Alienware x14 hands-on review: Thinnest Alienware ever has serious RTX 30 power
Our Verdict
The Alienware x14 is a slick and powerful gaming laptop that's great for most users looking for a device that's both powerful and portable.
For
- Powerful 12th gen Intel Core processor
- Slick, futuristic pattern
- Impressive performance-enhancing features
- Vibrant fourteen-inch display
Confronting
- Price may be steep for some
- Full HD is merely display option
Tom'due south Guide Verdict
The Alienware x14 is a slick and powerful gaming laptop that's bang-up for near users looking for a device that's both powerful and portable.
Pros
- +
Powerful twelfth gen Intel Cadre processor
- +
Slick, futuristic design
- +
Impressive performance-enhancing features
- +
Vibrant 14-inch display
Cons
- -
Price may be steep for some
- -
Full HD is only display option
The Alienware x14 (from $1,799) is a thin and powerful gaming laptop designed for gamers on the become. Though all configurations pack a beefy RTX 30-series card, this sub-4-pound laptop won't completely destroy your checking business relationship.
Other features include a 12th gen Intel Cadre processor, long bombardment life (according to Dell), and a slick 14-inch full HD display. Though it isn't the nigh powerful gaming laptop you lot can find, information technology's hard to argue against the Alienware x14'due south relatively affordable price and portability.
We simply had a brief hands-on experience with the Alienware x14 merely constitute information technology impressive. In fact, this machine could wind up on our all-time gaming laptop list. Here are our initial impressions.
Alienware x14: Specs
| Price | from $i,799 |
| Display | 14.0 inches (Full HD 144Hz 7ms with ComfortView Plus, Nvidia G-Sync and Advanced Optimus) |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 12700H, Intel Core 17 12900H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 (4GB), 3050 Ti (4GB), 3060 (6GB) |
| RAM | 16GB, 32GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Ports | 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB Type-C), 1 USB 3.2 (USB-C), 1 Type-A USB 3.2, 1 HDMI two.1, Micro-SD 5.2 UHS-II, global headset jack |
| Size | 12.66 x ten.34 10 0.57 inches |
| Weight | Starting at iii.96 pounds |
Alienware x14: Release date and price
The Alienware x14 is expected to release one-time in the first quarter of 2022 at a starting toll of $1,799. The base model features a twelfth gen Intel Core i7 12700H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 (4GB GDDR6) graphics bill of fare, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.
You can upgrade upwards to a 12th gen Intel Core i7 12900H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 (6GB GDDR6) GPU, 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. At that place are no upgrade options for the display.
Alienware x14: Design
The Alienware x14 has the slick, semi-futuristic design the X-Series is known for. Constructed with CNC aluminum and magnesium alloy parts, the laptop has a starting weight of 3.96 pounds. At 12.half-dozen x 10.3 ten 0.57 inches, it has a relatively large footprint but is all the same minor enough to comfortably carry effectually. Lunar Lite is the only available chassis color.
Dell says the Alienware x14 is the thinnest Alienware laptop yet. It achieves this thinness because of its dual-torque element hinge that creates space within the organization itself. This allows the laptop to achieve a 0.57-inch maximum z-height combined with a maximum graphics ability of 85W. Dell says that, without the swivel, the x14 would either be thicker or less powerful.
Alienware x14: Keyboard and touchpad
This laptop introduces Alienware's X-Series thin keyboard with a 1.5mm key travel and includes North-Key Rollover technology besides as Anti-ghosting engineering. The low key travel time is crucial when playing competitive multiplayer games. I plant the keyboard suitable for typing, though I'd like to get more hands-on time to test how it fares with regular usage. But for gaming, the keyboard seems rock solid.
The touchpad felt smooth and responsive. But considering my brief time with the x14, I don't desire to render a verdict on the touchpad at this time. Like the keyboard, it'south reasonably adequate for gaming.
Alienware x14: Display
The Alienware x14 features a 14-inch Total HD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz brandish with a 7ms response time. Other features include ComfortView Plus, Nvidia G-Sync and Advance Optimus. The FHD panel has a brightness of upward to 400-nits and displays 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. All configurations come with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos certification.
I found the HDR-capable display bright and vibrant in person. The resolution maxing out at 1080p could be seen as a negative simply it suits the 14-inch screen size. And considering Dell wants to marketplace this equally an affordable gaming laptop, we can forgive it for not having 4K or OLED options. The screen's low response time should allow games to appear smooth fifty-fifty during moments of heavy action. The Nvidia G-Sync characteristic volition also ensure a smooth gaming experience.
Alienware x14: Ports
The Alienware x14 is no slouch when it comes to ports. You'll observe ii Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB Type-C), a USB iii.2 gen 2 power (USB-C) and a Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. There is also an HDMI 2.one output port, a microSD bill of fare slot and headset jack.
With that many ports, you'll be able to connect to various external devices, which is always of import for a gaming laptop.
Alienware x14: Operation
You'll get two processor options with the Alienware x14. The starting model comes with a twelfth gen Intel Core 12700H (xiv-Core/20-Thread, 24MB L3 Cashe, up to 4.7GHz max turbo efficiency) CPU. You can too opt for a 12th gen i7 12900H (14-Cadre/xx-Thread, 24MB L3 Cashe, up to 5.0GHz max turbo efficiency) CPU. Either processor will requite y'all a boost over 11th gen CPUs.
Memory-wise, you'll find 16GB of LP-DDR5 4800MHz RAM with the RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti configurations and 16GB LP-DDR5 5200MHz with 3060 configurations. Y'all can upgrade up to 32GB of RAM.
Configurations packing an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 are engineered with Dell's sectional Element 31 thermal interface textile. Made of a Gallium-Silicone matrix and vapor chamber cooling engineering science, these features – along with Smart Fan control engineering – will enable the Alienware x14 to accomplish high operation.
It will exist interesting to see how the Alienware x14 stacks up to other gaming laptops nosotros've reviewed when we can run it through our litany of criterion tests. But given the power nether the hood, this should be a performant device.
Alienware x14: Bombardment life and charging
The Alienware x14 comes with an 80 WHr lithium-ion bombardment. The X-Series also includes Alienware's HyperEfficient Voltage Regulation technology. This tech is capable of upwardly to 12-, viii-, and 7-phase graphics voltage regulation. This will ensure high operation over long gaming sessions.
Nosotros'll encounter how long the battery lasts when we're able to examination the Alienware x14 ourselves.
Alienware x14: Outlook
The Alienware x14 looks similar a dandy gaming laptop for those who desire solid performance from a portable device. Though not exactly cheap at a starting price of $1,799, it is relatively affordable for a machine of its kind.
We're impressed by its slick design, crisp 14-inch display and the number of available configurations. twelfth gen CPUs and RTX thirty-serial GPUs are what nosotros await to be the standard for 2022 laptops and it's good that the Alienware x14 features both out of the box. Alienware'due south exclusive suite of power-saving and performance-enhancing features should also brand this laptop concluding long on charge.
Based on what I've seen, the Alienware x14 has the potential to be i of the best gaming laptops of 2022. We'll see if this is true once we spend more time with it.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/alienware-x14
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