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Alienware has revived its heaviest hitter. The Area-51 gaming laptop has officially returned and it’s aiming straight for the top of the food chain. First teased back at CES 2025, the new models are available to order right now.
You’ve got two sizes to pick from: the 16-inch version starts at $3,199.99, and the 18-inch model comes in at $3,399.99. Both are expected to start shipping on April 30, assuming you beat the pre-order rush and don’t get bumped to next month. Or next year.
Inside, it’s all business. Alienware is pairing Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU with the equally fresh NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080. The CPU is clocking up to 5.4GHz with 24 cores and 40MB cache, currently topping the Passmark charts for laptop processors. Meanwhile, early benchmarks put the 5080 at 16% faster than the RTX 4080 mobile, and that’s before DLSS 4 comes into play.
| Specification | Alienware Area-51 16″ | Alienware Area-51 18″ | Alienware m16 R2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,199.99 | $3,399.99 | $1,699.99 |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores, up to 5.4GHz) | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores, up to 5.4GHz) | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (16 cores, up to 5.1GHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 |
| Display | 16″ QHD+ (240Hz–300Hz, G-Sync) | 18″ QHD+ (240Hz–300Hz, G-Sync) | 16″ QHD+ (240Hz, 3ms, G-Sync) |
| Memory | 32GB DDR5-6400MHz (Upgradeable to 64GB) | 32GB DDR5-6400MHz (Upgradeable to 64GB) | 16GB DDR5-5600MHz |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 SSD (Upgradeable to 2TB) | 1TB M.2 SSD (Upgradeable to 2TB) | 1TB M.2 SSD |
| Chassis | Magnesium Alloy, Smoother Design, Enhanced Cooling | Magnesium Alloy, Smoother Design, Enhanced Cooling | Dark Metallic Moon, Standard Cooling |
| Weight | 7.5 lbs | 9.6 lbs | 5.75 lbs |
| Connectivity | USB Type-A, USB-C/Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.1, Card Reader | USB Type-A, USB-C/Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.1, Card Reader | USB Type-A, USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, RJ45, SD slot |
| Battery | High capacity (Exact Wh not specified) | High capacity (Exact Wh not specified) | 90Wh |
| Operating System | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Home |
Both sizes come stock with a QHD+ display (16″ or 18″), running between 240Hz and 300Hz with G-Sync support. You also get 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and the option to bump up to 64GB/2TB if you’ve got room in the budget. Spoiler: the budget will not be small.
Cooling has finally caught up with performance. Alienware swapped the chassis for a new magnesium alloy shell with larger airflow cutouts, more copper, and a thermal interface upgrade that lets this machine handle up to 240W TDP without sounding like it’s about to lift off. It’s still heavy—7.5 lbs for the 16″, 9.6 lbs for the 18″—but at least it won’t melt itself into your desk.
Design-wise, they ditched the sharp edges for rounded corners, concealed hinges, and the usual loadout of custom RGB zones. Connectivity isn’t lacking either, with USB Type-A, Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.1, and a card reader all included.
My Favorite Alternative Pick
But if the $3K+ club isn’t for you? There’s a more wallet-friendly Alienware option worth checking out. Alienware m16 R2 might not come with a 5080, but at $1,699.99, it still packs a punch.
You’re getting an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5, and a slick QHD+ 240Hz panel with G-Sync. It weighs less, costs less, and still runs circles around most mid-range builds. If you don’t need 24 cores and copper plumbing just to play Apex, this one will do just fine.
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Kurt Indovina
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