The new Alienware 16 Area-51 gaming laptop represents a powerful workstation with RTX 5080 and Core Ultra 9 275HX, but its weight and dimensions make it more of a desktop replacement than a portable solution.
G. Ostrov
Alienware is reviving its famous Area-51 sub-brand, introducing a new 16-inch gaming laptop that focuses on maximum performance and futuristic design. The new system stands out with its large dimensions but attracts attention with its unique teal coloring, stylish RGB lighting, and impressive gaming performance.
Design and Construction
The return of Area-51 brings with it a new design language for Alienware. The new aesthetics are built on curved edges and rounded corners that still create a futuristic look. The entire construction is well-made, which is justified considering the device's weight and price.
The system comes in a "liquid teal" color, which is darker than regular teal but still remains in the blue-green spectrum. The coating resembles automotive paint - it looks different depending on the viewing angle.
There's RGB lighting in the laptop, and it's the closest to artistic effect use of RGB in laptops. Besides the alien head on the lid, there's a blue ring that shines through the protruding rear part of the system. There's also RGB in the keyboard and fans.
Technical Specifications
Our test configuration includes:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR7)
- Memory: 32GB DDR5-6400
- Storage: 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD
- Display: 16-inch, 2560x1600, 240 Hz with G-Sync
- Keyboard: CherryMX mechanical ($50 upgrade)
Gaming Performance
The combination of Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU provides powerful performance, comparable even to more powerful RTX 5090s in some laptops. In Alan Wake 2 with high quality settings, DLSS, and triple Frame Gen, the system showed 136-140 FPS.
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider at maximum settings, Area-51 delivered 183 FPS at 1080p resolution and 128 FPS at 2560x1600 resolution. In Cyberpunk 2077, the system showed 63 FPS at 1080p and 37 FPS at 4K.
Ports and Connectivity
Most ports are located on the system's rear panel: three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI 2.1, and the connector for the 360-watt power adapter. The left side houses only an SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Drawbacks
At dimensions of 14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 inches and weighing 7.49 pounds (without the 2.2-pound power adapter), the Area-51 is a massive device. Battery life is only 4 hours and 10 minutes, which is the lowest among competitors.
A particularly controversial decision was the glass window on the bottom of the laptop, which shows part of the motherboard and fans. While it looks impressive, there's no practical benefit, and the risk of damage during transport is concerning.
Conclusion
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a powerful gaming laptop with distinctive design and impressive performance. If you're looking for a portable gaming workstation and want to attract attention, the Area-51 is for you. However, its weight compared to similar gaming laptops may make transportation difficult.
Official Alienware website: https://www.alienware.com
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