Alienware has debuted its new X-series of gaming laptops, claiming that the range is its thinnest and most powerful yet. The laptops were unveiled at Computex, also known as the Taipei International Information Technology Show, and they look like they could be something rather special if you're in the market for a high-end gaming laptop. Will they shake up our look at the best laptops? We'll have to wait and see when the laptops are launched later this month - our current pick is the Alienware m15, although these will likely push that model out.
What we do know so far is that the Alienware X15 and Alienware X17 certainly look very promising if a lightweight yet powerful build is everything to you. The Alienware X17 is the company's thinnest 17-inch laptop so far at only 20.9mm thick, while the Alienware X15 is supposedly the world's most powerful sub-16mm gaming laptop yet.
They both certainly pack a lot into their very slim shells. Both systems come with either an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 11800H or 11900HK processor paired with Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics. The Alienware X15 can include up to an 8GB Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card while the 17-inch equivalent comes with the 16GB model if you want to pay that much.
Besides those core specs, both systems also offer a choice of display panels with either qHD 240Hz or FHD 360Hz an option, depending on your needs (and budget). Built-in hardware-based low blue light technology should help your eyes out, although Alienware's use of AlienFX customizable keyboard lighting is probably less great for them.
Cooling is generally a major issue for slim gaming laptops which is why Alienware is keen to stress its use of Cryo-Tech cooling technology. The technology includes an industry-first Client 31 thermal interface that reputedly offers a 25% improvement in thermal resistance. Alongside that is smart fan control technology which means each individual fan can independently spin up or slow down as and when is necessary. There's also the use of magnesium alloy in the build to hopefully keep things a little cooler still.
Wondering when you can consider investing in one of these? Both the Alienware X15 and X17 are available now in limited configurations with full configuration options available from June 15. The Alienware X15 is expected to start from $1,999.99 while the Alienware X17 is priced from $2,099.99. Expect some beefy upgrade options if you're keen to max out what the systems can achieve.
If you'd rather stick with a desktop, we have a couple of Alienware picks in our best home computers guide. If you want cheaper gaming options, we also have a look at the best video game consoles for 2021 too.
