Webwut

Technology Blog

Computers

3 Cheap Alternatives to Alienware Laptops For Gaming

Budget Choice
ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" Gaming...
Editor Choice
ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 Ultra Slim...
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020:...
ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" Gaming...
ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 Ultra Slim...
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020:...
Budget Choice
ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" Gaming...
ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" Gaming...
Editor Choice
ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 Ultra Slim...
ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 Ultra Slim...
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020:...
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020:...

Last update on 2024-02-25 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

When Dell bought out Alienware in 2006, they intended to build premium gaming PCs that would compete with PlayStation, Xbox and other top gaming brands. 

Dell succeeded at this, delivering gaming behemoths with unparalleled performance. Unfortunately, Alienware laptops are expensive. Some might even argue that these laptops are overpriced. 

We think so as well. In this article, we’ll explain why Alienware devices are pricey. We’ll also tell you why they’re among the best laptops for gaming and suggest some cheaper alternatives you can buy right now.

Why Is Alienware So Expensive?

Even though Dell’s Alienware division produces some of the world’s best gaming laptops, why are they costlier than other laptops with similar specifications?

Here’s a rundown of the reasons:

Branding

Having built a reputation of stellar performance, outstanding design, and high-quality components, Alienware has built a robust brand.

A vast community of gaming enthusiasts and brand-loyal fans confirms Alienware’s prominence. 

Of course, great branding counts into their pricing. The Alienware brand guarantees quality backed by the social proof of a cult following.

Not only that, Alienware laptops come with brand-specific features that give you an edge during key gaming moments, or simply make you look cool. You also can upgrade your Alienware in the future.

Battery Quality

Gaming uses a notorious amount of computer resources. Gaming laptops have a poor battery reputation.

Alienware laptops use robust batteries that can last up to four hours under the pressure of hardcore gaming.

Few premier gaming laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus can beat such battery performance.

Cooling / Thermal Units

High and extended use of CPU and GPU resources for high performance gaming produces heat, which might reduce the battery life and lifespan of laptop components.

Alienware has invested in creating innovative cooling systems. 

Systems like Alienware’s Advanced Cryo-Tech cooling solution. This system uses a combination of dedicated vapor chambers and twin fans with more blades for better thermal distribution. A cooler Alienware laptop delivers better.

Manufacturing

Alienware uses time, money research and development to produce laptops with premium performance.

This involves building and combining high-quality parts like bespoke RAMs, GPUs and CPUs. Building these parts isn’t cheap, and Dell spares no expense in getting them right.

Is Alienware Still The Best For Gaming?

The jury’s still out on this one. However, Alienware remains a laptop brand you should seriously consider for your gaming. Here’s why:

High-Quality Screens

All Alienware laptops come with high-resolution screens that give mind-blowing game experiences.

You’ll enjoy AAA gaming titles with resolutions that range from 1080p Full HD to 4K Ultra HD.

These screens also feature high refresh rates that range from 60 Hz to 360 Hz, giving you uncompromisingly smooth gameplay.

RAM

Your Alienware laptop comes with high-quality RAM that range from 32GB to 64GB. These high-frequency units come with incredible clock speeds that help perform all your heavy computing tasks.

GPUs

Alienware incorporates the best graphics cards onto their laptops. They feature NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs only.

These graphics cards render AAA games with unparalleled ease, delivering unparalleled gaming performance.

CPUs

All Alienware laptops feature the latest CPUs, including 10th Generation Intel and AMD Ryzen chipsets.

All these CPUs have at least 8 cores each and clock speeds with boosts of up to 5.3GHz. 

Why Buy An Alternative Laptop?

Alienware Laptops are overpriced

Gaming laptops, in principle, are expensive. However, Alienware pushes their pricing to what many gaming enthusiasts think is an absurd limit. Alienware laptops are more expensive than counterparts with similar features. In fact, it’s much cheaper to build your own laptop using similar specifications on an Alienware laptop

Unreliable Customer Service

Alienware promises outstanding customer support in case you experience problems with your device. They deliver on this promise, but only in part. Their customer service lines aren’t available 24/7 unless you have a Premium Support Plus subscription.

Sometimes, their customer service agents read off scripts instead of offering actual solutions. This usually occurs when dedicated Alienware calls get redirected to Dell Support.

3 Best Alienware Laptop Alternatives

Here are some alternatives to Alienware laptops to consider:

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Last update on 2024-02-25 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

The Zephyrus G14 is an excellent alternative to Alienware’s M15 R3 gaming laptop. For up to $500 less, The G14 will give you similar specifications to the Alienware mostly.

Except for a slightly smaller screen and different CPU, these two laptops are similar.

The G14 features a 1080p Full HD screen, much like the M15. It also comes with a 16 GB RAM that supports advanced computing functionalities.

This Zephyrus comes with more storage (1TB) than the Alienware (512MB), although both come as high-speed SSDs.

Both laptops come with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 MAx-Q Graphics card that delivers ultra-performance during gaming. 

Both laptops have high refresh rates of up to 144 Hz, which makes gaming seamless and immersive.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and portable
  • High-quality display
  • Beautiful but sturdy display
  • High-performance laptop

Cons:

  • Lacks webcam
  • Poor fingerprint reader

Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501

Last update on 2024-02-25 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

For up to $600 less, you can get the ROG Zephyrus GX501, the ideal alternative to Alienware’s Area-51M R2 laptop.

You’ll have to make some trade-offs though, including a slightly lesser NVIDIA GeForce GPU and a smaller screen.

The GX501 laptop comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD display, much like the Area 51. Both laptops also come with 16GB DDR4 RAM, ideal for high-power computations.

You’ll get a 1TB SSD with both laptops. The Zephyrus has a lower refresh rate than the Area 51m, although at 144Hz, you’ll get as good a response as its counterpart. 

It also has an excellent cooling system that keeps the laptop’s components from overheating. 

Pros

  • Thin and lightweight
  • High-quality performance
  • Incredible design with quiet cooling system
  • High-resolution display with fast refresh rates

Cons

  • Poor battery life
  • Poor quality touchpad

Razer Blade 15 Base

Last update on 2024-02-25 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

Another cheaper alternative to the Area-51M R2 is the Razer 15. Much like the Area 51, this laptop comes with a 1080p Full HD screen.

It also features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU that offers more gaming power than the Area-51’s GeForce RTX 2070.

Outside of these features, the Razer 15 features a more subdued 144 Hz refresh rate to the Area 51’s 300 Hz.

A 16GB RAM and 512 SSD storage comes standard with both devices. Although the Razer 15’s screen is much smaller, the experience is not bad at all. 

The Razer 15’s sturdy but beautiful construction also enhances its appearance, albeit at up to $500 lesser than the Area 51M R2.

It is also good for mining cryptocurrencies.

Pros:

  • Excellent body construction
  • High-quality screen
  • Ergonomic keyboard

Cons:

  • Poor battery life
  • Poor port selection

Final Thoughts

Alienware laptops are as good as they’re touted to be. However, other brands offer just as powerful laptops for less.

Unless you’re a true Alienware lover, you can explore other options. You might find something similar at a fairer price.