Alienware x16 R2 overview: High-stop gaming at a top rate trace

Value When Reviewed

$3,199

Most productive Costs Nowadays: Alienware x16 R2

The Alienware x16 R2 is a excessive-stop 16-walk gaming notebook computer. An Alienware advisor told me this machine is Alienware’s “most top rate ever.” It comes at a top rate trace, too — right here’s the roughly machine you judge when it’s good to get a polished expertise with an all-metal chassis, mechanical keyboard, and excessive-stop audio system. It’s no longer a worth-targeted gaming notebook computer that provides you with the most gaming efficiency that you are going to be ready to judge on the lowest trace level. But if a more top rate originate is what you’re purchasing for, this is capable of perhaps perchance simply be the gaming notebook computer for you.

Procuring for other alternate recommendations? Take a look at out PCWorld’s roundup of the finest gaming laptops.

Alienware x16 R2: Specs

The Alienware x16 R2 is a 16-walk gaming notebook computer with heaps of primary hardware within. Our overview model had a excessive-stop Intel Core Extremely 9 185H CPU, nonetheless the disagreeable model is additionally on hand with a Intel Core Extremely 7 processor 155H CPU. These are both Intel Meteor Lake CPUs, that means this notebook computer comes with the neural processing unit hardware that could transform significant to take good thing about AI features in Home windows and other purposes at some point soon.

The model we reviewed had Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics hardware, nonetheless Alienware additionally provides a elevated-stop model with GeForce RTX 4090 hardware — otherwise you are going to be ready to step down and take an RTX 4060 or RTX 4070.

Alienware included 32 GB of RAM our overview model, nonetheless the disagreeable model has 16 GB. Furthermore, we had a machine 1 TB of solid-negate storage, nonetheless you are going to be ready to get variations of this notebook computer that stretch with a constructed-in RAID — as a lot as two 4TB storage drives for a mixed 8TB of solid-negate storage.

The Alienware x16 R2 we got our arms on had a mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX extremely low-profle switches, nonetheless the disagreeable model comes fashioned with an “Alienware X Sequence keyboard” — a more faded notebook computer keyboard.

Within the extinguish, the notebook computer we reviewed included a 16-walk 2560×1600 resolution IPS checklist with a 240Hz refresh rate. Alienware told us you are going to be ready to additionally get this notebook computer with a 2220×1080 checklist with a blazing-rapid 480Hz refresh rate.

• CPU: Intel Core Extremely 9 185H
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X, 7467MT/s
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
• Show conceal: 16-walk 2560×1600 IPS checklist with 240Hz refresh rate
• Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam with HDR
• Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C with Strength Supply and DisplayPort), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 1x combo headset jack, 1x microSD card slot, 1x DC energy in
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: IR camera for Home windows Hiya
• Battery skill: 90 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.36 x 11.41 x 0.73 inches
• Weight: 5.86 kilos
• MSRP: $3,199 as examined ($2099 disagreeable trace)

Alienware x16 R2: Compose and contain quality

The Alienware x16 R2 is a well-designed gaming notebook computer. While it’s a 16-walk gaming notebook computer weighing in at practically six kilos, the curved edges make shuffle that it doesn’t take a look at or feel too blocky. Alienware calls the color plan “Lunar Silver.” The notebook computer’s lid is silver with a magnificent alien head stamp you are going to be ready to customize the color of, the within of the notebook computer is sunless, and the wait on of the notebook computer — the assign your entire ports are conveniently positioned — is framed in white. The originate is terribly Alienware, nonetheless it’s polished and no longer gaudy or over the discontinue — as a long way as gaming laptops crawl.

Here’s a notebook computer with a fat metal chassis. The lid and backside of the notebook computer are made of anodized aluminum, there’s chrome steel all the plan in which thru the keyboard, and the palm rest is product of a magnesium alloy. It feels good to withhold, and the solid metals give the notebook computer more of a top rate feel than less-costly gaming laptops that are in general appropriate product of plastic. (Plastic is okay and there’s nothing nasty with it, nonetheless there’s no doubt something that feels excessive stop about a pleasant metal notebook computer.)

There’s no weird flex to the notebook computer’s chassis, and the conceal is terribly solid — it wobbles itsy-bitsy or no have to you adjust its space.

The LEDs are well integrated: The keyboard provides per-key backlighting, and the total touchpad’s surface has backlighting, too. (The touchpad backlighting activates have to you’re the usage of it after which fades away just a few seconds after you’re taking your finger off of it, so it’s no longer constantly distracting.) The alien head stamp on the lid is backlit, too.

The wait on of the notebook computer additionally has “stadium” backlighting, with a swish-taking a take a look at lightbar all the plan in which thru the panel with the ports on the wait on of the notebook computer. All this “AlienFX” backlighting is customizable in the included Alienware Picture Center tool. But, out of the sphere, the total lot is a pleasant colour of blue — no over-the-prime rainbow attain the first time you boot it up. (But you are going to be ready to configure it to take a look at like that, when you want!)

It’s additionally worth noting that the touchpad and “stadium” backlighting on the wait on of the notebook computer get “100 micro LEDs,” according to Alienware. This implies you are going to be ready to customize them with a diversity of assorted colors and effects — you don’t have to take appropriate a single color.

Alienware x16 R2: Keyboard and trackpad

The Alienware x16 R2 we reviewed had an gorgeous keyboard. Here is no longer surprising — the model we reviewed came with a mechanical keyboard with CherryMX extremely-low profile switches. Since right here’s a mechanical keyboard, the keys get a expansive tactile feel and “clickiness” to them — completely assorted from the fashioned keyboards you’ll expertise on the well-liked notebook computer.

Mechanical keyboards aren’t too fashioned on gaming laptops. They’re generally stumbled on more on the external keyboards you’d use with desktop gaming PCs.

While I’m a expansive fan of mechanical keyboards — and so are many other avid gamers and PC users in fashioned — they’re no longer a have to-get characteristic. While you’ve in no plan tried a mechanical keyboard, you should always give one a attempt in particular person to judge how significant this characteristic is to you, because it’s a further upcharge and no longer included on the disagreeable model.

Mechanical keyboards are usually on the loud facet. While right here’s slightly tranquil for a mechanical keyboard, it’s with out a doubt a itsy-bitsy noisier than the well-liked non-mechanical keyboard. While you’ll be gaming in a tranquil room with someone sleeping subsequent to you, the mechanical keyboard version of this notebook computer doubtlessly isn’t ultimate. In any other case, the sound could perhaps perchance very well be no expansive deal.

This notebook computer’s touchpad additionally feels gorgeous with a pleasantly gentle surface and correct dwelling. I’ve musty gaming laptops with better touchpads, nonetheless the touchpad’s size modified into in no plan a controversy — and the compact size ensures palm rejection works well, too. I wasn’t accidentally bumping it whereas typing.

Alienware x16 R2: Show conceal and audio system

The Alienware x16 R2 has a 16-walk 2560×1600 IPS checklist with a 240Hz refresh rate. The checklist looks to be correct, nonetheless there are some things you are going to love to be attentive to.

First, this notebook computer’s checklist doesn’t get fat give a boost to for HDR. Alienware says it helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient videos, so that could be good when streaming Dolby Imaginative and prescient-enabled direct material. But right here’s a gaming notebook computer, and it’s considerable that the checklist does no longer give a boost to HDR in video video games.

Speaking of brightness, this checklist is on the murky facet. It provides appropriate 300 nits of brightness. Diversified excessive-stop gaming laptops — the Asus ROG Strix Scar, shall we embrace — provide 500 nits of brightness.

The notebook computer looked correct whereas gaming. It felt plenty brighter and looked better than the on-paper brightness numbers would lead me to place a query to. And that 240Hz refresh rate makes for a delicate expertise. However the Alienware x16 R2 is well in the wait on of just a few of its competitors on brightness and HDR.

The x16 R2’s audio system sound gorgeous — in all probability the finest audio system I’ve ever heard in a gaming notebook computer. You’re getting a correct quantity of bass (for a notebook computer.) It’s a six-speaker draw with two upward-firing tweeters, one on every facet of the keyboard. While you suggest to attain heaps of gaming with the notebook computer’s audio system — in space of plugging in a pair of headphones or external audio system — you’re getting a handy top rate speaker setup with this notebook computer.

Alienware x16 R2: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Alienware x16 R2 comes with a 1080p webcam with HDR. The webcam looks to be correct — considerably better than a finances 720p webcams that are in general present in decrease-stop laptops. Furthermore, thanks to the neural processing gadgets (NPUs) included with Intel’s Meteor Lake chips, you get get entry to to Home windows Studio Effects — a suite of AI effects like Demand Contact that makes it take a look at similar to you’re constantly taking a take a look at at your webcam have to you aren’t, to boot as blurring your background and framing the video spherical your face.

The twin-array microphones work well for constructed-in microphones. I easy would would love to use a dedicated microphone for gaming sessions — in particular when you’re blasting sound from these audio system — nonetheless the microphone setup is completely serviceable for on-line meetings or for gaming in a pinch.

The Alienware additionally comes with an IR camera for Home windows Hiya. It reliably signed me into Home windows with my face in a diversity of assorted lights conditions. It’s a expansive comfort characteristic to get, and I overlooked Home windows Hiya after I reviewed a gaming notebook computer with out it no longer too long ago.

Alienware x16 R2: Connectivity

The Alienware x16 R2 has a rich assortment of ports and expansive connectivity alternate recommendations — with the considerable exception of an Ethernet port for a wired community connection, which is a most well-liked characteristic on desktop-replacement laptops like this one.

Your entire ports on this notebook computer are conveniently located on the wait on of the notebook computer, guaranteeing cables aren’t protruding to the perimeters of your notebook computer and coming into into the ability. Clearly, when you’re keen on USB and headset jacks on the facet of your notebook computer, this is capable of perhaps perchance simply no longer be the machine for you — nonetheless you are going to constantly plod in in a USB-C hub or dongle for more uncomplicated get entry to.

On the wait on of the notebook computer, you’ll secure a combo headphone jack, a microSD card reader slot, an HDMI 2.1 port, a Mini DisplayPort, and an affect jack. You’ll additionally secure a total of four USB ports: This machine has two USB-C ports, one of which is a Thunderbolt 4 port and one of which is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. There are additionally two USB-A ports, both of which provide a boost to USB 3.2 Gen 1.

Through wireless networking, this notebook computer is as futureproof as you are going to be ready to get thanks to its give a boost to for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. You in all probability don’t get a Wi-Fi 7 router yet, so it’s no longer significant to get correct now — nonetheless it ability this notebook computer’s hardware will doubtless be prepared have to you toughen your router. (Wi-Fi 7 connectivity isn’t on hand at launch and have to be activated later in the year with a tool replace, according to Alienware.)

There’s one expansive omission: This notebook computer doesn’t provide a constructed-in Ethernet jack for wired community connections. Most gaming laptops of this size provide constructed-in Ethernet connectivity, nonetheless obviously no longer all americans uses it. You’ll desire a dongle when it’s good to have to effect it to your community by job of Ethernet — otherwise you’ll appropriate be the usage of Wi-Fi.

Alienware x16 R2: Efficiency

The Alienware x16 R2 delivered expansive efficiency in both gaming and day-to-day desktop use — that’s no shock thanks to the excessive-stop Intel Core Extremely 9 185H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics hardware, and 32GB of RAM.

I enjoyed playing Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty growth with maxxed-out settings. The Alienware x16 R2 generates heaps of heat, nonetheless it has the cooling draw to take care of it. Alienware says it has “Alienware Cryo-tech cooling expertise,” and whatever it’s called, it labored well. It with out a doubt strikes heaps of hot air a long way flung from the notebook computer. The keyboard and other areas you’d contact on the notebook computer pause chilly satisfactory that it’s no longer a controversy.

But benchmarks will provide an explanation for the fat memoir. As constantly, we ran the Alienware x16 R2 thru our fashioned benchmarks to search the plan in which it no doubt performs.

First, we dash PCMark 10 to get a notion of total draw efficiency. While right here’s alleged to be an total draw efficiency benchmark, the CPU has a better impact than the GPU right here. The 16-walk Alienware x16 R2 delivered a get of 7664.

That’s about what we’d place a query to to search — Alienware’s 18-walk m18 R2 with its Intel Core i9 185H CPU beats it. The Gigabyte Aorus 16X with its Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU additionally edges out the CPU on this Alienware notebook computer, nonetheless finest by a itsy-bitsy of bit. Those Intel HX CPUs are delivering a itsy-bitsy of better prime-stop efficiency than Intel’s most up-to-date Meteor Lake CPUs. Meteor Lake CPUs are more targeted on energy effectivity and AI efficiency, with their integrated neural processing unit.

Subsequent, we dash Cinebench R20. Here’s a closely multithreaded benchmark that specializes in total CPU efficiency. It’s a rapid benchmark, so cooling isn’t an primary element. Since it’s multithreaded, CPUs with more cores enlighten more efficiency and get elevated rankings.

The Alienware x16 R2 delivered a get of 7742. That’s just a few notches underneath the Gigabyte Aorus 16X. Despite the Aorus having a “Core i7” CPU with a 7 in the model quantity in space of a 9, that explicit CPU outperforms the Intel Core Extremely 9 on this notebook computer. If prime-stop CPU efficiency is what’s significant to you, you’ll doubtlessly pick on a gaming notebook computer with an HX chip.

Alternatively, this isn’t advisor of staunch-world gaming efficiency — these CPU differences don’t basically originate that mighty of a distinction in video games, that are mighty more about GPU efficiency. A notebook computer’s cooling draw is additionally a no doubt significant element, as we’ll spy underneath.

We additionally encode a video file with Handbrake. Here is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, nonetheless it runs over an prolonged length of time. This calls for the notebook computer’s cooling kick in, and heaps of laptops will throttle and sluggish down below load.

The Alienware x16 R2 performed our fashioned encode direction of in 728 seconds — that’s appropriate over 12 minutes. Curiously satisfactory, the Alienware x16 R2 outperformed the Gigabyte Aorus x16 R2 that beat it in the Cinebench benchmark. That means that the Alienware x16 R2 has a wiser cooling draw that does a wiser job of maintaining its CPU working chilly below load, even though the CPU in the Aorus does get elevated prime-stop efficiency.

Subsequent, we dash a graphical benchmark — the ideal selection of benchmark for gauging gaming efficiency. We dash 3Dmark Time Demand, a graphical benchmark that specializes in GPU efficiency.

The outcomes give us a take a look at at how the assorted Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs compare to every other. The Alienware x16 R2, with its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, delivered a median get of 17089. That’s a expansive get — a no-fees-spared RTX 4090 is finest 22 p.c faster right here. The RTX 4080 is vastly faster than the RTX 4070 — and heaps more and heaps faster than the RTX 4060 and RTX 4050.

Subsequent, we dash the benchmarks in some video games. First, we use the constructed-in benchmark in Shadow of the Tomb Raider to take a look at your entire gaming laptops we overview. It’s an older game, nonetheless it’s a expansive ability to verify graphical efficiency all the plan in which thru assorted PCs.

The Alienware x16 R2 ran the benchmark with a median efficiency of 166 frames per 2nd. Another time, the RTX 4080 in the model we reviewed modified into slower than the discontinue-of-the-line RTX 4090, nonetheless vastly faster than the RTX 4070.

Within the extinguish, we dash the constructed-in benchmark in Metro Exodus. Here’s a more anxious game, and we dwelling the benchmark to 1080p resolution on the Vulgar detail setting.

The Alienware x16 R2 delivered a median FPS of 72. Again, that’s midway between the efficiency of an RTX 4070 and an RTX 4090.

General, the Alienware x16 R2 delivered gorgeous efficiency. But this notebook computer is terribly customizable, and graphics efficiency will attain all the vogue down to which GPU you hold to place on your Alienware x16 R2 at checkout.

It is advisable to perhaps perchance also simply be ready to get more prime-stop CPU efficiency by opting for a undeniable notebook computer with an HX CPU as a substitute of a Meteor Lake Core Extremely CPU — nonetheless take note that cooling is required, too. A Core Extremely-basically basically based notebook computer like this one have to easy enlighten better sustained CPU efficiency than an HX-basically basically based notebook computer that has to throttle all the vogue down to pause chilly, as we seen in the Handbrake encode benchmark.

Alienware x16 R2: Battery existence

Gaming laptops aren’t identified for his or her long battery existence, nonetheless the Alienware x16 R2 has a constructed-in 90 Watt-hour battery. That have to enlighten first rate existence — it’s practically the ideal battery you are going to be ready to get. The ideal batteries in gaming laptops prime out spherical 99 Watt-hours, as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration won’t imply you are going to be ready to take better batteries on airplanes.

To benchmark the battery existence, we play a 4K reproduction of Tears of Steel on repeat in the Motion pictures & TV app on Home windows 11 with airplane mode enabled unless the notebook computer suspends itself. We dwelling the conceal to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmark. Here’s a finest-case negate of affairs for any notebook computer since local video playback is so efficient. Take into accout that staunch battery existence in day-to-day use is constantly going to be decrease than this as you utilize varied purposes.

The Alienware x16 R2 delivered surprisingly correct battery existence for a 16-walk gaming notebook computer, working for a median of 425 minutes — that’s appropriate over seven hours. It lasted 15 minutes longer than the Gigabyte Aorus 16X, despite that notebook computer having a better 99 Watt-hour battery. This is capable of perhaps perchance also be all the vogue down to the adaptation in CPUs — as talked about, the Meteor Lake-basically basically based Core Extremely CPU on this notebook computer is more targeted on energy effectivity than these HX CPUs, that are more targeted on prime-stop efficiency.

It’s a expansive result for a gaming notebook computer. You aren’t going to be the usage of this notebook computer a long way flung from an outlet for a full eight-hour workday, nonetheless you are going to get heaps of battery existence to trudge for hours a long way flung from an outlet have to you are going to love it. (Take into accout that every particular person gaming laptops dash video games slower when they aren’t plugged in, so that you’ll would love to plod into an outlet to play video games, anyway.)

Alienware x16 R2: Conclusion

The Alienware x16 R2 is a polished 16-walk gaming notebook computer with a correct-lucking originate, a pleasant all-metal chassis with expansive contain quality, hundreds customizable LEDs, and a assortment of ports smartly positioned on the wait on of the notebook computer. The mechanical keyboard on our overview model felt expansive, too. It’s additionally very customizable with a wide assortment of assorted CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage alternate recommendations, and the configuration of our overview model delivered expansive efficiency with gorgeous cooling.

There are just a few venerable features: You’ll secure brighter displays in other areas, and the shortcoming of HDR give a boost to within video games does feel like a disgrace at this excessive trace level. Neither are deal-breakers, nonetheless they’d be good to get upgrades on a top rate gaming notebook computer. Furthermore, when it’s good to have to use an Ethernet cable alongside with your notebook computer, you won’t secure that right here — I know that could be a deal-breaker for some folk.

Our overview model modified into $3,199, so we’re with out a doubt no longer in finances gaming notebook computer territory right here. However the machine we reviewed modified into a excessive-stop gaming notebook computer with an RTX 4080, mechanical keyboard, all-metal chassis, spectacular audio system, and unusually long battery existence for a gaming notebook computer. You’re paying extra for these items.

The disagreeable model begins at $2,099, which is a mighty decrease worth than the model we reviewed— nonetheless you’re getting a Core Extremely 7 CPU, RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and no mechanical keyboard. These costs attain feel a itsy-bitsy of excessive, and I place a query to you are going to be ready to connect tons of of bucks by selecting a less costly gaming notebook computer with identical hardware — in all probability even an Alienware m16 R2. Those less-costly laptops will doubtlessly be product of plastic as a substitute of metal, though — and I don’t judge their audio system will sound wherever attain beautiful mighty as good both. (Accrued, they could perhaps perchance simply get brighter displays!)

General, the Alienware x16 R2 is a top rate product at a top rate trace level, and that’s mostly what you’re getting — nonetheless it could perhaps perchance be good if that checklist had top rate-diploma brightness and HDR give a boost to, too.