Alienware 18 Area-51 vs MSI Raider 18 HX A2W
64.4Performancespec-basedchip63.5
97.5Graphics92.6
64.1Displayspec-based80
94.7Batteryspec-based86.7
23.6Portabilityspec-based20
4 spec wins — Alienware 18 Area-512 spec wins — MSI Raider 18 HX A2W
InnoReviews verdict
This one is close to a dead heat: Alienware 18 Area-51 scores 68 against 68.5 for MSI Raider 18 HX A2W. Pick by the categories that matter to you, or by price.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Alienware 18 Area-51
- Stronger graphics score: 98 vs 93
- 27% higher 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU): 22,099 vs 17,434
- 25% higher Refresh rate: 300 Hz vs 240 Hz
- 24% lower thickness: 24.3 mm vs 32.1 mm
Reasons to pick the MSI Raider 18 HX A2W
- 13% lower weight: 3.6 kg vs 4.12 kg
- 11% higher charging: 400 W vs 360 W
Display
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 18 ″ | 18 ″ |
| Panel type | IPS LCD | IPS |
| Resolution | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 300 Hz+25% | 240 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | — |
Performance
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop (RTX 5060, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5090 optional) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU (12GB GDDR7, 140W) |
| RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5-6400 (SODIMM) | DDR5-6400 (2 slots, up to 128GB) |
| Storage | 1,024 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Storage type | M.2 NVMe SSD (PCIe 4.0/5.0) | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (2 M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 compatible) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,057Top 17% | — |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 19,869Top 12% | — |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU) | 22,099+27%Top 9% | 17,434Top 21% |
Battery
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 96 Wh+7% | 90 Wh |
| Charging | 360 W | 400 W+11% |
Design
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 4.12 kg | 3.6 kg+13% |
| Thickness | 24.3 mm+24% | 32.1 mm |
| Material | Anodized aluminum | — |
Connectivity
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 5 (DisplayPort 2.1, Power Delivery; Thunderbolt 4 on RTX 5070 and below), 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, 5Gbps RJ-45, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack | 2x Thunderbolt 5 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery 3.1), 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz), SD Express card reader, 2.5G Ethernet (RJ45), 3.5mm combo jack, Kensington lock |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel Killer BE1750) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Webcam | 1080p + IR camera (4K option) | 1080p IR with HDR and privacy shutter |
| Biometrics | IR face (Windows Hello) | — |
Software
| Spec | Alienware 18 Area-51 | MSI Raider 18 HX A2W |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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