Sensational gaming and CPU speeds ; Top-quality 360Hz screen ; Crisp, satisfying keyboard ; Good connectivity

Expensive ; Poor battery life ; Underwhelming overclocking

The Alienware x17 R2 delivers stunning gaming and processing speeds, a top-notch screen and a sturdy, good-looking chassis, and it’s only hindered by an expected high price and unsurprisingly poor battery life. It’s one of the best 17.3in gaming...

Slim and stylish design ; Impressive performance ; 'Build your own' customisation options

It's expensive ; 1920 x 1080 display ; All the ports are hidden at the back

It's not perfect - the limited battery life and modest screen resolution may not suit some people. However, the X17's combination of stylish design, strong performance and DIY customisation options really help it to stand out in the competitive gaming...

Tremendous computing power ; Great keyboard ; Plenty of ports ; Impressive build quality

Meagre battery life ; Some fan noise ; Rivals have better screens

So, where does this leave the Alienware 17? It’s a tricky judgement call to make. It’s by far the most impressive-looking 17in gaming laptop we’ve ever clapped eyes on, and the hardware specifications and all-round performance are simply stellar.

Excellent gaming performance Several thermal profiles available Very thin for a 17-inch laptop Fantastic port selection Solid CPU power

Runs loud and hot at full power Mechanical keyboard isn't for everyone Grainy webcam

“The Alienware x17 R2 is one of the fastest gaming laptops you can buy, but you might want to skip the 480Hz screen.”

Beautiful design ; Powerful overall and gaming performance ; Excellent audio ; Comfy, clicky keyboard ; Blistering fast transfer speeds

Super expensive ; Poor webcam ; Below average battery life

The Alienware x17 R2 offers a tantalizing bounty of power thanks to Intel’s new 12th Gen processors and Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti GPU, but is really expensive.

The fastest portable gaming PC we've seen. It's not just slim, it's insanely slim. The screen is lightning fast.

It costs an obscene amount of money! The screen is only in Full HD resolution.

Overall, the Alienware x17 R2 is the most powerful laptop we’ve ever tested at L&B Tech Reviews. By its very nature, it’s a record that’s certain to be broken in the future. But I don’t expect that to happen in 2022. However, the x17 R2 is also close...

+ Excellent productivity and gaming performance ; + Stunning design

- Expensive ; - A bit larger and heavier than the competition ; - Battery life could be better

With new top-end Intel and Nvidia components wrapped in arguably the nicest-looking gaming laptop shell on the market, the Alienware x17 R2 is impressive, and its mechanical keyboard option feels great. But MSI's competing GE76 Raider performed a bit...