Computers come in many shapes, sizes, and levels of power, and there are many brands of PCs out there to choose from, and Alienware is one of them. Alienware is perhaps best known as a popular choice for people looking to buy computers for gaming, though whether their computers are the best option for it is debatable. They are, however, certainly pretty expensive computers, but why is Alienware so expensive?
Alienware is so expensive for multiple reasons, including build quality and the levels of power. Computer parts in general have been increasing for a variety of reasons, but ultimately, one of the biggest reasons it is expensive is prestige. Alienware devices look very attractive aesthetically, have gotten the reputation of being quite powerful, and have been popular among gamers.
But will Alienware PCs get any cheaper? And how do their prices compare to their competitors?
Why is Alienware so Expensive?
Alienware computers and laptops are fairly expensive devices, notably more so than their competition. Even between Alienware computers and laptops, you can find a wide range of pricing options for them. Laptops tend to be more expensive than computers in general, and the same is true for Alienware laptops.
If you want to get an Alienware laptop, you will need to pay at least somewhere from $1300 to $1400. Comparatively, the lowest price point of an Alienware desktop computer is around $1100. If owning a laptop instead of a computer is important for you and you can afford to pay the extra $200, it is a worthwhile purchase. However, how expensive can Alienware get?
Well, an Alienware PC can cost all the way up to $3500, which is quite a premium. However, even that is nothing compared to one of the most expensive Alienware laptops, priced at a whopping $5,000. Laptops in general can get quite expensive, only because they have to pack more hardware into the device per square inch, and they also include a built-in monitor and keyboard.
Do note, however, that you can often get Alienware devices for a reduced price if you buy one at the right time or place. For example, you might be able to get a $1400 Alienware PC for only $1000 at certain times.
Alienware computers are generally considered pretty good
This is a pretty simple explanation, but honestly, it’s the truth. While the Alienware brand of computers is not some objectively superior device, they are noted for high levels of durability, and are still quite powerful. There are a lot of people who have been buying Alienware PCs since they were kids, so it makes sense that there would be a strong appeal for them to keep up with this brand.
Alienware Prioritize Performance
You would be able to tell just by looking at an Alienware laptop how much heavier it is than the average gaming laptop, and that’s because Alienware simply prioritizes performance above all else. Higher performance will require larger components as well as a solid construction. In addition, these added components generate additional heat, requiring a pretty solid cooling system.
Alienware computers look cool
This may be a superficial reason, but hey, who can blame someone for wanting a computer that is visually striking? Alienware computers have changed aesthetics a number of times over the years, with the models changing to reflect the notions of futuristic technologies.
Because people are willing to pay that much For a Trusted Brand
Honestly, this is the key reason why a lot of things are as expensive as they are. Basically, Alienware has built up a pretty solid reputation in the gaming industry, known for innovating the gaming space with its unique builds and designs. One example could be its usage of the Tobii eye tracker, which can be found on certain Alienware laptops, allowing you to control the in-game camera and productivity features simply with the use of an eye tracker.
Another innovative feature added to Alienware laptops is a high-endurance, clear-coat paint formula. We all know that gamers love to snack in between que’s, so Alienware developed a paint formula specifically designed to resist smudges, stains, or whatever food residue you could throw at it.
Essentially all this comes down to is one thing, putting gamers first & because of this, Alienware has gained a reasonable amount of trust from the gaming community in terms of its builds, specs, and innovation. Allowing them to charge more of a premium price.
This is something you will find with a lot of different established companies and brands. However, does not always go according to plan.
One example of this occurring was with the Nintendo 3DS, which launched in 2011. The Nintendo 3DS launched at $250, significantly more than any Nintendo DS model, and even the more powerful PlayStation Vita was also $250. Unsurprisingly, the 3DS did not perform well at all during this period, forcing them to drop the price. The price drop happened within the same year, dropping it to $180. It was such a sudden and large price drop that, in order to avoid backlash from early adopters, they gave away 10 NES games and 10 GBA games to them. In this case, Nintendo was forced to drop their price, because the price point was the number one sales killer for the 3DS.
The price of computer hardware has increased in recent years
While Alienware PCs have always had a reputation for being more expensive than much of the competition, there is actually a pretty valid reason why prices have been increasing even further. This is because computer parts in general have become more expensive, for one reason or another. One of the most common reasons why computer hardware has increased is due to the rise in cryptocurrency mining, such as Bitcoin. Data mining, a process used in developing cryptocurrencies, is fairly intensive, and requires much of the same hardware as a computer would. Thus, a lot of computer parts were bought up, resulting in a chip shortage.
This shortage started in 2020, and in addition to data mining purposes, the chip shortage has been spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. With people having to spend a lot more time at home, this also means that they have a lot more free time. This leads to a lot of people feeling bored out of their minds, and in turn, leads to them getting better computers than they had originally. This goes further, considering how many people have had to start doing remote work and thus need a device to do Zoom calls and other things at home. Prices are still fairly high, but prices may come down soon.
How do Alienware computers and laptops compare to the competition?
An Alienware PC can be pretty expensive, but how justifiable is the price disparity? Well, we are going to look at some of the best computer brands to see. For this comparison, we will discuss computers around a $1400-$1500 price point, just to get the best idea of the comparative value.
Alienware
For this, we are going to look at both an Alienware computer and an Alienware laptop. First, the Aurora R12 Gaming Desktop, priced at $1579.99, has an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics processor. This is all on top of a 1TB SSD. The included processor is considered quite powerful, while the 16GB of RAM included is capable of advanced gaming. The graphics processor is quite capable as well, able to play most games at max settings.
Meanwhile, Alienware’s m15 R5 15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop will run you $1499.99. This laptop comes with an AMD Ryzen R9 processor and 16GB worth of memory. The graphics processor is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, and it has a 1TB SSD. This is a good value compared to the above-mentioned Alienware computer, as the power capabilities are roughly the same.
Acer
Acer tends to sell notebook computers, which are considerably cheaper than other laptops. These Acer laptops and notebooks can run as cheap as around $100-250, but that does not mean that they do not sell more expensive laptops. One of the higher-priced Acer laptops, a gaming laptop, comes out at around $1300-1500 (depending on whether it is on sale or not), comparable to the cheapest of Alienware laptops when not on sale.
This laptop, the Acer Predator Helios 300, has a 15.6″ screen, an Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The processor is considered a high-caliber model, and 16GB in memory is a pretty good level of RAM for most gamers. The part that really exceeds much of the competition, however, is the graphics processor, allowing you to play virtually all games at max settings.
Apple
While an Apple computer is quite different from an Alienware computer – if only because of the different operating system – Apple computers tend to be good in their own right. For this comparison, we will be using the $1499 24″ iMac® with Retina 4.5K display – Apple M1 computer. This computer comes with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, and comes in a variety of different colors. The Apple M1 chip is a mid-level processor, and the storage, Apple MI 8-core GPU, and storage capacity are mid-level as well.
One of the big advantages of this iMac, however, is that it comes with a built-in monitor, meaning that you do not have to pay the extra cost you would for a monitor. Yet, a disadvantage of this operating system of the iMac is that Windows tends to be a better way to play games, mainly due to the fact that more games are compatible with Windows than they are with macOS. However, there is actually a way to use Windows on a Mac computer, and it is not that complicated to do either.
HP
HP, originally known as Hewlett-Packard, is the company that first created the personal computer all the way back in the 1960s. This makes it all the more impressive that they are still a competitive computer manufacturer. Today, we are checking out HP’s Pavilion 27″ Touch-Screen All-In-One desktop computer. Much like the iMac discussed above, this HP computer is an all-in-one model, meaning that it comes with all the essentials. A computer/monitor combo, a keyboard, and a mouse.
It has an Intel Core i7 processor, much like the Alienware PC discussed above, as well as 16GB of RAM. However, if you are buying this HP computer for the sake of gaming, the bad news is that it uses an Intel UHD Graphics 770 graphics processor. Not that this can’t handle any games, but you will certainly not be playing anything close to as intensive of games as the other computers mentioned on this list.
Is buying an Alienware computer a better value than building a computer?
Building a computer can often be a good value, simply due to the fact that you are not paying to have the computer assembled. But is it a better value than buying an Alienware computer? As discussed above, computer parts are not cheap right now, and it may still be a while before parts reach a normal price again. Because of this, it is currently not the best idea to build a $1400 computer instead of buying a pre-built computer like Alienware.
Are other computers expensive too?
Alienware is far from the only brand that’s making computers out there, and certainly not the only one that makes expensive PCs. But how expensive can these other computers be, and are they more expensive than Alienware for what you get out of them?
Computers can certainly be as expensive, regardless of whether they are laptops or desktop computers. However, for the most part, if you are getting a computer as powerful as an Alienware branded one, you are likely to spend a fair bit less than you would on an Alienware PC, at least if you shop around. Alienware is certainly not a bad value, especially these days. Its pricing is probably as competitive as it’s ever been.
If you are someone who enjoys being a part of the “Alienware ecosystem,” and you have the money to afford one, then go for an Alienware PC. After all, there is no objective measure of value, as it is going to vary from person to person.
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