Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Comparison

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Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

16 inches | May 2025

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Microsoft Surface Pro 12

12 inches | May 2025

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Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware 16X Aurora and Surface Pro 12, two laptops from Dell and Microsoft. Dell Alienware 16X Aurora was introduced to market in May 2025 and Microsoft Surface Pro 12 was launched in May 2025. Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Surface Pro 12 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Alienware 16X Aurora and Surface Pro 12 are members of Microsoft's series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Dell Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Dell Alienware 16 Aurora	May 2025	16.0"	356.98 x 265.43 x 15.2-22.7 mm	2.49 kg (5.49 lbs)
Dell Alienware 16X Aurora	May 2025	16.0"	356.98 x 265.43 x 19.2-23.4 mm	2.57 kg (5.67 lbs)
Dell Pro Max 14	March 2025	14.0"	313 x 227.3 x 14.79-18.9 mm	1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Dell Pro Max 16	March 2025	16.0"	358 x 256 x 15.08-19.08 mm	2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)
Dell 16 Plus	January 2025	16.0"	356.78 x 250.6 x 16.99 mm	1.87 kg (4.12 lbs)
Dell 14 Plus	January 2025	14.0"	314 x 226.15 x 14-16.95 mm	1.55 kg (3.42 lbs)
Dell Pro 16	January 2025	16.0"	358 x 251.82 x 18.89-20.85 mm	1.92 kg (4.23 lbs)
Dell Pro 13 Plus	January 2025	13.3"	300 x 215 x 19.78-19.95 mm	1.23 kg (2.71 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and Microsoft Surface Pro 12 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora Key Specs

Launched in May 2025
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX,Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX,Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB,GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB
8GB,16GB,32GB,64GB Ram
356.98 x 265.43 x 19.2-23.4 mm (14.05 x 10.45 x 0.76-0.92 inches)
Weight: 2.57 kg (5.67 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Key Specs

Launched in May 2025
12.0" Touchscreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100)
GPU: Adreno X1-45
16GB Ram
274 x 190 x 7.8 mm (10.79 x 7.48 x 0.31 inches)
Weight: 0.68 kg (1.5 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware 16X Aurora and Surface Pro 12 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware 16X Aurora over Microsoft Surface Pro 12

Side Bezel Thickness	6.2 mm vs 10.2 mm	4 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	16 inches vs 12 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	240 Hz vs 90 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 2196 x 1464 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 400 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 4 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU FLOPS	9.7-16.6 TFLOPS vs 2.3 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Faster data transfers
NVMe Type SSD	Yes vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Pro 12 over Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

Weight	0.68 kg vs 2.57 kg	1.89 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~82.4% vs ~78.3%	Larger screen area ratio
Contrast Rate	1200:1 vs 1000:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	220 ppi vs 189 ppi	More pixels per inch
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers

Common Strengths of Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

Launch Dates	May 2025 vs May 2025	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable

Common Weaknesses of Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and the Microsoft Surface Pro 12.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.57 kg (5.67 lbs)	0.68 kg (1.5 lbs)
Surface Area	948 cm2 (146.8 inches2)	521 cm2 (80.7 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~78.3%	~82.4%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.2 mm	~10.2 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.16 kg/inch	0.06 kg/inch
	0.352 lbs/inch	0.132 lbs/inch
Colors	Blue	Gray, Blue, Purple

Comparison of the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 External Dimensions

Weight

Alienware 16X Aurora weighs 2.57 kg (5.67 lbs), whereas the Surface Pro 12 weighs 0.68 kg (1.5 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 2.57 kg

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 2.07 kg

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 0.68 kg

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 1.11 kg

Thickness Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 23.40 mm

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 20.35 mm

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 7.80 mm

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 14.24 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora is 0.16 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 is 0.06 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100)
Base Frequency	2.9 GHz	3.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.1 GHz	3.4 GHz
Number of Cores	14 (6P + 8E)	8
Number of Threads	14	8
L3 Cache	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Graphics	Qualcomm Adreno X1-45
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	4 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and Microsoft Surface Pro 12.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB	Adreno X1-45
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		30 W
Type	Dedicated	Integrated
FLOPS	9.7-16.6 TFLOPS	2.3 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	System Shared
Memory Type	GDDR7	LPDDR5X
Memory Bus	128 bit
Memory Speed	~28 Gbps	8.45 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	3328	1024
TMUs	104	48
ROPs	48	24

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Dell Alienware 16X Aurora has a FLOPS value of 9.7-16.6 TFLOPS whereas the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 ' has a FLOPS value of 2.3 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	8448 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	LPDDR5X
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	64 GB
Total Slots	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Custom

The Surface Pro 12 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the Alienware 16X Aurora's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Dell Alienware 16X Aurora	Microsoft Surface Pro 12
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	⚠ Possible with CPU + RAM fallback using quantized models.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	96 Wh	38 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Right
Charge Power	180 / 280 W	45 W
Voltage	11.7 V
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr

Moreover, the Alienware 16X Aurora boasts a larger battery capacity of 96 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Surface Pro 12's38 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 96 Wh

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 74.15 Wh

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 38 Wh

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 43.28 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the Alienware 16X Aurora provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Surface Pro 12's max. storage capacity of 512 GB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB	256 GB, 512 GB
Upgradable	Yes	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	No

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs Microsoft Surface Pro 12: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and Microsoft Surface Pro 12 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Alienware 16X Aurora has a display size of 16.0".On the other hand, Surface Pro 12 has a smaller 12.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Alienware 16X Aurora is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the Surface Pro 12's total usable screen area is 429cm² / 66inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Pro 12 features a higher pixel density with 220 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 189 PPI

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 169 PPI

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 220 PPI

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 199 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Alienware 16X Aurora offers a higher refresh rate of 240 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The Alienware 16X Aurora offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 500 nits

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 413 nits

Microsoft Surface Pro 12 400 nits

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 370 nits

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Surface Pro 12 support the latest Wi-Fi standard v7.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Alienware 16X Aurora is equipped with 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. Surface Pro 12 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Surface Pro 12 feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Alienware 16X Aurora is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Pro 12 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Alienware 16X Aurora features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Pro 12 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Alienware 16X Aurora nor Surface Pro 12 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Alienware 16X Aurora is equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, allowing seamless connection to headphones and speakers. Surface Pro 12 does not have a 3.5mm Audio Jack.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v7
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.4
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	No
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No