8.3/ 10 SCORE Alienware 16X Aurora Pros
Strong efficiency for the value
Big, brilliant and quick show
Free M.2 slot so as to add second SSD
User replaceable RAM
Crisp, 1080p Windows Hello webcam
Cons
Keyboard is not greatest for gaming
Audio output underwhelms
When sitting aspect by aspect, Dell’s two midrange gaming laptops, the Alienware 16 Aurora and 16X Aurora, are practically indistinguishable. Each contains a roomy, 16-inch, 2.5K IPS show wrapped in a buttoned-up navy enclosure. Aside from their ample measurement, they do not scream “gaming laptop!” They look — and are priced — extra just like the non secular successors to Dell’s shuttered G collection than a step-down from Dell’s flagship Alienware 16 Area-51. But within the case of the Alienware 16X Aurora, you may discover loads of gaming-centric options hidden beneath its abnormal exterior.The Alienware 16X Aurora gives a alternative of a Core Ultra 7 or 9 processor from Intel’s Arrow Lake collection and both an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 or 5070 GPU. Our take a look at system featured the baseline model of every and delivers wonderful 3D bang in your buck. It simply outpaced the 16 Aurora whereas additionally supplying the higher show, keyboard backlighting and webcam. It’s additionally a bit of lighter. The efficiency edge alone makes paying the additional $200 to improve from the Alienware 16 Aurora to the 16X Aurora a wise transfer. When you issue within the different benefits, the Alienware 16X Aurora is the clear decide of the 2. But as a lot as I just like the Alienware 16X Aurora, the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 remains to be my go-to suggestion for players on a funds.Alienware 16X Aurora Price as reviewed $1,650 (on sale for $1,450)Display measurement/decision 16-inch 2,560×1,600 240HzCPU Intel Core Ultra 7 255HXMemory 32GB LPDDR5-5600Graphics 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 @ 115WStorage 1TB SSDPorts Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, combo audioNetworking Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4Operating system Windows 11 HomeWeight 5.49 lbs (2.49 kg) The Alienware 16X Aurora begins at $1,550 for a Core Ultra 7 255HX, 16GB of RAM, RTX 5060 graphics and a 1TB SSD. Our take a look at system doubles the RAM to 32GB for $100, but it surely is likely one of the few configurations that had been discounted on the time of this evaluation. It’s $200 off, bringing its price down beneath the baseline mannequin to $1,450. You can improve the CPU to a Core Ultra 9 255HX and bump the GPU as much as an RTX 5070. You may improve the RAM to 64GB and the storage to 4TB in a RAID 0 array. The one fixed is the show, but it surely’s a very good one: a 16-inch IPS panel with a 2,560×1,600-pixel decision, 240Hz refresh fee and a 500-nit ranking.In comparability, the step-down Alienware 16 Aurora I examined prices $1,250 for an Intel Core 7 240H, 16GB of RAM, RTX 5050 graphics, a 1TB SSD and the identical 16-inch, 2.5K show however with a decrease 120Hz refresh fee and 300-nit ranking.The Alienware 16X Aurora begins at a reduced worth of £1,454 within the UK and AU$3,350 in Australia. Matt Elliott/CNETAlienware 16X Aurora efficiencyThe Alienware 16X Aurora and 16 Aurora bookend the efficiency outcomes on most of our graphics and gaming benchmarks amongst a gaggle of RTX 5050- and RTX 5060-based funds gaming laptops that features the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10, Acer Nitro V 16S AI and MSI Katana 15 HX. The Alienware 16X Aurora completed on the head of the pack, and the Alienware 16 Aurora introduced up the rear, which is not stunning given the 16X Aurora has the higher CPU and GPU and double the RAM of the 16 Aurora.Like the Legion 5i Gen 10, the Alienware 16X Aurora contains a RTX 5060 working at its full 115 watts. In comparability, the Alienware 16 Aurora makes use of a RTX 5050 throttled at 80 watts. As you possibly can see within the charts beneath, the 16X Aurora and Legion 5i Gen 10 led the best way on every of our 3D gaming assessments. They additionally traded off touchdown within the prime spot on our software benchmarks, however the actual benefit for players is the elevated body charges you may get from utilizing a 115-watt RTX 5060.The flipside to this added energy is a discount in battery life. The Alienware 16X Aurora lasted a good 7.5 hours on our YouTube streaming battery drain take a look at, however you may get 10 hours of battery life with the 16 Aurora. Still, for a big, 16-inch gaming laptop computer that you just’re unlikely to make use of a lot away from a wall outlet, most players will fortunately commerce some battery life for higher body charges.A deep, blueish hueAnother similarity between the Alienware 16X Aurora and Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 is their understated appears to be like. The 16X Aurora’s deep blue chassis — Dell labels it as Interstellar Indigo — makes the laptop computer look extra like an outsized company machine than a gaming laptop computer. And the 16X Aurora does not actually have a thermal shelf on the again edge frequent to gaming laptops. Instead, it has what Dell calls a Cryo-Chamber, a vented bump-out on the again half of the underside panel that aids airflow. This bump-out additionally helps maintain the remainder of the laptop computer’s venting to a minimal; there are simply two modest vents on either side of the laptop computer. Matt Elliott/CNETThe backside panel and keyboard deck are made from plastic, however the lid is aluminum so as to add a splash of sophistication and rigidity. On the entire, the Alienware 16X Aurora feels nicely put collectively. I felt hardly any flex within the keyboard deck and solely a small quantity within the skinny aluminum lid. Perhaps the magnesium alloy internal body is the rationale for the laptop computer’s agency really feel. The plastic bezels across the show are a bit of on the thick aspect however are unlikely to offend most tastes, and the show hinges provide the correct mix of feeling clean but agency. Matt Elliott/CNETEven with a reasonably compact design for a 16-inch laptop computer, the Alienware 16X Aurora is hefty. It weighs 5.49 kilos, which is barely lower than the 5.61-pound Alienware 16 Aurora however greater than a pound heavier than the 4.3-pound Legion 5i Gen 10, which does have a smaller 15.1-inch show.You can open the laptop computer by eradicating 10 screws and prying off the underside panel. Inside, you may discover a free M.2 slot so as to add a second SSD, which is particularly helpful in a gaming laptop computer that can possible come to accommodate a big sport library ultimately. And in contrast to most laptops as of late which have RAM soldered to the motherboard, the Alienware 16X Aurora has two DIMM slots so you possibly can broaden the reminiscence your self. You’ll want to exchange the reminiscence and never merely add to what’s already there as a result of irrespective of the reminiscence allotment you select, from 16GB to 64GB, the 16X Aurora ships with two sticks of RAM. Still, it is a fantastic possibility to increase the helpful lifetime of the laptop computer. Matt Elliott/CNETWhere the Alienware 16X Aurora and Legion 5i Gen 10 differ essentially the most is with the show, and never simply with the scale. Both provide a crisp, 2.5K decision, however the Legion 5i Gen 10’s is an OLED with extra vibrant colours and deeper blacks. The Alienware 16X Aurora is a typical IPS show, but it surely has the pace benefit, offering a 240Hz refresh fee to the Legion 5i’s 165Hz fee. The 16X Aurora’s panel can be brighter. It hit a peak brightness of 582 nits in contrast with the Legion 5i’s max of 518 nits. But that is not an apples-to-apples comparability as a result of absolutely the black ranges you get with an OLED imply it does not must get as brilliant as an IPS to supply a dynamic picture with nice distinction.For shade efficiency, the Alienware 16X Aurora supplied significantly better shade protection of the sRGB, AdobeRGB and P3 gamuts than the 16 Aurora however could not fairly match that of the Legion 5i Gen 10.Color accuracy show assessments Alienware 16X AuroraAlienware 16 AuroraLenovo Legion 5i Gen 10sRGB 100%100%100%AdobeRGB 87%76%99%P3 99%77%100% That stated, each the Alienware 16X Aurora and Legion 5i Gen 10 ship a show above the extent of most funds and even midrange gaming laptops. And as good because the OLED is with the Legion 5i Gen 10, I can see an argument for opting as an alternative for the 16X Aurora’s greater, quicker IPS show for gaming. Matt Elliott/CNETIt’s more durable to make the case for the Alienware 16X Aurora’s keyboard. I a lot most well-liked the snappy suggestions of the Legion 5i Gen 10’s keys than the shallow journey and mushy really feel I bought from this keyboard. And you get solely 4 half-height keys as an alternative of the full-size therapy from the Legion 5i Gen 10. The Alienware 16X Aurora’s RGB keyboard backlighting can be mildly disappointing. Instead of the 4 zones with the Legion 5i Gen 10, you get solely a single zone. But a minimum of it is higher than the whole lack of RGB lighting on the Alienware 16 Aurora, which has solely the usual and really boring white backlighting. Matt Elliott/CNETGiven the laptop computer’s ample dimensions, the touchpad is undersized, and I felt its click on response was a bit too agency. Similarly, the audio system are additionally underpowered. Dell outfitted the laptop computer with solely a pair of 2-watt audio system, and the sound they produce is predictably underwhelming.The laptop computer’s 1080p webcam is not fairly as sharp because the Legion 5i Gen 10’s 1440p cam, but it surely has an IR sensor for utilizing facial recognition with Windows Hello logins. This is a superb comfort — and safety characteristic — and doubly so when you think about that with out a fingerprint reader, it is the one safe biometric characteristic on the 16X Aurora. (The Legion 5i Gen 10 lacks biometrics altogether.)One final benefit the Alienware 16X Aurora has over each the Legion 5i Gen 10 and Alienware 16 Aurora is quick USB connectivity. It’s the one one of many three to provide Thunderbolt 4 assist. Matt Elliott/CNETIs the Alienware 16X Aurora a very good gaming laptop computer?The Alienware 16X Aurora won’t be what you image while you consider an Alienware gaming laptop computer, however what it lacks in aggressively styling it greater than makes up for with its deal with the show and efficiency. And its worth is definitely lower than what you have come to count on from an Alienware machine. It’s merely laborious to search out this good a show and this degree of efficiency for the value, though I do want Dell outfitted it with a keyboard higher suited to gaming.
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The evaluation course of for laptops, desktops, tablets and different computerlike units consists of two elements: efficiency testing below managed circumstances within the CNET Labs and intensive hands-on use by our knowledgeable reviewers. This contains evaluating a tool’s aesthetics, ergonomics and options. A closing evaluation verdict is a mixture of each goal and subjective judgments. The checklist of benchmarking software program we use adjustments over time because the units we take a look at evolve. The most essential core assessments we’re presently working on each appropriate pc embody Primate Labs Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. A extra detailed description of every benchmark and the way we use it may be discovered on our How We Test Computers web page.
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Geekbench 6 CPU (multi-core) Alienware 16X Aurora 18587Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 17711MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 14587HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 13501Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 13312Alienware 16 Aurora 13294Acer Nitro V 16S AI 12787Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 10642 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Geekbench 6 CPU (single-core) Alienware 16X Aurora 2948Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 2895MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 2738Alienware 16 Aurora 2716Acer Nitro V 16S AI 2607Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 2587Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 2422HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 2394 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Cinebench 2024 CPU (multi-core) Alienware 16X Aurora 1630Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 1407MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 1220Alienware 16 Aurora 909Acer Nitro V 16S AI 867 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Cinebench 2024 CPU (single-core) Alienware 16X Aurora 129Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 121MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 117Alienware 16 Aurora 114Acer Nitro V 16S AI 104 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
PCMark 10 Pro Edition Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 8056Alienware 16X Aurora 8038Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 7660Acer Nitro V 16S AI 7509HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 7038MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 7024Alienware 16 Aurora 6868Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 6600 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 8015Alienware 16X Aurora 6929Acer Nitro V 16S AI 6413MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 6285Alienware 16 Aurora 5495Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 4802Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 4541HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 4268 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest @ 1920 x 1080) Alienware 16X Aurora 184Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 172MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 155Acer Nitro V 16S AI 143Alienware 16 Aurora 139Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 136Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 126HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 107 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Guardians of the Galaxy (High @1920 x 1080) Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 195Alienware 16X Aurora 174Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 165MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 159Alienware 16 Aurora 151HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 141Acer Nitro V 16S AI 133Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 128 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
The Riftbreaker GPU (1920 x 1080) Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 306.68Alienware 16X Aurora 260.11MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 231.99Acer Nitro V 16S AI 217.77Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 217.55HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 198.06Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 193.65Alienware 16 Aurora 171.96 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Assasin’s Creed Shadows (High @ 1920×1080) Alienware 16X Aurora 64Acer Nitro V 16S AI 62Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 61MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 53Alienware 16 Aurora 50 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
F1 24 (Ultra High @ 1920×1080) Alienware 16X Aurora 86Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 82Acer Nitro V 16S AI 74Alienware 16 Aurora 69MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 63 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Online streaming battery drain take a look at Alienware 16 Aurora 10:05Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV 9:58HP Victus Gaming Laptop 16 9:37Acer Nitro V 16S AI 8:32Alienware 16X Aurora 7:36MSI Katana 15 HX B14W 6:14Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 6:31Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 5:25 Note: Longer bars point out higher efficiency
System configurations Alienware 16X Aurora Windows 11 Home; Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX; 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics @ 115W; 1TB SSDAlienware 16 Aurora Windows 11 Home; Intel Core 7 240H; 16GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 graphics @ 80W; 1TB SSDLenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 Windows 11 Home; Intel Core i7-14700HX; 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics @ 115W; 1TB SSDAcer Nitro V 16S AI (ANV16S-41-R2AJ) Windows 11 Home; AMD Ryzen 7 260; 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics @ 85W; 1TB SSDMSI Katana 15 HX B14W Windows 11 Home; Intel Core i7-14650HX; 16GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 graphics @ 115W; 512GB SSDAcer Nitro V 16S AI Windows 11 Home; AMD Ryzen 7 260; 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics @ 85W; 1TB SSDHP Victus 16-r0097nr Windows 11 Home; Intel Core i7-13700H; 16GB DDR5 5,200MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics @ 120W; 1TB SSDAcer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71 Windows 11 Home; Intel Core i5-13500HX; 16GB DDR5 4,800MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics @ 140W; 512GB SSDAcer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R3ZV Windows 11 Home; AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS; 16GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics @ 140W; 512GB SSD
