Intel is raising the bar for high-end gaming laptops in 2026 with a new top-tier chip line called Core Ultra 9 Plus, designed to push performance beyond the standard Core Ultra 9 series. One of the first machines to arrive with this upgraded processor is Dell’s Alienware 16, now offered with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus as the new flagship option—replacing last year’s highest trim built around the Core Ultra 9 275HX.
So what does the upgrade actually deliver? Early performance comparisons point to a noticeable jump. The 2026 Alienware 16 equipped with the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus can be up to 25 percent faster than the 2025 Alienware 16 running the regular Core Ultra 9 275HX in CPU-focused workloads. That places Intel’s newest mobile powerhouse closer to AMD’s current high-end competition, including the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D found in rival enthusiast laptops.
There is, however, an important trade-off that buyers should understand before jumping to the “Plus” branding. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is based on the same Arrow Lake-HX architecture as the Core Ultra 9 275HX, which means the speed increase largely comes from higher operating power rather than a completely new design. In practical terms, it behaves like an aggressively tuned version of the previous chip.
The result is that the added performance can come with added heat and power draw. Under heavy CPU stress tests and demanding workloads, the newer Alienware 16 configuration may require up to 25 percent more power than the prior generation model. That can translate into higher energy usage, potentially louder cooling under sustained loads, and a system that benefits most from being plugged in when you’re pushing it hard.
For gamers, creators, and power users who want the fastest Alienware 16 configuration available, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus option looks like a strong step forward—especially for CPU-intensive tasks. But if efficiency and cooler operation matter as much as raw speed, it’s worth weighing whether that extra performance is worth the extra power demands.
