Technology

Alienware Redesigns m16 R2 with Stealth Mode – Supercharges x16 R2, m18 R2

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Alienware is entering new arenas at CES 2024 with the debut of notebooks, peripherals and monitors that were inspired by our community and developed to appeal to all gamers, whether you play to compete, play to get immersed in the game or play to socialize. From the beginning, Alienware has offered high-performance hardware and software to the most demanding gamers. And here’s what I can tell you: our focus on the enthusiast gamer hasn’t changed. At the same time, the gaming landscape has evolved and is becoming more diverse than ever.

That’s why we’re eager to introduce products designed for wider audiences, from students who play dorm room sessions with friends, to working professionals who wind down the evening with a relaxing indie title, and pro athletes who game for a living. While these products reach new audiences, their DNA remains distinctly Alien, meaning they deliver the latest innovations in technology, performance and design. Meet Alienware’s latest product portfolio:

Three new gaming notebooks debut — the redesigned Alienware m16 R2, the ultra-premium x16 R2, and our performance juggernaut, the m18 R2.We’ve doubled our QD-OLED family by adding the Alienware AW3225QF and AW2725DF – two first of their kind QD-OLED monitors. Learn more about these groundbreaking monitors here.Built in collaboration with 100+ esports athletes, our new Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and Pro Wireless Mouse mark our breakthrough into the pro gaming peripherals space. Learn more about the Pro Line peripherals here.

Alienware m16 R2 – performance to adapt to wherever life takes you
Our product launches last year were met with overwhelming praise but also suggestions from our community of how to make the m16 even better. At their core, the requests were to create a powerful notebook that could run the most demanding games yet be portable and discreet enough to take from destination to destination with ease.

Our engineers and designers challenged themselves to craft a product that fulfills those requirements and introduces new features to the market. Meet the m16 R2, a redesigned gaming laptop that prioritizes performance, flexibility and portability, while preserving the Alienware advantages our customers have come to love.

Striking this balance required us to make bold changes. Let’s start with the most visible update. We knew to make our notebook more travel friendly that we needed to bid adieu to the thermal shelf. But doing so was no simple task — after all, it housed the components that kept the previous model running cool.

Our engineers were up for the challenge — they completely redesigned and optimized a new thermal solution for the m16 R2 by adapting our Cryo-tech cooling to be more efficient in a smaller packagei. This ultimately resulted in 43% more efficient airflow compared to the previous modelii, and though we can’t divulge all the alien technology behind these thermal gains, you can rest assured the m16 R2 won’t break a sweat when playing the latest games.

Then there is the size benefit. Removing the thermal shelf reduced the depth of the laptop, resulting in a 15% smaller footprintiii compared to the previous generation. With this size reduction, the new 16″ notebook easily fits into a small backpack and saves precious desk space for your gaming mouse, keyboard and monitor.

Not only is the m16 R2 more compact, but it also has a larger palm rest and touchpadiv. How did we pull this off? By designing a slim yet sturdy 180-degree hinge and positioning it on the back edge of the notebook. Placing the hinge where the thermal shelf once resided gave us space to push up the keyboard and expand both the palm rest and touchpad. We know people rarely – and, if we’re being honest, shouldn’t – use a touchpad when gaming, but a larger surface for controlling your cursor is a luxury when navigating Discord chats or browsing the web. You’ll notice something else about the touchpad: it’s bordered by our RGB stadium loop lighting which was moved from the rear to a more visible area. Now you can easily identify the touchpad’s boundaries in dark environments.

Lighting is a core element of our design language, but our community requested the option to tone things down when appropriate. That’s why we added a hotkey that cloaks the m16 R2, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. Let me introduce you to Stealth Mode. This handy new feature was inspired by customers who found lighting effects to be distracting in certain spaces, like a library, café or classroom. Now a quick tap of the F2 shortcut key turns the keyboard backlighting white, switches off all other AlienFX lighting zones, and shifts performance mode to Quiet to reduce fan noise.

Tap the key again to disable Stealth Mode when it’s time to game and get the full force of the m16 R2’s Intel® Core™ Ultra H Series processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 40 Series mobile graphics (up-to an RTX 4070) which pack enough power to run the latest titles at high frame rates. Need every possible frame for competitive gaming? NVIDIA’s DLSS 3.5 AI upscaling technology and NVIDIA Reflex latency reduction gives you faster frame rates, better image quality and the lowest latency without demanding more power.

Dolby Atmos support adds another layer of immersion — the m16 R2’s upgraded dual speakers envelop you in spatial sound so you can hear every footstep, explosion, or whisper with depth and realism.

Silky gameplay is showcased on a QHD+, 240Hz display with a 16:10 aspect ratio that delivers gorgeous visuals with sharp detail and rich, accurate colors. Competitive gamers will benefit from the high refresh rate that ensures smooth, tear-free gameplay. To summarize, these are some of the key upgrades we brought to the m16 R2:

Redesigned with smaller footprint by ditching the thermal shelf on the back, ensuring the m16 R2 slips effortlessly into your backpack for on-the-go travel.Equipped with Stealth Mode hotkey so users can quickly go dark without the distraction of RGB lighting.Large 90Whr battery with NVIDIA Advanced Optimus for intelligent powershifting to optimize power balance between CPU and GPU, so you don’t have to worry about finding the nearest outlet. When it’s time to plug in, the m16 R2 can charge to 80% in just 35 minutes via Express Charge 2.0v.Intel® Core™ Ultra H Series processors provide efficient power while NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 40 Series mobile GPUs enable ample performance to run both modern games at fast frame rates and demanding AI workloads.

Alienware m16 R2 Fact Sheet & Spec Sheet

Alienware’s most premium gaming laptop, made superior – The Alienware x16 R2
Last year, we released Alienware’s most advanced gaming laptop featuring a slim all-metal chassis, six-speaker setup, a 100 micro-LED rear stadium lighting, and RGB-illuminated touchpad. The refined Alienware x16 R2 fortifies this status with faster performance, improved cooling and greater future readiness. At face value, the new model has the same striking design, but what’s inside hides some welcome upgrades.

Engineered for premium performance, the x16 R2 can devote up to 175W of dedicated graphics power with 12-phase voltage regulation stacked on top of brand-new Intel® Core™ Ultra processor technology. Combined with up-to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 Laptop GPUs, it achieves a total package power of 220W, enabling the most demanding games while giving users peace of mind knowing they have the latest and greatest technology.

To round it out, here’s a glance at other upgrades made to the x16 R2:

Most advanced Alienware Cryo-tech cooling solution ever complete with Vapor Chamber technologyvi and our Element 31 thermal interface on the CPU and GPUvii.Faster visuals for all with a 240Hz display offered by default. Also outfitted with premium features including ultra-vivid picture with Dolby Vision, ComfortView Plus blue light filtering, and a 3ms response time to keep all in-game motion fluid.Highest memory speeds of any Alienware system with LP-DDR5X memory up to 7467 MT/s.Bigger storage to save more of what you love with options up to 8TB.

Alienware x16 R2 Fact Sheet & Spec Sheet

Alienware’s most powerful laptop just got stronger…again
Packed with up-to the latest 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX processor along with up-to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 Laptop GPUs, the juggernaut Alienware m18 R2 promises superior performance, overclocking capabilities, and significant efficiency improvements to thermal capacity. All of this is made possible by Alienware’s Cryo-tech cooling solution with Element 31 applied to both the CPU and GPUviii and an updated vapor chamber that more efficiently pushes out air.

Supporting the most performance and storage capacity (up to 10TB) of any Alienware laptop ever, the Alienware m18 R2 is made for those who value superior performance without being confined to a traditional battle station.

Alienware m18 R2 Fact Sheet & Spec Sheet

Upgrades coming to Alienware’s entire notebook portfolio
As part of the Alienware experience, these key features are found throughout the entire notebook portfolio.

NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 AI upscaling technology powered by Tensor Cores gives you faster frame rates and better image quality without demanding more power.AWCC 6.1 is a new version of Alienware Command Center that adds a host of features inspired by customer feedback (more on this below).Upgraded FHD webcam now with HDR support to improve dynamic range and preserve details by combatting strong background lighting and ensuring subjects are properly exposed. And our AI-powered far-field microphones enhance vocals by removing ambient sounds, so your voice sounds crisp and clear.Next-gen connectivity up to Wi-Fi 7 capabilities and up to 2X Ethernet speeds with 5GHz ethernet connections that reduces lag and increases connection stability.All panels feature ComfortView Plus, our hardware-based technology meant to reduce blue light emissions without impacting performance or picture quality.Windows 11 Home and access to hundreds of high-quality games with the included one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimateix.

A user interface that reigns supreme – take full control with Alienware Command Center
Last year, we launched a new version of Alienware Command Center (AWCC 6.0), a centralized software hub that gives you control over your laptop’s lighting, macros, acoustic profiles, and much more. We’ve made considerable upgrades and improvements over the past year, and our latest version directly addresses customer feedback. Along with enabling Stealth Mode, AWCC 6.1 gives users the ability to turn on/off automatic features, adds a built-in graphics MUX switch, and integrates EA Play and Xbox Game Pass.

AWCC 6.1 is available on our latest generation systemsx and third-party products running Windows 10 and Windows 11. Read our AWCC 6.1 FAQ for full system compatibility and to read answers to common questions.

Alienware Command Center Fact Sheet & Spec Sheet

For More Information
To learn more about Alienware’s latest gaming laptop upgrades, check out the complete press kit here and find all of our CES 2024 Innovation Award Honorees here.

Target Pricing & Availability
**Select configurations will be available at launch, with additional configurations becoming available at a later date(s). For more specific details, check out our target pricing and availability guide here.

Alienware m16 R2** will first launch on January 11, 2024 with select configs starting ~$1,649.99 (US) / ~$2,249.99 (CA); additional configs will arrive later with the entry model starting at ~$1,499 (US) / ~$2,099.99 (CA)Alienware x16 R2 coming soon starting at ~$2,099.99 (US) / ~$2,899.99Alienware m18 R2** will launch on January 11, 2024, starting ~$1,899.99 (US) / ~$2,599.99 (CA); 4080 and 4090 configs coming soon

i Based on internal testing, October 2023. Actual results may vary.
ii Based on internal testing, October 2023. Actual results may vary.
iii Based on internal testing, October 2023.
iv Based on internal testing, October 2023.
v Based on Dell internal analysis, October 2023. When used with Dell/Alienware systems with ExpressCharge. Within Dell/Alienware Performance software, selecting ExpressCharge™ can recharge system battery from 0% up to 80% within 60 minutes. After charging has reached 80% capacity, charging speed will return to normal speed. Recommended for use with the provided Dell/Alienware power adapter; not recommended with a smaller capacity.
vi Available on configurations with NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 and above.
vii Application of Element 31 varies by configuration and from platform to platform. With Alienware x16 R2, Element 31 is available is on both CPU and GPU on configurations with NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 and above.
viii Available on configurations with NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 and above.
ix Credit card required. Unless you cancel, you will be charged the then current regular membership rate when the promotional period ends. Terms, exclusions, and streaming limits apply. Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta): select devices and regions. After term, active membership required to play games and online multiplayer. Game catalog varies over time, region, and by device. DLC sold separately; if a game is removed from catalog or your membership ends, you will need to purchase the game separately to use your DLC. If you’re already an Xbox Live Gold and/or Game Pass for Console/PC member, any days remaining in your membership(s) will be converted to Ultimate using a conversion ratio. Future code redemptions also subject to conversion ratio. All conversions to Ultimate are final. Details and system requirements at www.xbox.com/gamepass. Offer valid in all Xbox Game Pass markets excluding Russia. Digital Direct: Your digital content will be delivered directly to your device during set-up; no codes required.
x Latest generation systems include: m16 R2, m18 R2, x16 R2 and R16, as well as the generation prior: x14 R2, x16, & m18

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SOURCE Dell Technologies

Technology

JA Solar Summit Highlights Shift Toward Solar-Storage Integration as Global Demand Holds Firm

Published

46 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

BEIJING, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 5th Global Solar and Energy Storage Summit 2026, hosted online by JA Solar, brought together over 20+ senior representatives from leading international organizations and industry players to share insights on the accelerating energy transition. The summit featured keynote speeches and panel discussions with influential voices from the IRENA, S&P Global, BloombergNEF, SolarPower Europe, TÜV NORD, as well as prominent utilities, developers, investors, and technology companies worldwide. With a global audience exceeding 20,000 participants from 30+ countries, the event highlighted the growing integration of solar and energy storage as central to a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy future.

Record-Breaking Renewable Deployment in 2025

IRENA’s Ilina Stefanova opened the summit by underscoring the scale and urgency of the global energy transition. “2025 marked a record year for renewable energy, with 692 GW of new capacity deployed globally, and solar contributing 75% of the total,” she said. However, she emphasized the need for stronger policy and investment frameworks to sustain this momentum and meet 2030 climate targets.

S&P Global’s Holly Hu followed with the latest market outlook, noting that global solar installations reached 617 GW in 2025, driven by robust activity in China, Europe, and North America. While she acknowledged potential growth moderation in 2026, Hu emphasized an industry shift from scale-dominated competition to smarter, more value-driven strategies.

Solar + Storage + X: The Future of Energy Solutions

Dr. Zi Ouyang, President of Product and Solution R&D Centre and CTO of JA Solar, delivered a keynote on how integrated solutions are shaping the next phase of clean energy deployment. He introduced “Solar + Storage + X” as the industry’s path forward, where combined technologies create new opportunities across utility-scale, commercial, and residential markets.

“The future of energy lies in integration,” said Dr. Ouyang. “Standalone solar PV systems are no longer sufficient to meet today’s increasingly complex demands. By integrating storage and advanced solutions, we can unlock significant value and provide the flexibility necessary for tomorrow’s global energy systems.” He also highlighted JA Solar’s expertise in enabling scenario-specific solutions, including AI-powered data centers, industrial parks, and remote microgrids.

Driving Value Creation Across Global Markets

Two panel discussions explored the changing dynamics of solar and storage integration.

The first, “Global Perspectives: New Value Drivers and Growth Opportunities,” discussed the industry’s pivot toward value-based development. Panelists emphasized how system efficiency, long-term performance, and financial optimization are replacing cost as priorities, with integrated solutions emerging as critical to capturing project value and market flexibility.

The second panel, “Energy Transformation Across Every Scenario: From Deserts to Cities,” explored the application of solar and storage in emerging sectors such as AI Data Centers (AIDC), mining, modern agriculture, and transportation infrastructure. Panelists highlighted innovations addressing diverse energy demands while tackling challenges like system resilience in extreme environments, from remote deserts to urban microgrids.

JA Solar’s Global Leadership in Integrated Energy Growth

The summit reflected the industry’s transition into a transformative phase defined by integration, intelligence, and scenario diversity. As the event organizer and a leading global innovator in solar technology, JA Solar reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the adoption of high-performance, sustainable energy solutions.

“At JA Solar, we believe collaboration and innovation are fundamental to building a sustainable energy future,” said Dr. Zi Ouyang. “Through advanced technologies and strong partnerships, we aim to deliver scalable, resilient solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide.”

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SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.

Technology

Ascentium Acquires Dezan Shira & Associates, Expanding its Footprint to 27 Markets and Strengthening Corporate Services Capabilities

Published

46 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

SINGAPORE, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ascentium, a leading global business services platform headquartered in Singapore, has completed its acquisition of Dezan Shira & Associates (“Dezan Shira”), a multi-disciplinary professional services firm with more than three decades of experience advising foreign investors across Asia.

This strategic move significantly expands Ascentium’s reach and capabilities across Asia, the United States, and Europe, enabling the group to guide businesses from pre-investment market assessment through long-term operations, while further deepening its advisory expertise for international businesses operating across these regions.

Expanding cross-border capabilities

With this acquisition, Ascentium now operates in 27 markets, including new locations such as Mongolia, Poland, Germany and Italy, thereby enhancing its ability to support clients with cross-border investments and multi-jurisdictional operations. The addition of Dezan Shira’s network complements Ascentium’s existing footprint in Southeast Asia, positioning the group as one of the most extensive on-the-ground advisory platforms supporting foreign investment in Asia.

This expansion further enables Ascentium to serve clients on the Chinese mainland more effectively, especially foreign investors seeking to enter or scale in this dynamic market. Added to the established network of InCorp International, an Ascentium Company, the incorporation of Dezan Shira contributes three new offices in Suzhou, Tianjin, and Zhongshan, extending Ascentium’s presence across the Chinese mainland to 15 locations.

With a network spanning major commercial hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Tianjin, Ascentium delivers clear answers and hands-on support to help businesses navigate regulatory complexity and build a strong, compliant presence with confidence.

Deepening advisory and intelligence capabilities

Dezan Shira brings over three decades of experience advising foreign investors in Asia, with recognised strengths in regulatory analysis, business intelligence, investment structuring, tax advisory and technology-enabled solutions. These capabilities complement Ascentium’s established services in incorporation, multi-country HR and payroll, ESG and tax advisory, and fiduciary – creating an integrated platform that supports clients from market entry through long-term growth.

Multinational enterprises, regional headquarters, and growth-oriented businesses will benefit from greater scale, deeper regulatory expertise, and a unified service platform designed to navigate complex cross-border business environments.

Asia Briefing: Business intelligence and market insights platform

The acquisition also brings Asia Briefing, Dezan Shira’s business intelligence and research arm, into Ascentium’s ecosystem. Through its Doing Business guides, digital publications, and daily regulatory analysis, Asia Briefing is the leading source for insights on market entry, compliance, regulatory developments, and business news across Asia.

The Asia Briefing platform strengthens the combined group’s ability to pair on-the-ground advisory services with timely, region-wide intelligence to support informed decision-making.

Alberto Vettoretti, Managing Partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, said, “Joining Ascentium marks an exciting new chapter for Dezan Shira & Associates. By combining our expertise with Ascentium’s global platform and execution capabilities, we can deliver even greater value to clients looking to expand and succeed in multiple markets.”

Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, added, “This acquisition brings us closer to a fully connected advisory platform across Asia and beyond. With Ascentium’s execution strength and Dezan Shira’s market intelligence and regulatory expertise, we can guide businesses through every stage of expansion, from pre-investment assessment through sustained operations, whether they are entering one new market or scaling across multiple jurisdictions.”

About Ascentium

Ascentium is a leading global business services platform dedicated to helping businesses and individuals scale greater heights. Headquartered in Singapore, we drive extraordinary growth through expert people, purpose-led technology, and an unwavering commitment to service excellence.

With over 2,600 professionals across 46 cities in 23 markets globally, we deliver integrated solutions in corporate services, finance and accounting, fund administration, human resources, and fiduciary and trust services. Serving more than 63,000 client entities across diverse industries, Ascentium combines specialised expertise with innovative, technology-enabled solutions to help clients navigate complexity and unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth.

For more information, visit: ascentium.com

About Dezan Shira & Associates

Founded in 1992, Dezan Shira & Associates is a professional services firm advising foreign investors and multinational enterprises entering and operating across Asia.

The firm provides business intelligence and market entry, corporate establishment and licensing, accounting, tax advisory, payroll and HR administration, internal audit and risk advisory, as well as technology-enabled financial software and ERP solutions.

With more than 300 professionals operating from 27 offices globally, Dezan Shira & Associates maintains one of the region’s most extensive integrated advisory platforms dedicated to foreign direct investment and cross-border operations.

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SOURCE Ascentium

Technology

Thunes Launches Real-Time Payments into New Zealand

Published

46 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network can now send real-time payments to bank accounts in New Zealand, further strengthening the company’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

BANGKOK, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, today announced the expansion of its Direct Global Network with the launch of direct, real-time Pay-to-Bank services into New Zealand.

This expansion enhances Thunes’ cross-border payment capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, providing Members of the Thunes Direct Global Network with faster and more transparent payment solutions for both consumer and business transactions. With this launch, users can easily transfer NZD directly to New Zealand bank accounts. Transactions can be made either through a direct API integration to Thunes or by leveraging existing Swift connectivity.

New Zealand is increasingly focused on upgrading its financial infrastructure to support real-time digital trade and the burgeoning gig economy. As the nation transitions to a next-generation payments ecosystem, real-time transactions are forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 21.3% through 2027.

Eugene Chua, Head of Network, APAC, at Thunes, said: “At Thunes, we’re dismantling the legacy friction that creates barriers to the global digital economy. Asia Pacific is where the Thunes story began, so we are especially pleased to be strengthening our reach in a high-growth market like New Zealand. Geography should never hinder ambition, and we are proud to be the engine driving financial connectivity, providing the infrastructure that supports and empowers businesses and individuals to benefit from international money movement and participate more fully in the global economy.”

With this expansion, Thunes reinforces its position as a leading provider of real-time cross-border payments. Its Direct Global Network leverages Thunes’ in-house SmartX Treasury System for AI-driven forecasting and real-time liquidity management, and its Fortress Compliance Platform, which benefits from over 50 licences worldwide. This ensures every payment is executed with the highest levels of security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Thunes will be attending Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok from April 21-23, 2026, located at booth 6005. Schedule a meeting here.

For more information about Thunes, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

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