Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) vs MSI Raider A18 HX A9W
51.1Performance70.9
85Graphics97.5
31.8Displayspec-based51.1
94.7Batteryspec-based42.8
32.7Portabilityspec-based20
2 spec wins — Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250)9 spec wins — MSI Raider A18 HX A9W
InnoReviews verdict
This one is close to a dead heat: Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) scores 56.8 against 56.7 for MSI Raider A18 HX A9W. Pick by the categories that matter to you, or by price.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250)
- 29% lower weight: 2.57 kg vs 3.6 kg
- 29% lower thickness: 22.7 mm vs 32.1 mm
Reasons to pick the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W
- Stronger performance score: 71 vs 51
- Stronger graphics score: 98 vs 85
- 196% higher Peak brightness: 889 nits vs 300 nits
- 122% higher charging: 400 W vs 180 W
- 100% higher RAM: 64 GB vs 32 GB
Display
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 16 ″ | 18 ″+13% |
| Panel type | IPS | Mini-LED |
| Resolution | 2560x1600 | 3840x2400 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 300 nits | 889 nits+196% |
Performance
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 7 240H | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU |
| RAM | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM type | DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM) | DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 1,024 GB | 2,048 GB+100% |
| Storage type | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (2 M.2 slots) | PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,699Bottom 37% | 3,146+17%Top 10% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 13,815Top 47% | 19,922+44%Top 9% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU) | 12,021Bottom 31% | 22,099+84%Top 9% |
Battery
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 96 Wh | 99.9 Wh+4% |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 2.1 h |
| Charging | 180 W | 400 W+122% |
Design
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.57 kg+29% | 3.6 kg |
| Thickness | 22.7 mm+29% | 32.1 mm |
| Material | Anodized aluminum lid, plastic deck and base, magnesium alloy internal frame | — |
Connectivity
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (one with DisplayPort 1.4, one with Power Delivery), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack | 2x USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, PD 3.1, Thunderbolt 4 compatible), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE RJ45, SD Express card reader, 3.5mm combo jack, Kensington lock |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Webcam | 720p | 1080p IR with privacy shutter |
| Biometrics | None | Fingerprint reader, IR facial recognition |
Software
| Spec | Alienware 16 Aurora (AC16250) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home or Pro |
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