In terms of graphics, the X14 has the RTX 3050 by default but can be upgraded to a more powerful and slightly more power-hungry RTX 3050 Ti or RTX 3060. It starts with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM clocked at 4,800MHz, but you can upgrade to up to 32GB of LPDDR5 memory clocked at 5,200MHz - currently the fastest speed available in a laptop. The X14 can be configured with two processor options: the 12-core Intel Core i5-12500H or the Intel Core i7-12700H 14-core processor. The company insisted that the components, battery life, performance - even down to the BIOS on this model - are consistent with what you can expect if you were to purchase an X14 yourself.) (Note: The Verge typically doesn’t review pre-production products, but I wasn’t informed that this was a pre-production unit until I presented the defect to Alienware. Alienware told The Verge that this sample came from a pool of pre-production units, and it claims that this problem has been addressed in the X14 that’s now available.

It was easy to miss, but a problem nevertheless. The sides of its display enclosure bowed outward, misaligning with the laptop’s chassis. Incidentally, the unit that Alienware provided for review had a manufacturing defect. Alienware stated at launch that the X14 would cost $1,799.99, but the company is actually offering a $1,649.99 option, along with two higher-tier models.Įach side of this unit’s display bows outward ( click to see enlarged ). It’s certainly not priced like a compromised machine, either. In terms of performance, this does not run like the compromised machine that I thought it would be. It has a capable 12th Gen Intel processor, lightning-fast RAM clocked at 5,200MHz, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. On the other hand, I’m impressed that the smaller X14 retains many of the same features that define the larger models. Then there are issues that impact usability, like ho-hum battery life and a cramped keyboard. The X14 has fewer ports, and some of the futuristic (albeit divisive) RGB LEDs along its rear ( seen here on the X17) are absent.

As expected, Alienware made some compromises to fit everything into a smaller chassis. It’s thinner, lighter, and, as you might expect, far less powerful. It’s not an oversimplification to say that the X14 is basically a shrunken version of the company’s larger, pricier, and more powerful 15-inch X15. There’s now something on Alienware’s menu for people who still see gaming as the main course yet also hold portability in high regard. This is a thin 14-inch gaming laptop that’s completely different from anything else that the company offers. The latest company to get on board with this is Alienware and its new X14. A welcome trend is well underway in the realm of gaming laptops: some of them are getting smaller.

Alienware software used