HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) vs Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025)

Which Laptop Is Better?

Products

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025)
Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025)

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Nov 18, 2025 07:31 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Nov 20, 2025 05:30 PM

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  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Gaming

Our Verdict

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025)

Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025)

The HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) and the Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) are both high-end gaming laptops with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 HX CPUs and NVIDIA 50-Series GPUs. While neither is particularly portable, the OMEN is the smaller of the two at 16 inches, making it a better option if you need to travel with the laptop. Both deliver a great gaming experience, though expect the Alienware to achieve better results on the top-end 5090 models, as it has more chassis space and a superior cooling system to keep the components cool.

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Variants

  • OMEN MAX 16 (16-ah0097nr) (Shadow Black - 2.5k/IPS/Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5080/32GB/1TB)
  • OMEN MAX 16 (16-ah0070ca) (Shadow Black - 2.5k/IPS/Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5080/32GB/1TB)
  • Alienware 18 Area-51 (LAA18250-9444BLU-PUS) (Liquid Teal - Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5070Ti/32GB/2TB)
  • Alienware 18 Area-51 (LAA18250) (Liquid Teal - Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5080/32GB/1TB)

Main Differences for
General Productivity

Threshold 

0.10

General Productivity 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style 
 

Style Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Style Photo Sample

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Form Factor 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Build Quality Photo Sample

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Show Text 

Hinge 
 

N/A
N/A

Hinge Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Hinge Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Hinge Photo Sample

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Range 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Stability 
 

Locked
Locked

One Finger Lift 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Dimensions Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Dimensions Photo Sample

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Size 
 

Lock"
Lock"

Thickness 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Width 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Charger Size 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Charger Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Serviceability 
 

N/A
N/A

Internals Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Internals Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Internals Photo Sample

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Ease Of Access 
 

0.0
0.0

RAM Slots 
 

Locked
Locked

Storage Slots 
 

Locked
Locked

Replaceable Battery 
 

Locked
Locked

Replaceable Wireless Adapter 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) In The Box Photo Sample

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Display

Screen Specs 
 

Display Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Display Photo Sample

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Display Photo Sample

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Resolution 
 

Locked
Locked

Aspect Ratio 
 

Locked
Locked

Pixel Density 
 

Lock PPI
Lock PPI

Panel Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Touch Screen 
 

Locked
Locked

Screen-To-Body Ratio 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Refresh Rate 
 

N/A
N/A

Motion Blur 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Motion Blur Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Motion Blur Sample

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Refresh Rate 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Variable Refresh Rate 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Contrast 
 

N/A
N/A

Contrast Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Contrast Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Contrast Photo Sample

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Native Contrast 
 

Lock : 1
Lock : 1
Show Text 

Brightness 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Brightness 
 

Lock cd/m²
Lock cd/m²

Minimum Brightness 
 

Lock cd/m²
Lock cd/m²
Show Text 

Reflections 
 

N/A
N/A

Reflections Photo Off 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Reflections Photo Off Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Reflections Photo Off Sample

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Reflections Photo Max 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Reflections Photo Max Sample

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Reflections Photo Max Sample

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Screen Finish 
 

Locked
Locked

Total Reflections 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Indirect Reflections 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Calculated Direct Reflections 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Black Uniformity 
 

N/A
N/A

Black Uniformity Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Black Uniformity Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Black Uniformity Photo Sample

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Uniformity (Std. Dev.) 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Out-Of-The-Box Color Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

White Balance Screencap 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) White Balance Screencap Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) White Balance Screencap Sample

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Gamma Curve Screencap 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Gamma Curve Screencap Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Gamma Curve Screencap Sample

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Color Screencap 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Color Screencap Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Color Screencap Sample

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Avg. White Balance dE 
 

Lock
Lock

Avg. Gamma 
 

Lock
Lock

Avg. Color dE 
 

Lock
Lock

Avg. Color Temperature 
 

Lock K
Lock K
Show Text 

Color Gamut 
 

N/A
N/A

Gamut SDR 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Gamut SDR Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Gamut SDR Sample

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sRGB xy 
 

Lock%
Lock%

sRGB uv 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Adobe RGB xy 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Adobe RGB uv 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Gamut HDR 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Gamut HDR Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Gamut HDR Sample

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DCI-P3 xy 
 

Lock%
Lock%

DCI-P3 uv 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Rec. 2020 xy 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Rec. 2020 uv 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 

Flicker 
 

N/A
N/A

Flicker Graph 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Flicker Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Flicker Graph Sample

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Flicker-Free 
 

Locked
Locked

Flicker Frequency 
 

Locked
Locked

Flicker Active Below 
 

Lock%
Lock%
Show Text 
Interface

Keyboard 
 

N/A
N/A

Keyboard Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Keyboard Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Keyboard Photo Sample

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Typing Quality 
 

0.0
0.0

Numpad 
 

Locked
Locked

Backlighting 
 

Locked
Locked

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Operating Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Actuation Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Pre-Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Total Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm
Show Text 

Touchpad 
 

N/A
N/A

Touchpad Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Touchpad Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Touchpad Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Tracking Quality 
 

0.0
0.0

Size 
 

Lock in² (Lock cm²)
Lock in² (Lock cm²)

Material 
 

Locked
Locked

Dedicated Buttons 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Speakers 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Plot  

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Frequency Response Plot Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Frequency Response Plot Sample

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Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Standard Error @ Normal Vol. (65 dB) 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Slope @ Normal Vol. (65 dB) 
 

Lock
Lock

Bass Extension (Low-Frequency Ext.) 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Treble Extension (High-Frequency Ext.) 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz

Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Vol. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Webcam & Microphone 
 

N/A
N/A

Webcam Video Sample  

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Webcam Video Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Webcam Video Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Video Quality 
 

0.0
0.0

Resolution 
 

Locked
Locked

Position 
 

Locked
Locked

Privacy Cover 
 

Locked
Locked

Face Unlock 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Ports 
 

N/A
N/A

Ports Photo 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Ports Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Ports Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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USB-A Ports 
 

Locked
Locked

USB-C Ports 
 

Locked
Locked

Thunderbolt 
 

Locked
Locked

USB-C Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

USB-C Display Out 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI 
 

Locked
Locked

DisplayPort 
 

Locked
Locked

3.5mm Jack 
 

Locked
Locked

Card Reader 
 

Locked
Locked

Ethernet 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Port 
 

Locked
Locked

Security Lock 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Communication 
 

Wi-Fi 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Configuration

CPU 
 

Brand 
 

Locked
Locked

Model 
 

Locked
Locked

Core Count 
 

Lock
Lock

Thread Count 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

GPU 
 

Brand 
 

Locked
Locked

Model 
 

Locked
Locked

Dedicated/Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

VRAM Size 
 

Lock GB
Lock GB

GPU Total Graphics Power (TGP) 
 

LockW
LockW
Show Text 

RAM 
 

Capacity 
 

Lock GB
Lock GB

Modules 
 

Locked
Locked

Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Speed 
 

Lock MHz
Lock MHz
Show Text 

Storage 
 

Advertised Capacity 
 

Lock GB
Lock GB

Usable Capacity 
 

Lock GB
Lock GB

Drive 1 
 

Locked
Locked

Drive 1 Type  

Locked
Locked

Drive 2 
 

Locked
Locked

Drive 2 Type  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Performance

CPU/RAM Performance 
 

N/A
N/A

Cinebench 2024 - Single Core 
 

Lock points
Lock points

Cinebench 2024 - Multi Core 
 

Lock points
Lock points

Geekbench 6 - Single Core 
 

Lock
Lock

Geekbench 6 - Multi Core 
 

Lock
Lock

Blender - CPU (Avg) 
 

Lock samples/min
Lock samples/min

PassMark PT - CPU Mark 
 

Lock
Lock

PassMark PT - Memory Mark 
 

Lock
Lock

PassMark PT - Memory Mark (Android) 
 

N/A
N/A

Mozilla Kraken 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Low Tier Graphics 
 

N/A
N/A

Geekbench 6 - GPU Compute 
 

Lock
Lock

Basemark Web 3.0 
 

Lock
Lock

PassMark PT - 2D Mark 
 

Lock
Lock

PassMark PT - 2D Mark (Android) 
 

N/A
N/A

PassMark PT - 3D Mark 
 

Lock
Lock

PassMark PT - 3D Mark (Android) 
 

N/A
N/A

Novabench 5 - GPU 
 

Lock
Lock

mprep - Stress My GPU 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

High Tier Graphics 
 

N/A
N/A

3DMark - Steel Nomad (DX12) 
 

Lock
Lock

3DMark - Steel Nomad (Vulkan/Metal) 
 

Lock
Lock

Basemark GPU (DX12) 
 

Lock
Lock

Basemark GPU (Vulkan/Metal) 
 

Lock
Lock

GFXBench - High Level Test (Vulkan/Metal) 
 

Lock Frames
Lock Frames

Professional 3D (GPU Accelerated) 
 

N/A
N/A

Blender - GPU (Avg) 
 

Lock samples/min
Lock samples/min

Cinebench 2024 - GPU 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

CPU-Intensive Game Performance 
 

N/A
N/A

Civilization VII - AI 
 

Lock s/turn
Lock s/turn

Civilization VII - Graphics (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Civilization VII - Graphics (1% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Total War: Warhammer III (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Baldur's Gate 3 (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Baldur's Gate 3 (1% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Previous Methodology Score 
 

0.0
N/A

Previous Methodology Score Converted 
 

0.0
N/A

GPU-Intensive Game Performance 
 

N/A
N/A

Cyberpunk 2077 (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Cyberpunk 2077 (Min) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Assassin's Creed Shadows (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Assassin's Creed Shadows (1% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

GTA V (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

GTA V (1% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Black Myth: Wukong (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Black Myth: Wukong (5% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Resident Evil 4 (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Resident Evil 4 (1% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Previous Methodology Score 
 

0.0
N/A

Previous Methodology Score Converted 
 

0.0
N/A
Show Text 

Ray Tracing Performance 
 

N/A
N/A

Cyberpunk 2077 (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Cyberpunk 2077 (Min) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Assassin's Creed Shadows (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Assassin's Creed Shadows (1% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Black Myth: Wukong (Avg) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps

Black Myth: Wukong (5% Low) 
 

Lock fps
Lock fps
Show Text 

Storage Drive Performance 
 

N/A
N/A

Sequential Write Speed 
 

Lock MB/s
Lock MB/s

Sequential Read Speed 
 

Lock MB/s
Lock MB/s

Random Write Speed 
 

Lock MB/s
Lock MB/s

Random Read Speed 
 

Lock MB/s
Lock MB/s

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Capacity 
 

Lock Wh
Lock Wh

Battery Life (Web Browsing) 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Battery Life (Video Playback) 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Battery Life (Gaming) 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs
Show Text 

Thermals And Noise 
 

N/A
N/A

Keyboard Temps Picture 
 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Keyboard Temps Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Keyboard Temps Picture Sample

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Keyboard Temp While Idle 
 

Lock °C (Lock °F)
Lock °C (Lock °F)

Keyboard Temp Under Load 
 

Lock °C (Lock °F)
Lock °C (Lock °F)

Fan Noise While Idle 
 

Lock dBA
Lock dBA

Fan Noise Under Load 
 

Lock dBA
Lock dBA

Power & Fan Control App 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Performance Over Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Performance Over Time Graph  

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) Performance Over Time Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) Performance Over Time Graph Sample

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CPU Temp (Cinebench) 
 

Lock °C
Lock °C

CPU Perf. Loss (Cinebench) 
 

Lock% loss
Lock% loss

GPU Temp (Heaven) 
 

Lock °C
Lock °C

GPU Perf. Loss (Heaven) 
 

Lock% loss
Lock% loss
Additional Features And Software

Software 
 

Operating System 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Software 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Biometrics 
 

Locked
Locked

RGB Illumination 
 

Locked
Locked

Touch Pen Support 
 

Locked
Locked

Secondary Display 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025)

Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025)

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