Dell XPS 16 (9640) Review: Pros and Cons
With a 16.3-inch display that feels just as roomy as the previous 17-inch XPS 17 9730 models, the Dell XPS 16 9640 saves you a little weight on the plane. The minimalistic design, which includes a borderless touchpad, a nearly flat keyboard with very no key spacing, and a Function row with touch-sensitive icons in place of physical keys, is a more significant change, according to Cnet.
The invisible touchpad is a neat gimmick that’s enjoyable to use and visually appealing because of its precise and vibrant haptics. Although I’m not as fond of the haptic-less, touch-sensitive Function row, I must admit that the XPS 16 9640 has a really distinctive and beautiful overall design. Furthermore, I was happy to see that Dell offers an OLED display option, something the XPS 17 9730 did not. For creatives who are seeking for a big-screen laptop and are willing to spend a hefty coin on it, the Dell XPS 16 9640 ticks a lot of boxes. It also boasts strong overall performance and surprisingly long battery life.
PROS and CONS
Pros
- Striking design and solid build quality
- Strong overall performance from Intel Core Ultra 7 and GeForce RTX 4070
- Brilliant 4K OLED touch screen
- High performance
- Impressive battery life
- Quad speakers produce great sound
Cons
- Upgrades can quickly get expensive
- Not all design changes are improvements
- USB-C ports only (though USB-A and HDMI adapter provided)
New Sizes and Designs
At CES 2024, Dell unveiled a redesigned XPS portfolio that includes 14- and 16-inch laptops that completely redefine the brand’s flagship models. The XPS 16 (starting at $1,899; $3,399 as tested) introduces a new design for the entire family, replacing the upper row of function keys with an LED touch strip and a futuristic seamless touchpad. Although these modifications don’t always improve utility, they do have stylish styling and positive effects on design. Our review unit combines a stunning 4K OLED touch screen with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics capability and Intel Core Ultra processor.
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While the Editors’ Choice-winning MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is a very good value at under $1,500, this pricey competitor to Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro is not a great value in our test configuration. However, it is now our top pick for professionals and creators looking for something a little more opulent.
Design: The New XPS Lineup Meets Minimalism
The ultraportable 2022 XPS 13 Plus introduced the super-modern style of the XPS series, which was further developed in the 2023 model. The smooth haptic touchpad integrated into the palm rest and an LED function row surround the flush-fitting keyboard.
With the XPS 17 about to be phased out and the storied XPS 15 hanging on for the time being but maybe soon to be replaced, the XPS 16 is the future of Dell’s premium desktop replacement. As thin-bezel 16-inch laptops (the Dell’s display is actually 16.3 inches diagonally) offer nearly the same screen real estate in more compact chassis, 17-inch laptops are becoming increasingly rare. This new system matches in perfectly, and it comes in two colors: a deeper graphite or platinum, which matches the white and silver color scheme of our test unit. Some of each can be seen in our pictures from Dell’s unveiling event.
The XPS 16 weighs 4.7 pounds and has dimensions of 0.74 by 14.1 by 9.4 inches. While this is not very light, it is appropriate given its size and metal construction. The XPS 17 is somewhat heavier (0.77 by 14.7 by 9.8 inches and 5.4 pounds), while the MacBook Pro 16 is slightly slimmer but slightly heavier (4.8 pounds). Although the LG Gram Pro 17 weighs a mere 3.2 pounds, there are lighter options, the Dell is unquestionably in the range of professional work laptops that use discrete GPUs as opposed to integrated graphics.
The screen is stunning, especially our 3,840 by 2,400 pixel OLED model’s 90Hz touch display. With vanishingly tiny bezels and sleek edge-to-edge displays, the full HD non-touch screens on both the base models and this deluxe variant give you plenty of workspace. However, OLED screens typically seem particularly colorful, and the image quality on this one is lovely to look at—bright and crisp. Content producers won’t be able to complain.
Features: Haptics, Copilot, Touch Buttons, Web Cam
Although XPS is known for its near-frameless panels, the invisible touchpad requires some getting used to. It keeps the middle of the smooth palm rest beneath the keyboard’s active touch surface hidden. In general, the touchpad is located where you anticipate it to be, going from the left Alt key to the new Copilot key (more on that in a moment) to the right. However, you can test swiping in the non-sensitive area where it isn’t at first. The system options allow you to personalize the tactile feedback of the haptic touchpad, which also eliminates the possibility of broken buttons.
The pad is really responsive, but every now and then I had mental doubts about whether a press would actually register. (This always happened.) If I had to point fingers, the touchpad and palm rest’s soft-touch layer over Corning Gorilla Glass feels a little heavier and has a little bit more resistance than a conventional plastic pad, but that shouldn’t stop regular use. While the seamless appearance is definitely amazing, it doesn’t quite meet the criteria for being a usability boost, but it also doesn’t ruin the laptop. By reducing the chassis height by one or two millimeters, it does have an engineering benefit that enables a bigger battery and better thermal solutions.
The LED function row and keyboard are subject to the same rules. The keycaps are not spaced apart in the Chiclet fashion; instead, the keys are flush with one another. The highlighted Copilot key, which calls up Windows’ new AI assistant from the right of the screen, is visible through the white backlighting. Although it is still in early preview, the localized, non-browser version of the service is open to receiving your text prompt inputs, queries, requests for setting modifications, and more.
Because of the odd key spacing, I had to get used to the keyboard layout more than the touchpad. I would frequently start or rest my hands on the wrong keys. The flat keys make this worse because your fingers can get tangled up in the keycaps. (At least, the home F and J keys retain their faint physical ridges.) It takes some getting used to, but eventually things get better. The flat design doesn’t make the typing feel as shallow as you might anticipate, but it also doesn’t have the same gratifying travel as many more conventional keyboards.
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As previously indicated, LED touch inputs, rather than actual keycaps, are used for the top function-key row, which includes settings controls like brightness and volume. These are likewise lit, and by holding down the Fn key, you may switch between the shortcut keys and F1 through F12. (The Escape key doesn’t change.) In response to complaints over the XPS 13 Plus’s constant LED glow, Dell added a light sensor that modifies the touch brightness in response to changes in surrounding lighting.
It feels a little strange that the Escape key isn’t the top-left physical key on the board, but that’s just personal preference. The touch strip functions well. I’m used to grabbing for it there on instinct, but you’ll get used to it soon enough, just like with the other changes. The physical power button has a fingerprint reader integrated into it and is located in the upper right corner.
In terms of connections, the XPS 16 has a headphone jack, a microSD card reader, and three USB Type-C ports that enable Thunderbolt 4. The absence of an audio jack on the XPS 13 Plus, one of our primary grievances despite the availability of Bluetooth headphones, is greatly appreciated; but, we are never content to require a USB-C DisplayPort adapter in order to connect an external display. Dell makes up for this by including a USB-A and HDMI adaptor or a small dock in the package.
The webcam produces 1080p definition footage that is crisp and sharp. It’s still better than cheap 720p webcams, but we expect no less from a premium laptop these days, so it’s more about checking the box than getting additional credit. Wireless communication is handled by Bluetooth and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7.
There are no bottom-mounted vents to block, and side and rear ventilation only are other noteworthy design elements. With Dolby Atmos software, the 10-watt stereo speakers on the XPS 16 can produce a powerful sound when played at maximum volume.
Components and Configurations
Similar to most Dell computers, the XPS 16 has an extensive customizable menu. A Core Ultra 7 155H processor with Intel Arc integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB solid-state drive, and a full HD non-touch display are included in the $1,899 base model.
The 4K OLED touch panel has replaced the integrated graphics, while Nvidia’s swift GeForce RTX 4070 GPU has replaced the RAM and storage, which have been boosted to 32GB and 1TB, respectively. It goes without saying that not every user need these kinds of improvements; for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other common productivity apps, the regular memory and storage work just fine, and only a small percentage of gamers or image or video editors require the RTX 4070’s level of 3D rendering power.
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The primary draw of the new XPS generation, other from the redesign, is the transition to Intel’s “Meteor Lake” CPU generation, which is the first in the Core Ultra line and replaces the well-known Core i series. Core Ultra’s selling point is a built-in neural processing unit (NPU) that speeds up AI activities that were previously performed by the main CPU, the GPU, or a remote cloud platform. The first of these chips was introduced at the very end of 2023.
The Core Ultra 7’s performance should not be shocking as this is not the only laptop we have examined using this new silicon (see our coverage of notebooks from Acer, HP, and Alienware). However, the additional power and NPU of the XPS 16 should be appreciated for its multipurpose use as a professional or productivity laptop, especially for Copilot and other upcoming activities. With 16 cores and 22 threads, the Core Ultra 7 155H is more powerful than before, although the actual number is not as important now.
With the help of vapor-chamber cooling, the GeForce RTX 4070 in the XPS 16 may operate at up to 60 watts. You can choose between three power/cooling/fan noise settings using the included MyDell software. We used Ultra Performance for our benchmarks, but you can also choose Optimized, Cool, or Quiet modes. Under load, Ultra Performance did cause an increase in fan noise, but not to an intolerable degree.
Dell XPS 16 (9640) Review: Our Verdict
For Windows-bound creative professionals and power users, Dell’s XPS 16 is a dream thanks to its sleek new design and state-of-the-art components—that is, if they can afford its premium features and build quality.
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