Dell Alienware Area-51m (17.3-inch, 2020)

The most upgradeable laptop we’ve seen yet ; Fast desktop components ; Gorgeous new Alienware design ; All the ports you’ll ever need ; Glorious 17-inch 144Hz screen

Keyboard and trackpad feel dated ; Opening and upgrading parts is a bit of a pain ; Poor battery life (not surprisingly) ; Expensive compared to other modern laptops ; Heavy (especially with two large power adapters)

Desktop-class performance ; Very effective cooling system ; Upgradable CPU and GPU

Requires two large power adapters ; Portable in only the most literal sense ; Extremely high cost relative to other gaming systems

For the rest of us, I’m hopeful that Dell’s plans for upgradability pan out because I’m very curious to see where the Area-51m’s ideas on performance and portability go in the future.

Astounding graphics and general computing performance. Desktop-class processor. Nvidia RTX 2080 GPU. Built-in eye tracking. Comfortable keyboard. 144Hz display. Excellent component access for upgrades.

Heavy, bulky. Requires two power bricks. Expensive. No 4K display option. Very short battery life.

Bottom Line: Packing an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 graphics chip and a desktop-class Intel Core i9, Alienware's massively rejiggered flagship, the Area-51m, is the best-performing gaming laptop we've tested, a monster in every sense a laptop can be.

Excellent big-screen entertainment Speedy

Poor battery life, Problematic keyboard

The 5750 is a fast gamer laptop with superb sound. It lacks a TV-tuner option, however, as do many comparable systems.

We admired the UFO-crash-site-inspired name and the Martian green case. But this Area-51m is otherworldly expensive, and plenty of other desktop replacements have the same gaming chops for less.

Sturdy case. Nice design. Dual-band wireless. Relatively affordable

Not the latest, bleeding-edge components

The sturdy design and glowing alien eyes are what separate Alienware from other gaming notebooks, as does the relatively low price. Though it's not the "ultimate" gaming machine, the Area-51m will satisfy most serious gamers—and leave them some money...

Stunning space station aesthetic; Excellent graphics and overall performance; Lightning fast SSDs; All major components upgradable

Exorbitantly expensive

Desktop-class CPU ; Modular hardware design ; Massive 17-inch high-refresh rate display

Heavy ; Difficult to carry

The benchmarks mentioned above are the real testament to the performance of the Alienware Area-51m. I think, going with the RTX 2070 and a 1080p display is a brilliant idea, as the GPU can handle ray-traced games like the Shadow of the Tomb Rider with...

Best-in-class performance ; Handsome chassis ; Deeply satisfying keyboard

Steep financial barrier to entry ; GPU upgrades not yet available ; Requires two power bricks ; Kiddie size trackpad ; Terrible battery life ; No USB 3.1 or 3.2 Gen 2

Marketed for its "unprecedented upgradeability," the Alienware Area-51m is more of a promise than a final product. While supremely high performance, it lacks the one killer app needed to thrive among the more powerful desktops and more affordable...