Alienware 16 Aurora evaluation: Strong on battery life, weak on performance capabilities
The Alienware 16 Aurora, a gaming powerhouse in a deep shade of blue called "interstellar" indigo, offers solid gaming performance but has mixed upgradeability prospects.
The laptop, equipped with an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, Intel Core i7-1240H processor, and 32GB DDR5 RAM, delivers impressive gaming performance. In titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it can achieve around 80 FPS at 1080p Ultra settings, and about 60 FPS at its native 1600p resolution. Even in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, it runs roughly 80 FPS at 1080p Ultra and around 50 FPS at 1440p without upscaling, with DLSS potentially boosting performance above 60 FPS [1][3]. However, its gaming performance is held back primarily due to the 80W RTX 5060 [5].
Alienware traditionally allows some upgrades, but specifics vary by model. For the Aurora 16, the CPU and GPU are typically not user-upgradable since they are likely soldered to the motherboard or custom-configured, limiting future performance upgrades. However, it supports upgrades to RAM and storage, as adding or replacing memory modules and NVMe SSDs should be possible. Compared with some competitors like HP OMEN desktops, which use proprietary parts limiting upgrades, Alienware laptops generally provide better access to RAM and storage upgrades but remain restricted in CPU/GPU swaps [1][2][4].
The Alienware 16 Aurora is available in three base configurations directly from Alienware, with prices ranging from $1,149.99 to $1,549.99 [6]. It comes with several utilities/apps from the factory, including the Alienware Command Center, Alienware Digital Delivery, Dell SupportAssist, Dolby Access, and intelliGo Neptune [7]. The laptop has a generous assortment of ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, and a 3.5 mm audio jack [8].
The Alienware 16 Aurora's keyboard does not have RGB backlighting and uses a white LED backlight for the keys. It has a full QWERTY layout with a number pad, 1.4 mm key travel, and anti-ghosting technology [9]. The laptop's webcam is a 720p camera [10], and it ships with a one-year limited hardware warranty [11].
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the Alienware 16 Aurora for gaming, the MSI Katana 17 HX at $1,299 might be a more appealing option [12]. The Alienware 16 Aurora's speakers are not remarkable and lack bass [13]. Its price of $1,499.99 might be considered inexcusable for a 720p webcam [14]. Despite this, the Alienware 16 Aurora prioritizes endurance over performance in gaming, as shown by its significantly longer battery test endurance compared to the Aorus 16X [15].
In summary, the Alienware 16 Aurora offers good gaming performance for its class, particularly at 1080p to 1600p resolution with a mid-tier RTX 5060 GPU. However, users aiming for long-term upgrade paths will face limitations mainly in CPU and GPU upgradeability, being mostly restricted to memory and storage expansions.
[1] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-m16-R4-Review-A-2022-gaming-laptop-with-a-16:10-display-and-the-latest-hardware.622997.0.html [2] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [3] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Benchmarks-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-3060-Laptop-GPU.589045.0.html [4] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [5] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [6] https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/alienware-16-aurora-r16-laptop/spd/alienware-16-aurora-r16-laptop/pn_65272155blk_alienware-16-aurora-r16-laptop [7] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [8] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [9] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [10] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [11] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [12] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [13] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [14] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html [15] https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-16-Aurora-R16-review-powerful-performance-but-limited-upgrade-options.624782.0.html
This Alienware 16 Aurora laptop, while delivering impressive gaming performance with gadgets like an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, Intel Core i7-1240H processor, and 32GB DDR5 RAM, has limited upgradeability, particularly in the CPU and GPU, as they are usually not user-upgradable. Despite this, it allows upgrades to RAM and storage, making it a good option for those seeking gadgets with room for growth. The laptop's technology is more focused on enduring gaming demands rather than achieving the highest performance.
