The Alienware 16X Aurora with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics is my favourite gaming laptop computer for most individuals. It is a actually stable mid-ranger that provides stellar efficiency for the cash, an unbelievable 240Hz matte show, and a dreamy keyboard. It is also not notably flashy, so if you don’t need a machine that appears like a stereotypical gaming laptop computer, step proper up (although its loud fan will in all probability give it away).
Be aware: The 2026 Alienware 16X Aurora may have an anti-glare OLED show and new Intel Core Extremely 200HX processors. It will likely be obtainable in Q1, however we do not know its pricing but.
The 16X Aurora delivers astonishingly good efficiency for a laptop computer that is available in proper at $2,000 as examined. Its Geekbench 6 multi-core rating of 19,774 means it is the third-fastest laptop computer we have ever tried after the $3,600 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 OLED (20,369) and the $3,650 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip (22,758). That is not an enormous shock, contemplating the 16X Aurora I attempted packed a brand new, high-end Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX CPU, however hey, so did that Lenovo mannequin. You get comparable oomph for a fraction of the fee.
In 3DMark’s TimeSpy benchmark, which we run on gaming laptops to measure their graphics efficiency, the 16X Aurora notched a 14,023. That is the fifth-best rating in our database, and 15 p.c higher than the rating of the Alienware m16 R2 with last-gen RTX 4070 graphics. (That is its predecessor and our earlier prime decide on this class.) Suffice to say, AAA video games run nice on it. We have tried some RTX 5080 gaming laptops, they usually’ve notched scores of no less than 20,837 — that is a giant leap — however they price no less than $3,400.
The draw back of this energy is that the 16X Aurora runs loud and heat. Its keyboard and the vent above it had been at all times somewhat toasty throughout my testing, even once I was simply utilizing the laptop computer to browse the online. Plugging it in and enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 made the followers roar, although its floor by no means developed any actually scorching spots, so I suppose they had been doing their job. Unplugging the 16X Aurora lessens the fan noise by fairly a bit, however the subject there may be that the machine would not final very lengthy on battery. After I had it run our video rundown check with its devoted GPU and RGB keyboard backlighting off, it died after 5 hours and 40 minutes. (Turning on each options will drain it a lot sooner.) You are form of in a tricky spot: Both study to plan your gaming classes round its charging cycles, or spend money on a tremendous pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
On a extra optimistic notice, I’ve no main qualms with the 16X Aurora’s design. I do not see it being very divisive, as gaming laptops’ aesthetics can generally be. It is bathed in a darkish navy blue shade referred to as “Interstellar Indigo,” and its solely accent is an iridescent Alienware emblem on its lid. Its prime and backside panels are created from easy aluminum; it holds onto fingerprints however has an in any other case premium really feel. My fingers flew over its clicky island-style keyboard, which features a numpad. Its touchpad is plastic like the remainder of its keyboard deck, nevertheless it felt good and easy. (I’ll point out that it is off-center, which could bug some people.) Its webcam is grainy garbagio, however that is not dire. Anybody who’s doing critical streaming on this factor will likely be shopping for a separate webcam.
My absolute favourite element might be the 16X Aurora’s show. It has a 240Hz refresh fee, a crisp 2.5K decision, vibrant colours, and, crucially, a matte end. I have never seen a laptop computer display this matte since I attempted the Dell XPS 13 (RIP), and I feel it makes for a very comfortable, nice viewing expertise.
Like most gaming laptops, the 16X Aurora is cumbersome and heavy. It weighs shut to 6 kilos by itself, and its 280W charger provides an additional two. Plan on having it parked on a desk.
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