 6GB GDDR6, 4050 6GB GDDR6, and RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6.
Both RTX 40 solutions for the X14 R2 are designed for lower power envelopes (50W or 80W max GFX power) to accommodate the thinner, lighter chassis (14.5mm vs.18.5mm) and cooling performance.
The Alienware x16 has a 16:10 240Hz QHD+ display with a 3ms response time and a colour gamut that is 100% DCI-P3. Gamers that require a faster refresh rate can get the x16 with the 16.0′′ FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 480Hz display.
The Alienware X14 R2 has a 14.0′′ QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 165Hz display with a comparable 3ms response time and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut as the Alienware X14 R1. NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus are supported by all display combinations.
For the first time, the Alienware team built a system with 6 speakers embedded in every configuration with the x16. The audio system features two upfiring tweeters for clarity and a dual woofer arrangement for powerful bass. Such a robust audio arrangement serves as an excellent foundation for the spatial sound offered by Dolby Atmos.
The chassis of both machines is designed using Alienware’s Legend 3 design language. Both have a full metal chassis constructed of anodized aluminium and magnesium alloy.
The big touchpad with dynamic light on the x16 is 15% larger than the touchpad on the x17 R2. The keyboard and the laptop’s back edge both have animated LED lights, and Dell claims that an array of 100 micro-LEDs allows for distinctive AlienFX behaviours like scanning, loop, and rainbow wave.
Cooling is an important part of any gaming laptop, and Alienware begins with a solid foundation in the form of a high-performance thermal material dubbed Element 31 (think of it as the “thermal paste”). When OEMs get this step wrong, everything else falls apart.
As a result, heat is transmitted from the chip’s package to a heatsink with a vapour chamber via the thermal material, an established method. Alienware then has software that controls the fans (based on internal sensors) to maintain the optimal balance of temperature and noise.
The Alienware x16 will be available in Q1 with high-end configurations with Intel and NVIDIA options starting at $3,099 (US) and $4,199, respectively (CA).
Additional configurations will be available later, with the base model priced at $2,149.99 (US), $2,899.99 (US) (CA). AMD Options will be available in Q2. The Alienware x14 will be released in Q1 of this year.
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