Alienware X17 R2 Unboxing - i9 12900HK and RTX 3080ti Edition

The Alienware x17 R2 is the company's latest assault on the gaming laptop market, and you'll find plenty to like here as soon as you slide this machine from its box. The x17 deploys Alienware's eye-catching and now familiar Legend 2.0 design language, with the sheer size of this notebook signaling that you're in for an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
On the inside, Alienware's notebook pairs range-topping Nvidia graphics with a muscular Intel processor and a fast screen with G-Sync. The rig we've reviewed came in with Nvidia's RTX 3080 Ti and an Intel Core i9-12900HK alongside 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, it will set you back $4,000.

The Alienware looks fantastic and there's no doubt that it takes a different path from its closest rivals. An alternative like the Razer Blade 17 is subtle, with an all-black design and fewer RGB, while the flagship Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 goes in the opposite direction, with loads of glow, translucent plastic and a more traditional "gamer" notebook style.

The dimensions are reasonable, too. The x17 R2 is 21mm thick, which means it's slimmer than top gaming notebooks from Asus and barely thicker than the sleek Razer. At 6.61 pounds on the scales, the x17 R2 is a tad heavier than most of its competitors, but the gap isn't huge and you won't notice differences between the Alienware and its competitors -- when you buy a 17.3" gaming notebook you're going to have to accept having a weighty laptop in your bag. And while the power brick weighs 1.9 pounds, that's entirely normal in this segment.

For gaming, though, it's superb: crisp, smooth and dynamic, with vivid colors. The speakers have plenty of punch with loud, bassy output. They certainly make games boom, but the top-end is slightly tinny, and anyone who wants a better gaming experience should invest in a headset.