Alienware 16X Aurora review
The Alienware Alienware 16X Aurora ranks as the #202 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 77. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #108-ranked performance among 16 laptops. Consider the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI or Samsung Galaxy Book4 360, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Alienware 16X Aurora is a good-looking laptop with impressive features, but its value lies in its price. For £15,000, I expected more. The plastic deck and mediocre keyboard feel cheap, like a standard Dell G series model rather than a premium Alienware product. While performance was solid, it's hard to justify the high cost when other laptops offer better keyboards and build quality at similar prices. Unless you're deeply invested in the Alienware brand or need specific features, I'd say look elsewhere for a more satisfying experience.
Build
The Alienware 16X Aurora's build quality is a letdown considering its price tag. The plastic deck feels cheap and lacks the premium feel expected from an Alienware laptop. The touchpad is also unimpressive, failing to deliver the same level of sophistication as other high-end laptops. Most disappointingly, the keyboard, a crucial aspect of any gaming laptop, feels like a G series keyboard rather than a true Alienware experience. At £15,000, one would expect a more premium build quality, but it's clear that corners have been cut to achieve this price point. Overall, the 16X Aurora's build falls short of expectations. Alienware m15 R3 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded build.
Display
The display of the Alienware 16X Aurora is a notable aspect of this laptop. The screen measures up to 15 inches in size and features a Quad HD resolution, providing crisp and vibrant visuals. However, it's worth noting that the display outputs are limited, with only one HDMI port available directly connected to the Nvidia graphics card. This may be a drawback for users looking to connect an external monitor or VR headset. In terms of brightness and color accuracy, the screen performed well in our tests, making it suitable for gaming and general use. The display's Quad HD resolution also ensures that text and images appear sharp and detailed. Overall, the display on the Alienware 16X Aurora is a strong feature, but its limited connectivity options may be a drawback for some users. For an improved display, Alienware x14 R2 is worth considering.
Performance
The Alienware 16X Aurora delivers solid performance in its class. The Intel Core i7-255HX processor is the sweet spot, offering excellent CPU performance. The laptop's Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, while not the most powerful, provides decent gaming performance with up to 110W of power delivery. However, the GPU's limited 8GB of video memory and 15W power allocation on power delivery are notable drawbacks. Gaming sessions were playable across various profiles, but the noise level can be high in max mode (62dBA). Overall, the Aurora's performance is good, but not exceptional, making it a solid choice for those who don't mind compromise on graphics capabilities. You might want to check out Alienware x15 R2, featuring an upgraded performance for a superior experience.
Battery and Charging
The Alienware 16X Aurora's battery life was decent, lasting around 5 hours and 52 minutes when streaming YouTube at moderate brightness with stealth mode activated. The laptop is capable of 100W power delivery through the right USB-C port, but it's a shame that only this port allows for power delivery, and GPU performance suffers on power delivery mode. A USB-C charger or dock can charge the laptop, offering snappy performance on battery.
Connectivity
The Alienware 16X Aurora's connectivity options are a mixed bag. The laptop boasts two USB-C ports with DisplayPort, one of which supports up to 100W power delivery, a welcome feature for gamers. However, the lack of Thunderbolt 4 and a dedicated Ethernet port is disappointing. HDMI output is also limited to just one port, connected directly to the NVIDIA graphics card. This makes it ideal for VR or G-Sync external monitors, but may not be enough for users who require more versatile connectivity options. If you're after top-notch connectivity, consider Alienware m15 R3.
Features
The Alienware 16X Aurora boasts a good range of features, including a strong performance profile with up to 110 watts on the GPU and 55 watts on the CPU. However, it maxes out at an 8GB Nvidia graphics card in the base model, which is disappointing for a laptop released in 2025. It’s worth checking out Alienware m15 R5, delivering remarkable features.
Support and Maintenance
The Alienware 16X Aurora's biggest drawbacks lie in its support and maintenance aspects. The laptop feels cheap with a plastic deck, subpar touchpad, and mediocre keyboard that lacks the premium feel expected from an Alienware device. At £15,000, one would expect top-notch craftsmanship. Despite this, performance is good, making it a solid choice if you can overlook these issues or snag it on sale.
Pros
1. The laptop looks really good, it's definitely not quite up there with the Area 51 build quality but it is obviously about half the price
2. Good range of features
3. Performance was good, we got 150 watts on the GPU and the CPU performed very well
4. Battery life was strong, leading to snappy performance when you are on battery that feels very much like you're on mains
5. The laptop is capable of 100 Ws of power delivery, meaning you could charge the laptop with a USBC charger, a dock, or a power delivery monitor
Cons
1. The biggest gripes were the plastic deck, the touchpad and that keyboard. This didn't feel like an Alienware, it felt like a G series.
2. £15,000 is a lot of money and I would have liked to seen a proper Alienware keyboard on here. This one just felt cheap
3. The laptop maxes out at only a 5070 and an 8 GB card in 2025 is a bit of a shame, every laptop really, if possible, should go to that 5070 Ti for that 12 GB of RAM
4. Only the right USBC allows for power delivery
5. The GPU performance sucked when using power delivery, I'm not sure what is going on with the engineers over at Dell
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