Alienware, Dell’s gaming brand, is not known for its subtly designed laptops. Until now, as it aims to attract professionals who enjoy extra horsepower with the Aurora line
Alienware, Dell’s gaming brand, is known to design its laptops extravagantly at times. Using them incognito in the workplace is not really an option. The brand now wants to change this with the Aurora line. These laptops have, unlike the Area-51 line, a more discreet profile without compromising on performance.
In theory, you can work subtly in the office with an Alienware Aurora laptop, as long as you don’t stare too long at the alien head logo. There’s still some work to be done to make the brand truly business-oriented. For those in doubt: there’s no mention of MIL-STD or ISV certifications yet.
With powerful specifications including discrete graphics, Alienware primarily targets creative professionals or (AI) developers who can use extra computing power.
Two Models, Both with a 16-inch Screen
Alienware starts the launch with two devices, both featuring a 16-inch screen:
- Alienware Aurora 16: IPS, 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (16:10), 120 Hz, 300 nits, 100% sRGB color gamut
- Alienware Aurora 16X: IPS, 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (16:10), 240 Hz, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut
A notable addition at the bottom is extra cooling through a bar spanning the entire width of the laptop. This way, air is not sucked in directly from the bottom, which can sometimes be a problem on a laptop stand, table, or your lap.
The top model can be configured up to 128 GB RAM and 2 TB storage. The Aurora 16 has to make do with half of each as its maximum configuration. Notably, only the Aurora 16X gets Thunderbolt 4 on board in tandem with Intel Core Ultra 200 HX chips. The Aurora 16 has to settle for Intel Core (Series 2) H chips.
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Nvidia GeForce Options
Both systems have many options for graphics cards. The Aurora 16 can handle up to 85 watts of GPU power and is configurable with one of the following Nvidia GeForce cards: RTX 3050, RTX 4050, RTX 5050, RTX 5060, and RTX 5070. The Alienware Aurora 16x can handle up to 115 watts via the GPU and only has Nvidia Blackwell options: RTX 5060 or RTX 5070.
The RGB carnival lights you traditionally get with an Alienware are less present in the business-oriented Aurora line. The Aurora 16 has a keyboard with white backlighting. Those who can’t kick the RGB habit can choose the Aurora 16X and optionally upgrade the keyboard to a variant where you can control RGB colors separately for each key.
There’s no shortage of connectivity: 2x USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), 2x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1), 1x RJ45, 1x jack, and 1x HDMI for both machines. On the Alienware Aurora 16X, one of the two USB-C ports gets an upgrade to Thunderbolt 4.
Prices and Availability
Initially, the Alienware Aurora line will launch with two laptop models. In the future, the manufacturer expects to bring additional discreet models to market.
The Alienware Aurora 16 (AC16250) will have a starting price of 1,099 euros including VAT. The more powerful Alienware Aurora 16X (AC16251) is available from 1,699 euros including VAT. Both models will be available in Europe from May 27.
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