Alienware x16 R2 review: High-end gaming at a premium price

IDG / Chris Hoffman

IDG / Chris Hoffman

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Alienware x16 R2 is a 16-inch gaming laptop with a lot of powerful hardware inside. Our review model had a high-end Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, but the base model is also available with a Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 155H CPU. These are both Intel Meteor Lake CPUs, which means this laptop comes with the neural processing unit hardware that may become important to take advantage of AI features in Windows and other applications one day.

The model we reviewed had Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics hardware, but Alienware also offers a higher-end model with GeForce RTX 4090 hardware — or you can step down and choose an RTX 4060 or RTX 4070.

Alienware included 32 GB of RAM our review model, but the base model has 16 GB. Additionally, we had a machine 1 TB of solid-state storage, but you can get versions of this laptop that come with a built-in RAID — up to two 4TB storage drives for a combined 8TB of solid-state storage.

The Alienware x16 R2 we got our hands on had a mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX ultra low-profle switches, but the base model comes standard with an “Alienware X Series keyboard” — a more traditional laptop keyboard.

Finally, the laptop we reviewed included a 16-inch 2560×1600 resolution IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate. Alienware told us you can also get this laptop with a 2220×1080 display with a blazing-fast 480Hz refresh rate.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X, 7467MT/s
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
• Display: 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS display with 240Hz refresh rate
• Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam with HDR
• Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C with Power Delivery 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 power in
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello
• Battery capacity: 90 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.36 x 11.41 x 0.73 inches
• Weight: 5.86 pounds
• MSRP: $3,199 as tested ($2099 base price)

Alienware x16 R2: Design and build quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Alienware half open lid" class="wp-image-2338399" width="1200" height="904" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Alienware x16 R2 is a well-designed gaming laptop. While it’s a 16-inch gaming laptop weighing in at nearly six pounds, the curved edges ensure it doesn’t look or feel too blocky. Alienware calls the color scheme “Lunar Silver.” The laptop’s lid is silver with a glowing alien head logo you can customize the color of, the inside of the laptop is black, and the back of the laptop — where all the ports are conveniently placed — is framed in white. The design is very Alienware, but it’s polished and not gaudy or over the top — as far as gaming laptops go.

This is a laptop with a full metal chassis. The lid and bottom of the laptop are made from anodized aluminum, there’s stainless steel around the keyboard, and the palm rest is made of a magnesium alloy. It feels nice to hold, and the solid metals give the laptop more of a premium feel than less-expensive gaming laptops that are often just made of plastic. (Plastic is fine and there’s nothing wrong with it, but there’s certainly something that feels high end about a nice metal laptop.)

There’s no weird flex to the laptop’s chassis, and the screen is very solid — it wobbles very little when you adjust its position.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Alienware logo" class="wp-image-2338400" width="1200" height="904" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The LEDs are