Is there a better alternative?

A handful of other companies offer laptops with desktop grade components. Origin’s EON17-X is the most well-known among them. It can be had with a 4K display and custom paint options. We haven’t reviewed it yet.

　　Less expensive gaming laptops based on mobile hardware are more affordable and more portable. The MSI GS75 Stealth and Asus ROG Zephyrus S are good examples. You’ll spend about $1,000 to $1,500 less for a top-tier trim, but neither of these laptops can keep up with the Area-51m.

　　Razer’s Blade is still Digital Trends’ favorite gaming laptop because it combines strong performance with a practical size and decent battery life. However, there’s no denying the Area-51m easily beats the Razer in benchmarks.

　　

How long will it last?

The Alienware Area-51m is easier to upgrade than most laptops. I don’t think many people will end up upgrading the CPU or GPU, but the hard drives and RAM are easy to swap out as well. The Area-51m is so quick that it’ll likely still be of some use a decade from now, though perhaps not as a gaming rig.

　　A one-year warranty with in-home service (after remote diagnosis) is standard. The in-home service option is an awesome benefit, but we’d like to see a longer warranty considering this laptop’s price. Adding a warranty can be expensive, as well – a 3 year “premium support” warranty tacks on $430 dollars.

　　

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you don’t mind a laptop this large. The Area-51m won’t be practical for on-the-go gamers, but it’s an excellent choice if battery life is not high on your list of priorities.