Alienware Area-51 Returns: Enhanced Style, Power, Cooling

Dell announced the much-anticipated return of the iconic Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop at CES 2025, and as of today, it's finally available for order. The Area-51 comes in two variants: the 16" model starts at $3,199.99, and the 18" model at $3,399.99. True to Alienware's flagship status, the Area-51 is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. Orders are set to ship starting April 30, so it's wise to place your reservation now to avoid any potential delays.

The Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Is Now Available

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

0$3,199.99 at AlienwareNew Release### Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop

0$3,399.99 at AlienwareBoth the 16" and 18" Area-51 gaming laptops are currently available with a single CPU and GPU configuration: the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX features a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, 24 cores, and 40MB of L2 cache. According to Passmark, this processor leads the market with a 7% advantage over the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D. Alongside it, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU is reportedly 16% more powerful than the RTX 4080 based on 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks from VideoCardz.com. With the addition of DLSS 4.0 compatibility, this setup promises exceptional performance on QHD+ displays, delivering high framerates in virtually any game.

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

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

The 2025 Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop introduces a magnesium alloy chassis with enhanced cooling capabilities to manage the heat from its high-performance components. The new design incorporates additional fans, larger cutouts for better airflow, increased copper usage, and a new thermal interface material for superior heat dissipation. Dell states that the laptop can sustain a 240W TDP without increasing noise levels.

In terms of aesthetics, the Area-51 features smooth contours with rounded edges and soft corners, departing from the typical squared-off laptop designs. The hinges are mostly internal, giving them a nearly invisible appearance. As expected from Alienware, the laptop offers extensive RGB LED customization options. For connectivity, it includes 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 weighs 9.6 pounds.

Check out more of the best Alienware deals today.

Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?

IGN's deals team boasts over 30 years of collective experience in identifying the best discounts across gaming, tech, and various other categories. Our mission is to present the most compelling deals from reputable brands that our editorial team has firsthand experience with. For more insight into our methodology, visit our deals standards page, or follow the latest deals we uncover on IGN's Deals Twitter account.