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

Dell has brought back the iconic Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop, initially announced at CES 2025, and it's now available for order. The much-anticipated laptop comes in two sizes: the 16-inch model starting at $3,199.99 and the 18-inch model at $3,399.99. As expected from Alienware's flagship, the Area-51 is packed with cutting-edge components, including the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. Orders are set to ship starting April 30, so make your reservation now to avoid any 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 Alienware

Both the 16-inch and 18-inch Area-51 gaming laptops are currently available in a single configuration, featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX offers a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, 24 cores, and 40MB of L2 cache. According to Passmark, this processor leads the market, outperforming the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D by 7%. Paired with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU, which is reportedly 16% more powerful than the RTX 4080 according to VideoCardz.com's 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks, the Area-51 is poised to deliver exceptional performance. With DLSS 4.0 compatibility, gamers can expect smooth gameplay at high framerates on the QHD+ display.

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

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

For 2025, the Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop introduces a magnesium alloy chassis with enhanced cooling to manage the heat from its powerful components. This includes additional fans, larger cutouts for improved airflow, increased copper usage, and a new thermal interface material for efficient heat dissipation. Dell claims the laptop can maintain a 240W TDP without increasing noise levels.

The design of the Area-51 emphasizes smooth contours with rounded edges and soft corners, moving away from the traditional squared-off design. The hinges are nearly invisible, being mostly internal. True to Alienware's style, there are numerous options for RGB LED customization. Connectivity options include 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-inch model weighs 7.5 pounds, while the 18-inch model weighs 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 sourcing the best discounts across gaming, tech, and various other categories. Our commitment is to provide our readers with genuine value, avoiding misleading promotions. We focus on highlighting the best deals from reputable brands that our editorial team has firsthand experience with. For more insight into our selection process, visit our deals standards page, or follow the latest deals on IGN's Deals Twitter account.