Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Returns: Enhanced Style, Power, and Cooling

Dell has brought back the iconic Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop, announced at CES 2025, and it's now available for order. This flagship model comes in two sizes: the 16" variant starting at $3,199.99 and the 18" variant at $3,399.99. Both models boast the latest technology, featuring the powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. To ensure you don't miss out, place your order now as shipments are scheduled to start on April 30.

The Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Is Now Available

New Release### Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

$3,199.99 at AlienwareNew Release### Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

$3,399.99 at Alienware

Currently, both the 16" and 18" Area-51 gaming laptops are available with a single configuration: the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a beast, with a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, 24 cores, and a massive 40MB L2 cache. According to Passmark, it leads the pack as the fastest laptop processor, outperforming the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D by 7%. Coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, which VideoCardz.com reports is 16% more powerful than the RTX 4080 based on 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks, this laptop promises to run games at top speeds on its QHD+ display, enhanced by DLSS 4.0 compatibility.

The base configurations include your choice between a 16" or 18" QHD+ display with refresh rates ranging from 240Hz to 300Hz and G-Sync certification, 32GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. Both models offer upgrade options to 64GB RAM and a 2TB SSD.

The Area-51: New Style, More Power, Better Cooling

The 2025 Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop showcases a sleek magnesium alloy chassis with enhanced cooling capabilities to manage the heat from its high-performance components. The system features increased fan sizes, larger air vents, more copper usage, and advanced thermal interface materials, allowing it to maintain a high power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without increasing noise levels.

In terms of design, the Area-51 sports smooth, rounded edges and soft corners, moving away from the typical squared-off designs. The hinges are cleverly hidden for a seamless look. True to Alienware's style, it offers extensive RGB LED customization options. For connectivity, you'll find three USB Type-A 3.2 15Gbps ports (one with PowerShare), two Thunderbolt / USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a card reader. The 16" model weighs 7.5 pounds, while the 18" model is slightly heavier at 9.6 pounds.

Explore more of the best Alienware deals available today.

Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?

IGN's deals team brings over 30 years of collective experience in uncovering the best deals in gaming and tech. Our mission is to guide our readers to genuine bargains on products from trusted brands. Our editorial team's hands-on experience ensures we recommend only the best. Learn more about our selection process by visiting our deals standards page, or follow the latest deals on IGN's Deals Twitter account.