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| The 16X Aurora has a lot going for it, but the RTX 5070 Ti option annoyingly cannot be de-coupled with the arguably unneeded Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus |
After months of speculation, Dell has officially started shipping the 2026 Alienware 16X Aurora, and on paper, it looks like a monster. The new model brings several meaningful improvements over the 2025 version, including a bump to Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, and a gorgeous OLED display option. Last year’s machine topped out at the Core Ultra 9 275HX, the base RTX 5070, and a traditional IPS screen.
On raw specs alone, the GPU upgrade alone delivers a healthy performance uplift – we’re talking significantly higher frame rates in modern titles and better ray tracing capabilities. The OLED panel, meanwhile, promises inky blacks, vibrant colors, and instant pixel response times that IPS simply can’t match. So why does this feel like a bittersweet victory?
The problem isn’t the hardware – it’s how Dell forces you to buy it
Here’s where things get frustrating. If you want that powerful RTX 5070 Ti GPU, you cannot pair it with last year’s still-excellent Core Ultra 9 275HX. Dell has locked the 5070 Ti exclusively to the new Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. And as we proved in our full review, the 290HX Plus is barely an improvement over the 275HX – we’re talking single-digit percentage gains in most real-world gaming and productivity tests.
What does that mean for your wallet? The 290HX Plus commands a premium price tag, but it doesn’t deliver a premium performance lift. Being forced to buy it alongside the RTX 5070 Ti could cost buyers a few hundred extra dollars for essentially no gaming performance benefit. If Dell allowed the 5070 Ti to be configured with the 275HX instead, you’d get the same frame rates at a much lower price point. That’s a missed opportunity – especially for budget-conscious gamers who still want high-end graphics.
OLED: expensive but worth it – unlike the CPU forced bundle
The forced-bundling issue extends to the display as well. You cannot configure the RTX 5070 Ti model with a more affordable IPS panel. If you want that GPU, you also have to spring for the OLED screen.
Now, to be fair, the jump from IPS to OLED is much more noticeable than the jump from the 275HX to the 290HX Plus. OLED offers true blacks, infinite contrast, and faster response times – it’s a transformative experience for gaming and media consumption. The added cost for OLED is far easier to justify than paying extra for a marginally faster CPU that you’ll barely feel.
But that doesn’t excuse the lack of choice. Some gamers simply want raw GPU power without paying a premium for an OLED display, especially if they mostly play in brightly lit rooms or use an external monitor. Dell is forcing them into a more expensive configuration regardless.
What the experts are saying
For a deeper dive into real-world performance, thermals, and display quality, check out our comprehensive hands-on review:
👉 Alienware 16X Aurora (2026) OLED Review – Benchmarks & Verdict 👈
In that review, we break down exactly how much faster the RTX 5070 Ti is versus the RTX 5070, and whether the OLED tax is actually worth it. Spoiler: the GPU upgrade is fantastic – but you shouldn’t have to buy a CPU you don’t need to get it.
The bottom line: great laptop, frustrating configuration limits
Make no mistake – the 2026 Alienware 16X Aurora is a powerful machine. The RTX 5070 Ti and OLED panel together create a stunning gaming experience. But Dell’s decision to force buyers into a “premium bundle” with the marginally improved Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus reeks of artificial segmentation. At a time when laptop prices are already higher than ever – thanks to component shortages, inflation, and rising R&D costs – restricting configuration freedom only pushes potential customers away.
What Dell should have done is offer the RTX 5070 Ti with both CPU options (275HX and 290HX Plus) and with both display options (IPS and OLED). That would let gamers choose where to save and where to splurge. Instead, anyone who wants the superior GPU is forced into the most expensive CPU and display combo – even if they don’t need or want them.
If you have the budget, the fully loaded 2026 16X Aurora is undeniably impressive. But if you’re looking for value, you might be better off hunting for a 2025 model with the RTX 5070 and IPS screen, or waiting to see if Dell loosens its configuration restrictions in a future BIOS or mid-cycle refresh.
Final thought: Great hardware shouldn’t come with strings attached. Dell, please give us more choices – not fewer.