Dell Alienware x17 17.3" Gaming Laptop (2021)

MSRP 2200 USD78% External
Keywords: 4kalienwaredellflagshipg-syncgamingintelipslaptopmagnesium

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Product Overview

Dell Alienware x17 is a flagship-level 17.3-inch gaming laptop. A refinement of the m17 series that supersedes the m17 R4 unveiled at CES this year, the x17 is powered by 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors up to i9-11980HK.
Compared to the m17 R4, the x17 offers some of the fastest display options available on the market right now. Its 4K UHD panel covers 100% Adobe RGB color space, just like before, while refreshing at 120Hz, double of the 60Hz available to the m17 R4. The standard display is now a 165Hz FHD unit, also an improvement.
Another key selling point is the possibility to configure an ultra-low profile mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches. Per-key RGB back lighting is also standard.
I/O-wise, the x17 comes with Thunderbolt 4 as well as other modern ports. It comes with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity as well.
GPU-wise, Dell has not been able to bring anything new, as NVIDIA is still on top with its RTX 3000-series chips.
For those who wish for a bit more portability, Dell also markets the 15.6-inch x15 unveiled at the same time.

Ratings

What we found**

Pros
  • Beautiful 4K, 120Hz 4K display
  • Excellent battery life
  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad
Cons
  • Nothing in particular

What external reviewers found***

External score 78% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Great keyboard
  • Excellent performance
  • Excellent gaming performance
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • Lacks numpad
  • Lackluster webcam
  • Mediocre keyboard and touchpad
  • No Thunderbolt 3 port
  • No 4K display
Read More

Price Comparison

Specifications

4KFHD 165HzFHD 360Hz

Connectivity

Ports2x USB 3.2 Gen1 + 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 + 1x Thunderbolt 4 + 1x HDMI 2.1 + 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 + 1x RJ45 + 1x Audio combo + 1x MicroSD
Wireless ConnectivityWiFi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2

Construction

Camera | Front720p HD
ColorsLunar Light
MaterialMagnesium Alloy exterior shell and copper alloy thermal components
MicrophoneDual-array microphones
Speakers4 speakers, 8W in total
Switch TypeOptional CherryMX ultra-low profile mechanical keyboard

Dimensions

Size | Depth299.49 mm / 11.791"
Size | Height21.4 mm / 0.843"21.4 mm / 0.843"20.9 mm / 0.823"
Size | Width399.23 mm / 15.718"
Weight3.02 kg / 6.65 lbs ~ 3.2 kg / 7.05 lbs

Display

Aspect Ratio16:9
Brightness500 nits300 nits300 nits
Display Diagonal17.3 inch
Display TypeIPS
Gamut
Refresh Rate120 Hz165Hz360 Hz
ResolutionFHD (1920x1080) or 4K UHD (3840x2160)
Response Time4 ms3 ms1 ms

Function

AudioRealtek ALC3281
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6, RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6, or RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6
Keyboard BacklightPer-key AlienFX RGB lighting
Operating SystemWindows 10
ProcessorIntel Core i7-11800H or i9-11980HK Tiger Lake
RGB LightingAlienFX lighting programmable with up to 16.8 million distinct colors
Variable FramerateNVIDIA G-SYNC available for IPS 360Hz panel

Performance

Memory | Capacity16, 32, or 64 GB
Memory | TypeDDR4 3200MHz or DDR4 XMP 3466MHz
StorageUp to 4TB (2x 2TB) PCIe NVMe SSD, RAID supported

Production

Debut2021-06

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Launch Comparison
Clear List

3rd-Party Review Videos

External Reviews

laptopmag[1]

Reviewer score 88%
Reviewers from laptopmag have found the following***:
Alienware has retooled its proprietary Cryo-Tech system to keep the X17 cool. The 720p webcam is a little bit of a letdown, considering all the powerful specs it's packing. It's not a bad shooter, in fact, it's par for the course.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek design
  • Powerful CPU and GPU
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • Lackluster webcam
  • No Thunderbolt 3

notebookcheck[2]

Reviewer score 76%
Reviewers from notebookcheck have found the following***:
The most compelling features of the Alienware x17 are its processor performance and CherryMX mechanical keys. The Core i7-11800H CPU here runs noticeably faster than on other laptops equipped with the exact same chip. Charging from empty to full capacity is very fast at around 75 minutes with the included AC barrel adapter. All performance comes at the cost of core temperature, power consumption, size, and weight.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Strong CPU performance and CherryMX mechanical keys
  • Slim bezels
  • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
  • Very good battery life
Cons
  • Higher CPU TDP and GPU TGP targets

pcmag[3]

Reviewer score 70%
Reviewers from pcmag have found the following***:
The Alienware x17 is a sharper-looking version of the former flagship m17, but we're not sold on the redesign. While larger laptops often pack more power, it performs no better than premium 15-inch gaming rigs. The x17 doesn't particularly outperform smaller systems, and the lighter m17 proved faster.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Bright 4K display
  • High-quality components
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • Mediocre keyboard and touchpad
  • No Thunderbolt 3 port

theverge[4]

Reviewer score 73%
Reviewers from theverge have found the following***:
This version of the X17 includes the ultra-low-profile Cherry mechanical key switches. The key layout is intuitive, though some may be upset that the numpad is missing. The light-up trackpad that illuminates when you touch it, though the light goes out after a few seconds of inactivity.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek, premium design
  • Excellent gaming performance
  • Excellent keyboard
Cons
  • No 4K display
  • Lacks numpad

tomshardware[5]

Reviewer score 84%
Reviewers from tomshardware have found the following***:
The Alienware x17 is one of the sleekest gaming laptops I've seen in a long time. The new design is as pretty and modern as gaming laptops get these days. There's an option for a 1080p, 360 HZ G-Sync display and a non-mechanical keyboard.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek, modern design
  • Excellent performance
  • Great keyboard
Cons
  • No Thunderbolt 3
  • Mediocre webcam

User Reviews

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References

  1. ^ Alienware X17 review. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/alienware-x17-review. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  2. ^ Alienware x17 R1 RTX 3080 laptop review: A new beginning. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-x17-R1-RTX-3080-laptop-review-A-new-beginning.563108.0.html. 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  3. ^ Alienware x17 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/alienware-x17. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  4. ^ Alienware X17 review: pretty pixels for a pretty penny. [theverge]. https://www.theverge.com/22765258/alienware-x17-review-4k-17-inch-gaming-laptop. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  5. ^ Alienware x17 Review: A Designer Gaming Laptop. [tomshardware]. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/alienware-x17. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2021-09-23.

The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.

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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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