For years, Alienware eschewed thin-and-light gaming laptops, opting as a substitute to make barely bulkier programs with extra reasonably priced pricing. But all that modified final 12 months with the introduction of its X-series notebooks. And now, Alienware is pushing its quest for sleekness even additional with the brand new x14, the corporate’s thinnest and lightest gaming laptop computer but. To add much more rum to the punch, the x14 can be one of many first gaming laptops accessible that includes Intel’s newest Twelfth-gen cellular CPUs. And whereas the x14 isn’t with out its quirks, the result’s a machine that makes me want Alienware had gotten into transportable gaming rigs years in the past.
Design
Sporting Alienware’s Legend 2.0 design language, the x14 is indubitably a placing system, although finally you may must determine how a lot you fancy its sci-fi aesthetics. What’s not in query is the laptop computer’s thinness, which stands at simply 0.57 inches thick whereas weighing barely greater than 4 kilos. That’s even thinner and virtually a pound lighter than the x15 (0.63 inches and 5 kilos), whereas making Alienware’s extra mainstream M15 R7 appear virtually bloated (0.8 inches and 5.3 kilos).
Alienware
x14
85SCOREEngadget85Critics – Not but scoredN/AUsers – Not but scoredN/A
Pros
Slick design Vibrant display screen with Dolby Vision Highly transportable USB-C energy brick Good efficiency and worth for the dimensions
Cons
Somewhat cramped keyboard format No side-mounted ports Noisy followers Mediocre 720p webcam Short battery life throughout gameplaySam Rutherford/Engadget
Now I’m not usually the sort to lust after just a few ounces or tenths of an inch getting shaved off a tool, however on the x14, each little discount issues. That’s as a result of whereas most gaming laptops do not even come near becoming in my on a regular basis messenger bag that’s not meant to stash something bigger than a 13-inch ultraportable, the x14 really matches, if simply barely.
That means I’m more likely to deliver this factor with me on journeys, which is type of the entire level of a thin-and-light gaming pocket book. Don’t get me improper, I recognize beastly 17-inch gaming rigs, however when my again begins to harm on the mere considered carrying one round, in observe these programs typically perform extra like cellular desktops than any form of travel-friendly gaming machine.
The important innovation on the x14 is Alienware’s new dual-torque which provides energy and stability to the laptop computer’s show, whereas as soon as once more lowering weight and thickness in comparison with earlier X-series machines. And, as you’d anticipate from Alienware, the x14 comes with customizable RGB lighting on its lid and keyboard. That mentioned, in comparison with its bigger siblings you do lose the additional RGB mild ring that will usually define the system’s rear ports. (Fun reality: That pill-like form is definitely known as a stadium.) Inside, there is a beautiful soft-touch end on x14’s wrist relaxation, which can really feel a bit cramped for folks with bigger arms.
Display and sound
On the x14 there’s just one show possibility, and it is a good one. The 144Hz 1,920 x 1,080 display screen is loads sharp, whereas assist for NVIDIA’s G-Sync helps stop display screen tearing whereas gaming. But the factor that impressed me most is the best way colours pop. At first, I virtually mistook the x14’s show for an OLED panel. And whereas its black ranges aren’t fairly deep sufficient for that, thanks partly to assist for Dolby Vision HDR, colours look wealthy and vibrant no matter whether or not you are gaming or watching a film. And with a examined brightness of slightly below 400 nits, the x14’s display screen seems good in each dim and sun-filled rooms (although making an attempt to sport outdoors in direct daylight continues to be a problem).
Dolby tech can be accessible on the x14’s audio system because of assist for Dolby Atmos, which provides an additional dimension to audio by using further top channels. Unfortunately, I felt just like the x14’s audio sounded a bit distant, regardless of its upward-firing audio system being positioned proper behind the laptop computer’s keyboard. And regardless that the x14 had no points turning up the amount, it is virtually an excessive amount of of a very good factor, as a result of in sure conditions you may hear the x14’s chassis rattle when the audio system are set above 80 %.
Performance
While the x14 is not fairly as highly effective as its bigger siblings and does not have the area to accommodate beefier GPUs, Alienware’s thinnest gaming laptop computer nonetheless punches nicely above its weight. I used to be capable of simply hit 60 fps on excessive settings in a lot of AAA video games like Halo Infinite, and you may push issues even larger in the event you do not thoughts fidgeting with a sport’s graphics settings. And for folks extra centered on getting a aggressive benefit, maxing out the x14’s 144Hz show is a cinch in titles like CS:GO on decrease settings (which is what you’d in all probability use anyway).
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the best settings, the x14 averaged 102 frames per second, with related leads to Far Cry 5 of 96 fps on Ultra. And whereas the x14 posted a barely decrease common body charge of 55 fps in Metro Exodus on extremely, decreasing the sport’s texture settings a contact was greater than sufficient to spice up body charges firmly again above 60 fps.
Remarkably, regardless of restricted area inside for cooling, Alienware’s proprietary Element 31 thermal paste and vapor chamber (which solely come on programs with RTX 3060 graphics) did a very good job of stopping throttling from changing into a significant situation. The draw back is that the x14’s followers are fairly aggressive, typically spinning up the moment you launch a sport, whereas producing a considerably high-pitched whine that you could’t actually escape except you placed on some headphones. Thankfully, Alienware’s Command Center app helps a lot of thermal profiles together with a Quiet setting to assist scale back fan noise, although relying on the sport, which may trigger your body charge to dip a bit.
Keyboard, touchpad and ports
Trying to cram a full-size keyboard with media controls on a 14-inch laptop computer is all the time a little bit of a problem, and whereas the x14 typically makes good use of area, it ain’t excellent. The perform keys are half-sized, and even the x14’s keycaps are a contact smaller than what you’d get on Dell’s non-gaming programs like an XPS 15.
It’s an analogous state of affairs for issues just like the Windows key, the Function button, and the Shift key, all of that are smaller than regular. And for many who use the Delete key so much, be careful, as a result of it is somewhat too near the laptop computer’s energy button for my liking. On the flip facet, I do recognize the additional row of media management keys on the suitable, which incorporates an all the time helpful mic mute button. In quick, I would not go as far to say the x14’s keyboard is a dealbreaker, it simply requires extra adjustment time than typical.
As for the touchpad, at 4.5 x 2.15 inches it is undoubtedly on the small facet. Though on gaming laptops, having a much less roomy touchpad is a little more forgivable because the overwhelming majority of players usually choose to make use of an exterior mouse, even once they’re utilizing the laptop computer’s built-in keyboard.
Meanwhile, in the case of connectivity, Alienware undoubtedly did not skimp on ports. The x14 options three USB-C connections (two of which assist Thunderbolt 4), one USB 3.2 Type-A socket, HDMI 2.1, a combo audio jack, and even a microSD card slot. While I’d have preferred to see an Ethernet jack too, my solely actual gripe with the x14’s ports is that they’re positioned round again. Putting all of the ports within the rear of the system helps lower down on muddle, however while you simply need to rapidly insert one thing like a thumb drive, spinning the laptop computer round to take action feels clunky (particularly when you’ve got another peripherals plugged in).
Note: Just do not anticipate a lot from the x14’s 720p webcam. It’s fantastic in a pinch, however the pretty low decision mixed with mediocre picture high quality means you may probably need to use an exterior digital camera in the event you plan to point out your face whereas livestreaming.
Battery life and charging
The x14’s battery life varies a ton relying on how you employ it. If you are simply searching the net or streaming video, the x14’s battery life will not fairly final by a full workday, however it’s greater than serviceable. On our native video rundown take a look at, the x14 lasted simply wanting eight hours. The larger situation is that when you’ve got any desires of gaming with out plugging in, you would possibly need to squash these now. I discovered that whereas enjoying Teamfight Tactics (which is not a demanding sport), the x14 conked out after about an hour and quarter-hour.
Battery lifeAlienware x147:57Hp Spectre x360 1610:55Surface Laptop Studio (120Hz)12:24Asus ROG Strix G157:50
That mentioned, I do need to credit score Alienware for equipping the x14 with a 130-watt USB-C energy cable as a substitute of a proprietary charger like so many gaming laptops. Because the x14’s energy cable is USB-C, you should use it to cost different USB-C units like a telephone or pill, probably lowering the variety of cords you must carry round whereas touring, Alternatively, you would use a common USB-PD charger as a substitute, although you may need to be sure that charger has the required energy output and an applicable cable to correctly juice up the x14, as a lot of Dell’s programs could be choosy about USB-C charging in the event you’re utilizing outdated or out of spec equipment.
Configurations
The x14 begins at $1,650 for an Intel Core i7-12700 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of NVMe storage and an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, with absolutely loaded programs like our assessment unit topping out at round $2,300 with 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage and an NVIDIA RTX 3060. In my opinion, the candy spot is round $1,800, which will get you 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and an RTX 3060. Though I ought to point out that whilst you can improve storage post-purchase, you will not be capable to improve your RAM because it’s soldered onto the laptop computer’s motherboard.
Wrap-up
The x14 won’t be fairly as highly effective as its larger siblings, however given its much more transportable dimensions, there’s so much to love. When in comparison with a $1,800 x14 with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an RTX 3060, a equally outfitted x15 prices simply $50 much less. The important trade-offs being rather less thermal headroom, a extra cramped keyboard and a barely slower 144Hz display screen (as a substitute of 165Hz on the x15). That’s not so much to sacrifice for an much more travel-friendly thin-and-light design.
However, in the event you do not want a brand new gaming laptop computer proper now, the sensible transfer can be to attend a month or two for a few of Alienware’s rivals to launch up to date programs for 2022. Both Razer and ASUS are popping out with refreshed variations of their 14-inch gaming laptops later this spring, and as soon as these change into accessible, we’ll have a significantly better concept of how the x14 fares in opposition to its greatest rivals. But in the event you just like the x14’s mixture of favor and sleekness, this can be a slick gaming laptop computer that’s made to maneuver.