Alienware Is Reviving the Brand’s 18-Inch Gaming Laptop

It’s been years since Alienware launched a gaming laptop with an 18-inch screen, but the vendor apparently thinks the time is right for a revival.

On Monday, Alienware released a video that teases an 18-inch PC with the unseen product landing like a giant UFO would. “When something this big and powerful arrives…it leaves a mark,” the clip says. The video then shows the product imprinting the number 18 on a field of grass as nearby spectators look on in awe. 

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Alienware hasn't sold an 18-inch gaming laptop since at least 2015, when it offered a limited-edition model capable of supporting dual internal GPUs, along with up to four hard drives and an upgradable CPU. But since then, the gaming PC market has mainly focused on creating notebooks at 17 inches and below.

Alienware has kept its own products focused on the 14-inch to 17-inch form factors. This has included the Alienware m17 R5, which received an Editors' Choice award from us, although the product is heavy and bulky, weighing in at 7.3 pounds.  

An 18-inch version will no doubt pack even more powerful specs, along with other expected perks such as a 4K screen with a high refresh rate. But the obvious drawback will be the product’s size. In our 2013 review of Alienware 18, we noted the product weighed 12 pounds.

That said, last year Alienware launched the X-series, an attempt to create thiner and lighter gaming laptops. So it’s possible the vendor could be cooking up an 18-inch model that’s easier to carry around. 

For now, Alienware is remaining mum on details about the upcoming product. The teaser merely mentions the laptop is “coming soon.” But we wouldn’t be surprised if the vendor revealed more at the upcoming CES show in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for our coverage.