Alienware has applied its 360Hz refresh rate technology to its latest and greatest laptops. The Alienware Area-51m R2 and m17 R3 will both support 360Hz FHD panels, bringing that esports vibe to mobile players. The Area-51m R2 runs on 10th Gen Intel Core i9 CPUs with NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, while the m17 R3 is powered by Intel’s 10th Gen Core H and HK series.

Alienware

The 360Hz refresh rate is ideal for esports pros and competitive players. It’s a step up from the standard gaming monitor refresh rate of 240Hz, populating artifacts with more clarity.

If refresh rates aren’t your primary concern, you may be interested in the new Alienware 38 Curved Gaming Monitor. The 37.5-inch monitor has NVIDIA G-Sync Ultimate certification and VESA’s DisplayHDR 600 specifications. The Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor has an edge-to-edge design with NVIDIA G-Sync Ultimate and VESA DisplayHDR 600 certifications. It’s pretty zippy, too, with a 240Hz refresh rate.

Alienware

Alienware’s gaming laptops are getting a boost as well. The 17-inch Area51m now comes with 10th-gen Intel Core i9 CPUs and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX GPUs. It packs 360Hz FHD panels and Alienware’s Cryotech cooling and vapor chamber tech. If you’re looking for something a bit thinner, you may be interested in the Alienware m17. It offers the same 360Hz FHD panels and cooling system, but it’s slimmed down a bit and packs Intel’s 10th Gen Core H and HK series.

Finally, Alienware is introducing custom-engineered graphics card options to its Aurora gaming desktops. The Aurora and Aurora Ryzen Edition will soon come with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 and 3080 graphics options, as well as cooling and thermal designs meant to prioritize gaming performance.

Alienware says it will share more details on all of this new gear later this month. 

What kind of screen do you want?

Screen size is a good place to start when judging gaming notebooks. In general, 15-inch laptops will be the best balance of immersion and portability, while larger 17-inch models are heftier, but naturally give you more screen real estate. And sure, there are some 13-inch gaming notebooks, like the Razer Blade Stealth, but paradoxically you’ll often end up paying more for those than slightly larger 15-inch options.

But these days, there are plenty more features to consider than screen size alone. Consider refresh rates: Most monitors refresh their screens vertically 60 times per second, or 60Hz. That’s a standard in use since black and white NTSC TVs. But over the past few years, displays have evolved considerably. Now, 120Hz 1080p screens are the bare minimum you’d want in any gaming notebook — and there are faster 144Hz, 240Hz and even 300Hz screens. All of those ever-increasing numbers are in the service of one thing: making everything on your screen look as smooth as possible.

For games, higher refresh rates also help eliminate screen tearing and other artifacts that could get in the way of your frag fest. And for everything else, it just leads to a better viewing experience. Even scrolling a web page on a 120Hz or faster monitor is a stark difference from a 60Hz screen. Instead of seeing a jittery wall of text and pictures, everything moves seamlessly together, as if you’re unwinding a glossy paper magazine. Going beyond 120Hz makes gameplay look even more responsive, which to some players gives them a slight advantage.

Steve Dent/Engadget

Not to make things more complicated, but you should also keep an eye out for NVIDIA’s G-SYNC and AMD’s FreeSync. They’re both adaptive sync technologies that can match your screen’s refresh rate with the framerate of your game. That also helps to reduce screen tearing and make gameplay smoother. Consider them nice bonuses on top of a high refresh rate monitor — they’re not necessary, but they can still offer a slight visual improvement.

One more thing: Most of these suggestions are related to LCD screens, not OLEDs. While OLED makes a phenomenal choice for TVs, it’s a bit more complicated when it comes to gaming laptops. They’re limited to 60Hz, so you won’t get the smoother performance you’d find on a high refresh rate screen. And they’re typically 4K panels; you’ll need a ton of GPU power to run games natively at that resolution. OLED laptops still look incredible, with the best black levels and contrast on the market, but we think most shoppers would be better off with an LCD gaming laptop.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

A few other takeaways:

• Get at least 16GB of RAM. And if you’re planning to do a ton of multitasking while streaming, 32GB is worth considering.

• Storage is still a huge concern. These days, I’d recommend aiming for a 512GB M.2 SSD, which should be enough space to juggle a few large titles like Destiny 2. Some laptops also have room for standard SATA drives, which are far cheaper than M.2’s and can hold more data.

• Normally we’d recommend getting your hands on a system before you buy, but that’s tough as we’re in the midst of a pandemic. I’d recommend snagging your preferred system from a retailer with a simple return policy, like Amazon or Best Buy. If you don’t like it, you can always ship it back easily.

• Don’t forget about accessories! You’ll need a good mouse, keyboard and headphones, for sure.

Engadget picks

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The best gaming laptop for most people: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

Starting price: $1,050

Recommended spec price (Ryzen 9, RTX 2060): $1,450

If you can’t tell by now, we really like the Zephyrus G14. It’s compact, at just 3.5 pounds, and features AMD’s fast new Ryzen 4000-series chips paired together with NVIDIA’s graphics. It’s a shockingly compact machine, and while its 14-inch screen is a bit smaller than our other recommendations, it looks great and features a fast 120Hz refresh rate. We also like its retro-future design (some configurations have tiny LEDs on its rear panel for extra flair). The G14 also starts relatively cheap, at around $1,050, but we’d recommend the specced-up Ryzen 9/RTX 2060 model for $1,450. The only downside: It doesn’t have a webcam, which can be inconvenient in the era of never-ending Zoom calls. Still, it’s not that tough to attach an external camera. 

Buy ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 at Best Buy – $1,450

Will Lipman/Engadget

The best budget option: Dell G5 15

Starting price: $824

We’ve been fans of Dell’s G5 line ever since it first appeared a few years ago. Starting at just $824, it features all of the latest hardware, like Intel’s 10th-generation CPUs and NVIDIA’s GTX and RTX cards. (You can also find AMD’s Ryzen 7 and Radeon RX 5600M graphics in the special edition model whenever that’s back in stock.) It’s a bit heavy, weighing over five pounds, but it’s a solid notebook otherwise. And you can even bring it into mid-range gaming territory if you spec up to the RTX 2070.

Buy G5 15 at Dell – $824

Devindra hardawar/Engadget

The best premium gaming laptop: Razer Blade 15

Starting at $1,600

Recommended model (RTX 2070 on sale): $1,900

Razer continues to do a stellar job of delivering the latest hardware in a sleek package that would make Mac users jealous. The Blade 15 has just about everything you’d want, including NVIDIA’s fastest mobile GPU, the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, as well as Intel’s 10th-gen octa-core CPUs and a 300Hz 1080p screen. You can easily save some cash by going for a mid-range option like the ASUS G14, but those won’t feel nearly as polished as the Blade.

Buy Blade 15 at Razer – $1,900

Acer

A solid all-around option: Acer Predator Triton 500

Starting price: $1,700

While we’ve seen some wilder concepts from Acer, like its 360-degree hinge-equipped Triton 900, the is a more affordable bread and butter option that doesn’t break the bank. It’s relatively thin, weighs under five pounds, and it can be equipped with Intel’s latest 10th-gen CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 2080 Super Max-Q. Acer’s build quality is as sturdy as ever, and it has most of the standard features you’d need in a gaming notebook.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The most configurable gaming notebook: Alienware Area 51m r2

Starting price: $2,300

We were excited about the Area 51m when Alienware first introduced it last year. Mostly, because Alienware was positioning it as a gaming notebook that would be as configurable as a desktop. You could upgrade its CPU, graphics and other components down the line. While we had our issues with the first generation model, the second-gen R2 has the advantage of coming with even faster hardware, as well as the option of moving between AMD and NVIDIA GPUs. While there are limits to how much you can upgrade the Area 51m, it’s still a great option if you want a machine that’s also easily repairable. 

Buy Alienware Area 51m at Dell – $2,300

Best midrange option for most people

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

Will Lipman Photography

ASUS’s Zephyrus G14 is practically a miracle. It’s a 3.5-pound notebook with AMD’s powerful Ryzen 4000 processors (including six-core and eight-core options) and NVIDIA’s latest GPUs. It feels just a bit heavier than most ultraportables, but it has the power of gaming notebooks that weigh 4.5 pounds or more. And ASUS also managed to include a fast 120Hz screen, so your gameplay will look silky smooth if you go beyond 60FPS. That fast refresh rate also makes just about everything look better, no matter if you’re scrolling through web pages or Word documents.

Even though it looks unique, with a retro-future design that feels anime-inspired, it’s not flashy like many other gaming notebooks. (Some models have a rear panel with LEDs, but you can always turn that off.) That makes it a great low-key option for classrooms and offices. The Zephyrus G14’s $1,050 starting price is also appealing to budget buyers. And it’s still a great deal if you decide to add more RAM and a faster GPU, especially compared to premium brands like Razer.

Buy Zephyrus G14 at Best Buy – $1,450

Best budget option

Dell G5 15

Will Lipman Photography / Dell

Dell’s G-series notebooks have quickly become the standard for inexpensive gaming. The G5 15 in particular balances solid hardware, like Intel’s 10th generation H-series processors and NVIDIA’s newest GPUs, with a low $860 starting price. At 5.1 pounds, it’s a bit chunkier than the lighter laptops currently in vogue, and we wouldn’t exactly call it stylish. But if you don’t care so much about those things, then it’s hard to beat the G15’s price.

It’s also worth looking at the entire G-series lineup for other options, too. You can save even more with the G3 models, though you’ll get cheaper-looking cases. The G5 15 Special Edition, which also starts at $860, is a great choice if you’d rather get an AMD processor and GPU.

Buy G5 15 at Dell starting at $862

Buy G5 15 Special Edition at Dell starting at $862

Best high-end option

Razer Blade 15

Will Lipman Photography / Razer

Razer makes gorgeous, expensive machines for PC users who want MacBook-level build quality. So not surprisingly, the Blade 15 has been king of the gaming-laptop hill for years thanks to its thin and sturdy metal case, excellent cooling and powerful hardware. If money is no object, you can get NVIDIA’s fastest mobile GPUs, the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, or the pro-grade Quadro RTX 5000, alongside Intel’s 10th-generation octa-core processors. You can also choose from some of the best laptop screens on the market, including a 300Hz 1080p LCD and 4K OLED panels.

But even if your budget isn’t sky-high, there are still plenty of solid models to choose from. In particular, the RTX 2070 Max-Q model is a reasonable $2,000 with a 144Hz display. It’s worth noting that the cheaper ‘Base’ models have some compromises, with less impressive displays, no card reader, downgraded RGB and, crucially, a dramatically downsized battery. You do get an ethernet port, though. No matter how fast you configure it, the Blade 15 never betrays its premium style. It’s like buying a luxury car with the guts of a hot rod.

Buy Razer Blade 15 at Best Buy – $1,800

Most recognizable style

Alienware M15 R3

Will Lipman Photography

Alienware was a bit late to thin gaming laptops, but in just a few years it’s developed some of the most compelling options around. The M15 R3, its latest 15-inch model, looks like something that belongs in a science fiction movie. It has a two-toned color design and bold LEDs along its rear. It’s a laptop that’s making a statement, but it’s not garishly loud like gaming machines from just a few years ago. The M15 R3 is a great choice if you want the power of NVIDIA’s faster graphics, like the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, while paying a lot less than Razer’s competing models.

Buy Alienware M15 R3 at Dell starting at $1,469

Best balance of style and cost

MSI GS66 Stealth

Will Lipman Photography / MSI

The GS66 is basically the Razer Blade alternative for the more price-conscious shopper. They’ve both got premium black metal cases and some of the fastest hardware on the market. But you can typically find GS66 configurations for hundreds less than the Blade 15. For example, you can snag it with NVIDIA’s RTX 2070 Super Max-Q and a whopping 32GB of RAM for $2,249. You’d have to pay $2,600 to get the same GPU on the Blade 15 with only 16GB of memory. Surely, you can come up with plenty of things to do with that extra $351.

Buy MSI GS66 Stealth at Amazon starting at $1,599

The Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor, released on March 11th, has a 240 Hz refresh rate, considerably faster than other high-refresh rate monitors which typically clock in at 120 Hz or 144 Hz. The 1 ms response time will be ideal for fast-paced games and the IPS panel should offer consistent colors at a wide range of angles. It has G-Sync or FreeSync compatibility, super thin bezels and an adjustable stand with slim legs that fit under a keyboard. It will retail for $500.

Another launch of note is the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K PremierColor Monitor (UP2720Q), a 27-inch 4K monitor which comes with a colorimeter built in. The monitor was unveiled at the Adobe Max event in November, aimed at creators for whom color accuracy is paramount. It’ll be available from January 30th for $710.

There’s also the beastly Dell Ultrasharp 43 4K USB-C Monitor (U4320Q), a massive 42.5″ display which can show content from four different devices in four quadrants for serious multitasking. The USB-C connections allow the connecting of devices with plenty of power, and the flicker-free screen allows the viewing of content in 4K comfortably. It’s also available on January 30th for $1050.

Other releases include the Dell Ultrasharp 25 USB-C Monitor (U2520D), a 25″ USB-C quad high definition monitor with wide color coverage, available from January 30th for $480, the Dell 86 4K Interactive Touch Monitor, a 4K touch-compatible monitor available from April 10th with pricing to be confirmed and the Dell 27 Monitor (E2720HS), a 27″ full high definition monitor available from January 8th for $290.

Dell UltraSharp 27 Monitor

Dell

Dell’s UltraSharp 27 Monitor is one of our top monitor recommendations, and it’s easily one of the best monitors in its price range. The 27-inch monitor has great color accuracy, deep blacks, very wide angle views and a 2560 x 1440 resolution. When we first reviewed it, it was priced around $800. The price has come down to $599.99, and as part of Dell’s Black Friday deals, you can buy it for just $269.99.

Buy Dell UltraSharp 27 Monitor – $269.99

Alienware 25 Monitor

Alienware

Dell is also discounting a couple monitors from its boutique gaming brand Alienware. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money, you might like the Alienware 25 Monitor. The 25-inch, 1080-pixel display has a speedy 240Hz refresh rate, fast 1ms response time and AMD FreeSync technology, which reduces image tearing and choppiness. Usually priced at $499.99, the monitor is currently on sale for $279.99, a $220 discount.

Buy Alienware 25 Monitor – $279.99

Alienware 34 Curved Monitor

Alienware

Dell is also dropping the price of its Alienware 34 Curved Monitor. Aside from the curved screen (1900 Radius), the monitor supports a 120Hz refresh rate, 2ms response time and a 21:9 display ratio. It has IPS Nano Color technology and a 3440 x 1440 resolution. Usually listed at $1,499, the Alienware 34 Curved Monitor is now $999.99.

Buy Alienware 34 Curved Monitor – $999.99

LG B9 OLED + 4K UHD Blu-ray

Dell/LG

The LG B9 OLED (in both 65- and 55-inch versions) is on sale, as well, and it’s bundled with a free 4K UHD Blu-ray player. While it’s not a huge discount on the TV itself, this is one of the best TVs in terms of price and performance, and the Blu-ray add-on makes this a great deal.

Plus, earlier this month, through a firmware update, LG pushed NVIDIA’s G-Sync to both models. This should make games look smoother, reduce response times and reduce flicker, tearing and stuttering when playing PC games.

The 65-inch B9 OLED is on sale for $1,799.00, and the 55-inch B9 OLED is discounted at $1,199.00.

Buy LG B9 OLED + 4K UHD Blu-ray – $1,799.00

XPS 13

Dell has discounted the XPS 13 by $250, pricing the base model — without touchscreen — at $1,029. This model includes an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. We’ve liked the XPS 13 series for a couple of years now, but the new 2019 model is a real stand out. We gave it a 93 when we reviewed it earlier this year. We particularly liked the Dolby Vision-compatible screen and minimal display bezels — though we wish Dell had added a full-sized SD card slot.

Buy XPS 13 on Dell – $1029

XPS 13 2-in-1

If you want a laptop that can also double as a tablet, Dell has discounted the XPS 13 2-in-1 as well. The base model is currently $1421, down from $1650. It comes with a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, a 256GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. We liked the 2-in-1 version of the XPS 13 even more than the original. Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar awarded the ultraportable a score of 94 when he reviewed it last month. His only complaints were that Dell didn’t add more ports to the device, and that Dell doesn’t offer an OLED display option.

Buy XPS 13 2-in-1 on Dell – $1421

XPS 15

The company has also discounted multiple models of the XPS 13’s larger sibling, the XPS 15. The two we highlight here are the base i5 variant and the GTX 1650 one. The former is currently $980, down from $1,100, while the latter is $1,450, instead of its usual $1,700. Both models feature 15-inch IPS screens that boast 100 percent sRBG coverage, meaning they’re good fits for photo and video editing. We gave the XPS 15 an 85 when we reviewed it earlier this year, calling it one of the best 15-inch notebooks you can buy. Our only issue with the XPS 15 was that Dell hadn’t made the design of the laptop more elegant.

Buy XPS 15 on Dell – $980

Buy XPS 15 on Dell – $1450

Alienware m15

If you want a gaming laptop instead of an ultraportable, look no further than the Alienware m15 series. Dell has discounted multiple models, but the ones we think you should look at are the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti, GTX 2060 and GTX 2070 variants. The latter two will allow to play games that take advantage of ray-tracing, a new rendering technique that significantly increases graphical fidelity. In order, the three models are $1,372, $1,519 and $2,009 currently. We haven’t reviewed the new m15, which Dell announced partway through the year, but we did like its predecessor.

Buy Alienware m15 on Dell – $1372

Buy Alienware m15 on Dell – $1519

Buy Alienware m15 on Dell – $2009

G3 15

If you want something more affordable, Dell has slashed the price of its G3 15 gaming laptop by $317; it currently costs $833, instead of 1,150. It comes with a ninth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti GPU and 8GB of RAM, as well as 512GB of internal storage. Again, we haven’t had a chance to review the G3, but for the price, it has very compelling specs.

Buy G3 15 on Dell – $833

Also on that date, Dell will start selling 13, 15 and 17-inch versions of the Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 with 10th-gen Core CPUs. They’ll include Thunderbolt 3 connectivity and pen storage, and you’ll be able to pick one up in black or silver. The Dell Inspiron 14 7000 will also be available October 1st. It counts Dolby Vision support and ExpressCharge (which can charge the battery from zero to 80 percent capacity in an hour) among its features.

In addition, Dell revealed when you’ll be able to place an order for Alienware’s 55-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor. If you’ve been waiting for that, you might want to note the September 30 launch date in your calendar.

As for the Alienware 34 Curved Gaming Monitor (which offers fast IPS response time and IPS Nano Color technology), you can snag one October 3. The Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor with fast IPS tech, 240Hz refresh rate and true 1ms response time goes on sale four days later.

Meanwhile, Dell says its Consumer Subscription Services program is available for XPS, Alienware and Inspiron products. It’s a month-to-month payment plan for Dell support.

Alienware’s elaborate cooling, which includes two large fans that suck fresh air from below and spit heat out of the rear vents, managed to keep the GPU under 83-degrees Celsius. You have plenty of control over the cooling profiles, so you can rev the fans up for longer play sessions and make them near silent when you’re just browsing the web. The Area 51m did a great job of managing all of that on its own when I chose the standard profile. As you’d expect, this is a system that’s constantly spewing out warm air, so it might heat up small rooms. That could be a side benefit in the winter, but it’s not ideal for summer months.

The Area 51m relies on two large power adapters to keep everything running. It’s annoying, but unavoidable since AC chargers top out at 330 watts — having another charger is simply necessary to keep this machine going, especially since it’s relying on desktop parts. When you’re not gaming, a single adapter is enough to power the Area 51m, but you’ll need to have both plugged in once you start taxing the GPU. Alienware isn’t the only company going this route, the ASUS ROG Mothership also relies on two power supplies. It’s simply a physics problem as gaming laptops get more demanding.

To get to the Area 51m’s internals, you just have to take off six phillips head screws on the bottom of the case. That gives you direct access to four RAM slots, the storage disk and battery. But you’ll have to dig even further to reach the CPU and GPU — that involves removing another layer of the case, the rear port hump, the fan assembly and disconnecting plenty of components. It’s not something you’ll want to do often, and you’ll also have to be extra careful about reconnecting everything. If this whole process sounds like a headache, that’s a sign that Area 51m might not be for you. Even if you’re used to upgrading desktop PC components, dealing with the confined space of a laptop case — no matter if it’s a large one like the Area 51m — is going to be frustrating.

Still, if you can afford it, and don’t mind the annoying disassembly process, the Area 51m gives you an unprecedented amount of upgradability in a laptop. If you’re tempted by a new Intel chip in a few years, you can just throw that in. And while the GPU rests in a proprietary Alienware module, the company says it’ll have new components coming later this year. There’s no guarantee it’ll keep pace with whatever NVIDIA releases in the near future, though, so you’re making a bit of a gamble there.

Unfortunately, the components you can’t upgrade on the Area 51m — the keyboard and the trackpad — are the ones that need the most improvement. While the keyboard looks and feels great at first, with RGB LEDs and 2.2 mm of travel, it feels a bit flimsy while gaming. I’m also worried about its long-term durability. When we first received the Area 51m, one of the keys flew off within 10 minutes of turning it on. Normally, I’d just snap it back into place, but somehow the plastic spring mechanism underneath was completely shattered. This is the sort of thing Dell would fix under warranty if it happened to you, but it’s still disheartening to see in such an expensive machine. And for the record, they later sent us another unit to test.

The trackpad, meanwhile, feels surprisingly cramped for a modern laptop. We’re used to ultrathin notebooks giving us a ton of space to swipe around, but with the Area 51m, my fingers always felt boxed in. Alienware also opted for an old-school two button mechanism, instead of just letting you click into the trackpad. Using it made me feel like I was transported back in time. Of course, gamers will be relying on mice most of the time, but it would have been nice to see Dell show some innovation with its design. Even moving over the trackpad from the slimmer Alienware m15 would have been an improvement.