In the previous year, I found myself utterly impressed by the exceptional showcase of the Alienware m16 R2 gaming laptop, as detailed in my Alienware m16 R2 review.
Upon discovering that the gaming laptop series has been reinstated with its revitalized Area-51 label this year, my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to examine the latest additions. Given how well I thought the 16-inch model performed previously, I wondered if Alienware would be able to make significant enhancements to the previous version.
Boy, was I wrong.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been primarily gaming on the Alienware 16 Area-51 AW30 Laptop. I was anticipating top-notch performance, but the new Cherry MX keyboard with RGB touchpad has taken this laptop from simply amazing to downright incredible.
I don’t know how I’ll ever go back to a regular keyboard on a gaming laptop after this.
This review was written because we received a sample from Dell for this purpose. Before it was published, neither the company nor they had any influence over its content or seen what it contained.
Among the various brands of high-end gaming laptops, Alienware stands out as an excellent choice that I strongly endorse.
Just in case you weren’t aware, Alienware represents Dell’s specialized division for gaming equipment. Over the past 29 years, they have been consistently delivering dependable devices tailored to the needs of gamers such as ourselves.
The Area-51 16 gaming laptop offers various customization options, with its base price set at $1,999.99. However, if you opt for the Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, top-tier RTX 5090 graphics card, 64GB RAM, and a massive 12TB SSD, the cost can escalate up to $6,099.99.
This laptop’s price is quite reasonable when compared to other high-end gaming laptops on the market. For instance, it starts at around $1,000 less than the Razer Blade 16.
You can effortlessly get hold of an Alienware Area-51 16 in two ways: firstly, you can create your customized gaming laptop directly on Dell’s website; secondly, you can purchase a pre-assembled model from prominent tech stores such as Best Buy.
I strongly advise considering the purchase of a configuration I’ve reviewed, boasting an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, NVIDIA RTX 5080 L graphics card, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This top-notch setup is available at Dell for $3,399.99.
TIPS FOR SAVVY SPENDING: Consider opting for the RTX 5080 L instead of the RTX 5090 L. You might be surprised by their performance gap, but the 5080 offers a more budget-friendly price tag.
Alienware 16 Area-51 Gaming Laptop: Why I love it
This laptop has plenty to discuss, but let me zero in on what might grab your attention first: Exceptional processing power.
Using the Alienware Area-51 16 for gaming feels more than just exceptional; it provides the most fluid and seamless gaming experiences I’ve ever encountered.
This gaming laptop has smoothly run popular PC games such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and others, consistently achieving an average of over 117 frames per second (FPS) even with maximum graphics settings.
To illustrate, when running Cyberpunk 2077 at its highest Ray Tracing setting, “Ray Tracing: Overdrive,” with “Path Tracing” and “Ray Reconstruction” activated, the laptop achieved a typical frame rate of approximately 118 frames per second.
I expect nothing less from the follow-up to the m16 R2 gaming laptop.
- Ashes of the Singularity — 157 FPS (Normal preset, 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, V-sync enabled)
- Cyberpunk 2077 — 118 FPS (Ray Tracing: Overdrive preset, Path Tracing and Ray Reconstruction enabled, 1600p resolution, 120Hz, V-sync disabled, Intel Xe Super Sampling 1.3 set to “Auto,” frame generation disabled)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider — 183 FPS (High preset, 1080p resolution, V-sync enabled)
Using the Alienware Area-51 16 in gaming feels more than just a compliment when I say it’s the finest gaming laptop I’ve encountered; instead, it delivers the most seamless and enjoyable gaming experiences I’ve ever encountered.
Just as you’d anticipate on a gaming machine, the fans rev up swiftly when running demanding games. Using a sound level meter, I found that the laptop produced 47.6 decibels when placed close to my ear while I was seated in front of it. However, when positioned directly next to the vent, the meter registered as high as 61.8 decibels.
The computer performs well in maintaining its own temperature and running smoothly. It reached a maximum of 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) above the keyboard and 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius) at the rear vents. The parts I often come into direct contact with remained cool enough not to burn my touch.
After conducting various performance tests on this gaming laptop, it wasn’t surprising to discover that it often outperformed numerous rivals, as demonstrated by the subsequent graphical representations.
Furthermore, the graphics in this game are truly captivating, boasting impressive motion sharpness, intricate details, a rapid 120Hz refresh rate, and quick 3ms response time on an IPS screen.
During our color tests, it delivered a perfect match to sRGB, came close to achieving 88% of Adobe RGB, and nearly reached 97% of P3. While it doesn’t set any records, this performance for an IPS panel is still quite impressive.
In terms of speed during data loading and saving, Solid State Drives (SSDs) are incredibly swift with quick reading and writing times. For instance, this particular laptop managed to transcode a 4K version of Tears of Steel within just 19 minutes or 1,129 seconds, whereas some other laptops have taken as long as 45 minutes for the same task.
Given its nature as a gaming laptop, you shouldn’t anticipate exceptional battery life. In fact, it typically lasts about 4 hours and 8 minutes while performing routine office tasks.
Even though running a visually demanding game such as Cyberpunk 2077, particularly at approximately 200 nits of screen brightness, typically lasts for about an hour and thirteen minutes.
But then, you don’t usually expect to play unplugged on a premium gaming device like this one.
A beautiful design that doesn’t look out of place — Finally, some color on a laptop chassis
Among the many aspects I adore about the Alienware Area-51 16, one particular feature stands out – its lid and chassis boast a tranquil “teal” (blue) hue. In specific lighting conditions, it can appear almost black, which adds to its stealthy appeal. However, I find myself yearning for the thermal shelf to match this color instead of being black.
Instead of the frequently used neutral colors like grey, black, or white, it’s refreshing to encounter a laptop with a richer, more vibrant color tone on its lid.
Instead of considering the Alienware Area-51m (16-inch) merely as a gaming laptop, it’s more accurate to view it as a portable desktop, given its extensive array of ports.
Without trouble locating spots for charging or connecting my assorted gadgets, such as accessories, a monitor, was effortless due to the two Thunderbolt 5 slots, HDMI 2.1 port, and three USB-A ports it provided. It’s also equipped with an SD card reader and headphone jack to cater to additional requirements.
I’ve fallen in love with the mechanical keyboard, and it’s ruined other laptops for me
Lastly, I’m thrilled to delve into my favorite aspect of this review: Typing on the Area-51 16’s CherryMX mechanical keyboard is an unparalleled pleasure that surpasses any other laptop I’ve used.
I find myself drawn again and again to the satisfying click of these keys and their just-right pressure point. They react swiftly, making them perfect for gaming. It’s hard to imagine using anything but a mechanical keyboard laptop in the future.
Of course, the RGB lighting on this keyboard (and other parts of the laptop) is fantastic as well.
The Area-51 16’s CherryMX mechanical keyboard provides an exceptionally pleasant typing feel that surpasses any laptop keyboard experience I’ve previously encountered.
On the Area-51 keyboard, as well as the two adjustable fans, the touchpad, and the back of the display’s thermal area, there are a total of five regions that can be tailored to your preferred RGB settings.
As a creative enthusiast, I had the freedom to handpick distinct effects and colors straight from the color wheel, tailoring them uniquely for each section, even for every single key.
As a first-time user of an RGB touchpad, let me share my amazement: The instant I switched it to “Rainbow Wave” mode, I was left breathless. In person, its vibrant, dynamic display is nothing short of stunning.
Among the aspects I appreciate about Alienware gaming laptops is their inclusion of a Stealth mode button. This feature swiftly dims all distracting RGB lights and adjusts the keyboard illumination to white, making it less noticeable when you find yourself in a more professional setting and wish to avoid attracting attention.
Alienware 16 Area-51 Gaming Laptop: What needs to improve
Although I could talk endlessly about the Alienware Area-51m for hours, there are a few aspects I’d like to see refined in future editions of this laptop.
Initially, the Copilot key appears excessively broad compared to expectations, causing the spacebar to seem diminutive in comparison. Functionality-wise, everything works fine, yet aesthetically, it could use some improvement.
Additionally, it came as a surprise to me that this high-end gaming laptop lacks the choice for an OLED screen.
Previously mentioned, the IPS panel performs well, but it’s often OLED screens that are found in top-tier gaming laptops. Opting for an OLED panel could enhance the visual appeal of your games significantly. If you’re already investing in a high-end gaming machine, why not go all out and maximize your options?
✅ You should buy this if …
- You want one of the very best gaming laptops on the market
- Anyone who wants to play the latest AAA games to their best advantage will be served well by this laptop line. There are plenty of configurations to choose from to fit your gaming needs and budget. I also cannot stress how satisfying it is to use the CherryMX mechanical keyboard.
❌ You should not buy this if …
- You specifically want a gaming laptop with an OLED panel
- While the IPS display on the Area-51 16 offers great color, contrast, and crispness, it’s odd that a superior OLED screen isn’t a configuration option for this gaming laptop.
Without a doubt, I highly suggest the Alienware Area-51 16 as one of the top-tier gaming laptops available currently. It boasts an affordable price tag compared to similar models, delivers exceptional gaming performance, offers the choice of a mechanical keyboard, sports a stylish design, and provides customizable RGB zones for personalization.
A more preferable choice might have been an OLED panel over the IPS display that’s currently available. Despite this, the screen delivers very smooth motion clarity, sharp details, and satisfactory colors.
All in all, this is the RTX 50-Series gaming laptop I recommend most.
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2025-06-22 14:10