For years, Alienware eschewed thin-and-light video gaming laptop computers, deciding rather to make slightly bulkier systems with more affordable prices. However all that changed last year with the intro of its X-series note pads. And now, Alienware is pressing its quest for sleekness even further with the new x14, the companys thinnest and lightest video gaming laptop. To include a lot more rum to the punch, the x14 is likewise one of the first gaming laptops readily available including Intels most current 12th-gen mobile CPUs. And while the x14 isnt without its peculiarities, the outcome is a device that makes me want Alienware had actually entered into portable video gaming rigs years back.
Design
Sporting Alienwares Legend 2.0 design language, the x14 lacks a doubt a striking system, though ultimately youll need to decide how much you elegant its sci-fi looks. Whats not in question is the laptop computers thinness, which stands at just 0.57 inches thick while weighing barely more than four pounds. Thats even thinner and almost a pound lighter than the x15 (0.63 inches and 5 pounds), while making Alienwares more traditional M15 R7 appear almost puffed up (0.8 inches and 5.3 pounds).
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Now Im not normally the type to lust after a few ounces or tenths of an inch getting slashed off a device, but on the x14, every little reduction matters. Thats since while the majority of gaming laptops dont even come close to fitting in my daily messenger bag thats not suggested to stow away anything bigger than a 13-inch ultraportable, the x14 really fits, if simply hardly.
That indicates Im a lot more likely to bring this thing with me on journeys, which is sort of the entire point of a thin-and-light video gaming notebook. Dont get me incorrect, I value beastly 17-inch gaming rigs, but when my back starts to injure at the simple thought of carrying one around, in practice those systems often operate more like mobile desktops than any sort of travel-friendly gaming maker.
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The main innovation on the x14 is Alienwares new dual-torque which includes strength and stability to the laptop computers display screen, while when again minimizing weight and density compared to previous X-series devices. And, as you d anticipate from Alienware, the x14 comes with customizable RGB lighting on its lid and keyboard.
Display and sound
On the x14 theres only one display screen alternative, and its a good one. The 144Hz 1,920 x 1,080 screen is plenty sharp, while support for NVIDIAs G-Sync assists avoid screen tearing while video gaming. The thing that impressed me most is the way colors pop. Initially, I almost mistook the x14s screen for an OLED panel. And while its black levels arent rather deep enough for that, thanks in part to support for Dolby Vision HDR, colors look abundant and dynamic despite whether youre video gaming or viewing a movie. And with a checked brightness of just under 400 nits, the x14s screen looks great in both sun-filled and dim spaces (though trying to game outside in direct sunlight is still a difficulty).
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Dolby tech is also available on the x14s speakers thanks to support for Dolby Atmos, which adds an extra measurement to audio through the usage of extra height channels. Unfortunately, I felt like the x14s audio sounded a bit distant, in spite of its upward-firing speakers liing right behind the laptops keyboard. And although the x14 had no issues showing up the volume, its nearly too much of a good thing, because in certain circumstances you can hear the x14s chassis rattle when the speakers are set above 80 percent.
Efficiency
While the x14 isnt quite as effective as its bigger siblings and doesnt have the area to accommodate beefier GPUs, Alienwares thinnest gaming laptop computer still punches well above its weight. I had the ability to quickly hit 60 fps on high settings in a number of AAA video games like Halo Infinite, and you can press things even greater if you do not mind adjusting a video games graphics settings. And for individuals more concentrated on getting a competitive benefit, maxing out the x14s 144Hz screen is a cinch in titles like CS: GO on lower settings (which is what you d most likely utilize anyhow).
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In Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the greatest settings, the x14 averaged 102 frames per second, with comparable outcomes in Far Cry 5 of 96 fps on Ultra. And while the x14 published a slightly lower typical frame rate of 55 fps in Metro Exodus on ultra, lowering the games texture settings a touch was more than enough to enhance frame rates firmly back above 60 fps.
Incredibly, regardless of limited space inside for cooling, Alienwares exclusive Element 31 thermal paste and vapor chamber (which just come on systems with RTX 3060 graphics) did a great job of avoiding throttling from becoming a significant issue. The drawback is that the x14s fans are quite aggressive, typically spinning up the immediate you launch a game, while producing a rather high-pitched whine that you cant truly escape unless you put on some headphones. Luckily, Alienwares Command Center app supports a variety of thermal profiles including a Quiet setting to assist decrease fan noise, though depending on the video game, that might cause your frame rate to dip a bit.
Keyboard, touchpad and ports
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Trying to cram a full-size keyboard with media controls on a 14-inch laptop computer is constantly a bit of a challenge, and while the x14 usually makes great usage of area, it aint perfect. The function secrets are half-sized, and even the x14s keycaps are a touch smaller sized than what you d get on Dells non-gaming systems like an XPS 15.
Its a comparable scenario for things like the Windows secret, the Function button, and the Shift secret, all of which are smaller than normal. And for those who utilize the Delete key a lot, look out, since its a little too near the laptops power button for my liking. On the other hand, I do value the extra row of media control keys on the right, that includes an always useful mic mute button. Simply put, I wouldnt go as far to say the x14s keyboard is a dealbreaker, it just needs more adjustment time than typical.
When it comes to the touchpad, at 4.5 x 2.15 inches its certainly on the little side. On gaming laptops, having a less roomy touchpad is a bit more forgivable as the vast bulk of gamers usually prefer to use an external mouse, even when theyre using the laptop computers built-in keyboard.
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On the other hand, when it concerns connectivity, Alienware definitely didnt stint ports. The x14 features 3 USB-C connections (two of which assistance Thunderbolt 4), one USB 3.2 Type-A socket, HDMI 2.1, a combination audio jack, and even a microSD card slot. While I would have liked to see an Ethernet jack too, my only real gripe with the x14s ports is that they are situated around back. Putting all the ports in the rear of the system helps minimize mess, but when you simply wish to quickly place something like a thumb drive, spinning the laptop computer around to do so feels cumbersome (especially if you have any other peripherals plugged in).
Keep in mind: Just dont anticipate much from the x14s 720p webcam. Its great in a pinch, however the relatively low resolution integrated with mediocre image quality implies youll likely desire to use an external video camera if you plan to reveal your face while livestreaming.
Battery life and charging
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The x14s battery life varies a heap depending on how you use it. If youre simply searching the web or streaming video, the x14s battery life will not quite last through a full workday, however its more than serviceable.
That said, I do desire to credit Alienware for gearing up the x14 with a 130-watt USB-C power cable instead of an exclusive charger like so lots of video gaming laptop computers. Due to the fact that the x14s power cable is USB-C, you can utilize it to charge other USB-C devices like a phone or tablet, possibly decreasing the variety of cables you need to bring around while taking a trip, Alternatively, you might use a universal USB-PD battery charger rather, though youll wish to make certain that battery charger has the necessary power output and a suitable cable to correctly juice up the x14, as many of Dells systems can be choosy about USB-C charging if youre using old or out of spec devices.
Setups
The x14 starts at $1,650 for an Intel Core i7-12700 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of NVMe storage and an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, with totally filled systems like our review unit peaking at around $2,300 with 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage and an NVIDIA RTX 3060. In my opinion, the sweet spot is around $1,800, which gets you 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and an RTX 3060. Though I should discuss that while you can update storage post-purchase, you wont have the ability to update your RAM as its soldered onto the laptop computers motherboard.
Wrap-up
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The x14 may not be rather as effective as its bigger siblings, but provided its even more portable dimensions, theres a lot to like. When compared to a $1,800 x14 with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an RTX 3060, a likewise geared up x15 expenses simply $50 less. The main trade-offs being a little less thermal headroom, a more cramped keyboard and a somewhat slower 144Hz screen (rather of 165Hz on the x15). Thats not a lot to sacrifice for a much more travel-friendly thin-and-light style.
If you do not require a brand-new gaming laptop right now, the smart relocation would be to wait a month or 2 for some of Alienwares rivals to release upgraded systems for 2022. Both Razer and ASUS are bring out refreshed versions of their 14-inch gaming laptop computers later on this spring, and when those become offered, well have a better concept of how the x14 fares versus its biggest rivals. If you like the x14s combination of design and sleekness, this is a slick gaming laptop thats made to move.All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial group, independent of our moms and dad company. A few of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through among these links, we might earn an affiliate commission.
And now, Alienware is pressing its mission for sleekness even further with the new x14, the businesss thinnest and lightest video gaming laptop. To add even more rum to the punch, the x14 is likewise one of the very first video gaming laptop computers offered including Intels most current 12th-gen mobile CPUs. And even though the x14 had no concerns turning up the volume, its practically too much of a great thing, because in specific scenarios you can hear the x14s chassis rattle when the speakers are set above 80 percent.
While the x14 isnt quite as powerful as its bigger siblings and does not have the area to accommodate beefier GPUs, Alienwares thinnest video gaming laptop still punches well above its weight. If you like the x14s combination of style and sleekness, this is a slick video gaming laptop computer thats made to move.All items recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial group, independent of our moms and dad company.