Alienware has unveiled a new line of gaming laptops, the X-Series, transforming its flagship 15- and 17-inch laptops into super-thin powerhouses.
The Alienware x15 and x17 are an evolution of the design used in the m15 and m17 gaming laptops, tapping the same visual style but trimming down the size and streamlining the look.
The 15-inch-screen Alienware x15 and 17-inch Alienware x17 will measure just 0.6 inch and 0.8 inch thick, respectively. Despite the thinness, these laptops can still be outfitted with top-of-the-line GPUs, starting at the no-slouch GeForce RTX 3060 and going up to the powerful GeForce RTX 3080.
Both laptops are available today, first in a single configuration, but both models will receive a full range of component options on June 15. The x15 starts at $1,999.99, and the x17 starts at $2,099.99.
A Thermal Advantage: Experience Element 31
Alienware cites both its thermal design and its special cooling technology in enabling high-end power in these form factors, particularly its proprietary Element 31. The company says this thermal compound delivers a 25% improvement in thermal performance. The new laptops also feature a quad-fan design that, according to Alienware, more effectively moves air and manages heat within the chassis.
Beyond that, the laptops will benefit from the same advanced features that had us rate the Alienware m15 and the Alienware m17 highly in recent reviews. This includes efficient voltage regulation for the GPUs (for sustaining high performance for longer periods), AlienFX customizable key and chassis lighting, G-Sync and Advanced Optimus, switchable performance modes, and quality build materials.
The X-Series will introduce a new slim keyboard with 1.5mm key travel on models at both sizes. The 17-inch unit, however, has the option for a low-profile Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, which recently debuted in the Alienware m17. (See more about that in the video at the end of this story.)
Components and Configurations
In terms of components, the full configuration options will range widely. In addition to the GPU options mentioned, both sizes can be equipped with Core i7 or Core i9 Tiger Lake-H processors, and up to 4TB of SSD storage.
There are also some differences between the two. The x15 maxes out at 32GB of memory, while the x17 tops out at 64GB. For the display, the x15 can come with a full HD (1080p) panel at 165Hz or 360Hz, or a QHD screen at 240Hz. The x17 can be outfitted with the same two full HD options, or a UHD (4K) 120Hz screen.
While they are thinner and somewhat lighter, they’re still not as light as some premium competitors. Weights change slightly depending on the configuration, but the x15 weighs 5 pounds at the lowest and 5.2 pounds at its max. The x17 weighs 6.65 pounds at its lowest at 7.05 pounds at its heaviest.
Check back for full reviews of these much-anticipated ultrathin systems when they become available.
