Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ Comparison

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Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

16 inches | May 2025

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MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ

17 inches | January 2025

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Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ, two laptops from Dell and MSI. Dell Alienware 16X Aurora was introduced to market in May 2025 and MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ was launched in January 2025. There is only 4 months difference between Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ are members of MSI'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 MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 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)

MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ Key Specs

Launched in January 2025
17.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop 12GB
16GB Ram
380.34 x 297.97 x 22.85-28.75 mm (14.97 x 11.73 x 0.9-1.13 inches)
Weight: 3 kg (6.62 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 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 MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ

Weight	2.57 kg vs 3.00 kg	0.43 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~78.3% vs ~74%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.2 mm vs 7.1 mm	0.9 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	240 Hz vs 165 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	189 ppi vs 133 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection

Reasons to choose MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ over Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

Display Size	17 inches vs 16 inches	Larger Screen Estate
GPU FLOPS	35.4 TFLOPS vs 9.7-16.6 TFLOPS	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	96 GB vs 64 GB	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ and Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

Launch Dates	May 2025 vs January 2025	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v5	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ and Dell Alienware 16X Aurora

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

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and the MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.57 kg (5.67 lbs)	3 kg (6.62 lbs)
Surface Area	948 cm2 (146.8 inches2)	1133 cm2 (175.6 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~78.3%	~74%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.2 mm	~7.1 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.16 kg/inch	0.18 kg/inch
	0.352 lbs/inch	0.396 lbs/inch
Colors	Blue	Gray

Comparison of the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and the MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ External Dimensions

Weight

Alienware 16X Aurora weighs 2.57 kg (5.67 lbs), whereas the Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ weighs 3 kg (6.62 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

MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 3.00 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.74 kg

Thickness Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 23.40 mm

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 20.35 mm

MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 28.75 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.26 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 MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ is 0.18 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
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 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

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ: 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	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
Base Frequency	2.9 GHz	2.7 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.1 GHz	5.4 GHz
Number of Cores	14 (6P + 8E)	Arc Graphics (4-
Number of Threads	14	24
L3 Cache	24 MB	36 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Graphics	Arc Graphics (4-Cores)
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	3 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 MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB	GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop 12GB GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop 16GB GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop 24GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		140 W
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	9.7-16.6 TFLOPS	35.4 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR7	GDDR7
Memory Bus	128 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	~28 Gbps	~25.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	3328	5888
TMUs	104	184
ROPs	48	92

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 MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ ' has a FLOPS value of 35.4 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 32GB 64GB 96GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	6400 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	96 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)

The Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 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	MSI Vector 17 HX AI (2025) A2XWJ
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	90 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left, Right, Bottom
Charge Power	180 / 280 W	280 / 330 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 Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ's90 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora 96 Wh

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 74.15 Wh

MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 90 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 76.88 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Alienware 16X Aurora and the Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ have similar max. storage capacities of 4 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

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 MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora and MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 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, Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ has a larger17.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Alienware 16X Aurora is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ's total usable screen area is 838cm² / 130inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Alienware 16X Aurora features a higher pixel density with 189 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

MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 133 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 141 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

MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 300 nits

Avg: larger than 17.0" 368 nits

Dell Alienware 16X Aurora vs MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ 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
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ feature 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ have USB Type-C ports. Alienware 16X Aurora has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ has 2x USB 3.2 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
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ feature Thunderbolt ports. Alienware 16X Aurora has Thunderbolt 4, while Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ has Thunderbolt 5.

HDMI
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

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
Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Alienware 16X Aurora does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Alienware 16X Aurora and Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

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