At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Design seems and feels premium
- Great efficiency
- Beautiful OLED display screen
- Speakers are glorious
Cons
- Keyboard and touchpad abandon tactile suggestions
- Limited ports (no USB Type-A or HDMI)
- Middle-of-the-road battery life
- Expensive
Our Verdict
The Dell 16 Premium is a premium tackle a nasty thought. The {hardware} is highly effective, the design is gorgeous, and it feels glorious. But the keyboard and trackpad usually are not nice to make use of.
Price When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$3,199
Best Prices Today: Dell 16 Premium
The Dell 16 Premium is each spectacular and deeply irritating. Dell has created a high-quality 16-inch laptop computer that appears and feels nice. It has highly effective internals — an Intel Arrow Lake CPU and Nvidia GPU — and a very good OLED screen. This is a laptop computer constructed by individuals who actually cared.
But the core design right here was a mistake and good craftsmanship can’t reserve it. For $3,199, you’re getting a keyboard and trackpad expertise that appears flashy in photographs however feels obnoxious to make use of. You’re getting high-end internals with out widespread ports (like USB Type-A and HDMI) that individuals would need in high-end work-focused laptops. And, if minimalism is your precedence, the 16-inch dimension, 4.65-pound weight, and restricted battery life right here means this machine isn’t excellent for portability.
This is among the strangest laptops I’ve ever reviewed. Dell tried so arduous to make one thing particular and totally different that it made the day-to-day laptop computer expertise worse. The Dell 16 Premium is a lovely and costly hybrid that doesn’t serve any viewers notably nicely. But it’s so extremely polished. This is the highest-quality misfire I’ve ever reviewed.
This is the highest-quality misfire I’ve ever reviewed.
Dell 16 Premium: Specs
The Dell 16 Premium is on the market in a couple of different configurations starting at $1,999. These configurations all have Intel Arrow Lake CPUs with discrete Nvidia graphics.
We reviewed the $3,199 model, which got here with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics, and 32GB of RAM. This high-end mannequin packs a lovely 4K OLED show with a variable refresh fee as much as 120Hz and a contact display screen.
Because that is an Intel Arrow Lake CPU, it doesn’t have an NPU quick sufficient to run Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC features. Dell says this machine has an “AI-enabled Intel processor” on its internet web page, however the “premium” expertise right here doesn’t get you entry to Windows 11’s newest AI options. Intel’s “Series 2” CPU naming remains baffling to me.
- Model: Dell 16 Premium (DA16250)
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
- Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X 8400MT/s RAM
- Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, Intel Arc 140T
- NPU: Intel AI Boost
- Display: 16.3-inch 3840×2400 OLED touchscreen with variable refresh fee as much as 120Hz
- Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Webcam: 1080p webcam
- Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C), 1x combo audio jack, 1x microSDXC card reader
- Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Biometrics: IR digicam and fingerprint reader for Windows Hello
- Battery capability: 99.5 Watt-hours
- Dimensions: 14.10 x 9.40 x 0.75 inches
- Weight: 4.65 kilos
- MSRP: $3,199 as examined
Dell 16 Premium: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
The Dell 16 Premium seems stunning. Our evaluation mannequin’s “Platinum” colour scheme is the spitting picture of a high-quality silver laptop computer. It’s a bit massive and heavy (it is a 4.65-pound 16-inch laptop computer) so this isn’t a thin-and-light fashion machine. The chassis is product of aluminum, and the steel and weight offers it a pleasant heft. The hinge motion feels nice, too.
When you open it and switch it on for the primary time, there’s a little bit of a “wow” second — no less than there was for me. I evaluation numerous laptops, and this machine seems distinct. It’s a clear, minimalist design: a membrane keyboard framed by audio system on both sides, and that’s it. (Aside from the compulsory sticker Intel forces PC producers to stay onto their laptops.)
When you flip it on, the operate keys gentle up and it seems premium. The palm relaxation is one piece of gorilla glass, and it feels clean to the touch and to tug your finger over the trackpad. On this OLED mannequin, the show seems particularly vivid and exquisite.
This is a laptop computer designed to look distinctly good in photographs and to really feel premium while you contact it in a retailer. And it delivers.
Dell 16 Premium: Keyboard and trackpad

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
Once you begin utilizing the laptop computer, issues go downhill quick. The keyboard and trackpad are the worst issues right here.
The keyboard is massive, has good backlighting, and has a singular look. It’s additionally not mushy. That’s about all I can say in its favor.
This keyboard solely has 1.0mm of key journey, and I really feel that low journey with each keypress I make. That’s the type of extraordinarily low key journey you see on thin-and-light laptops optimized for optimum thinness. It’s not the type of key journey you see a 4.65-pound machine with a discrete GPU. This means the typing expertise simply doesn’t really feel nice.
More clearly, the capacitive operate row buttons fully lack tactile suggestions. They gentle up and present totally different features while you maintain down the Fn key on the keyboard, which is a cool-looking trick. But, with none tactile suggestions, it’s important to look down on the key you’re urgent, faucet it, and wait to see if the pc seen your faucet. It feels dangerous. If PC producers need to do that, they need to attempt to combine some type of haptic suggestions, a affirmation you pressed the button. That would make this really feel a bit higher.
The trackpad can also be a surreal expertise. There is a trackpad on the heart of the palm relaxation within the common place you’d discover one. However, its edges are fully invisible. Without a visible or tactile define, you need to guess the place the sting is. This makes mousing round together with your finger annoying, and it additionally causes issues when utilizing multi-finger gestures. On the plus aspect, it’s a haptic trackpad, in order that’s good.
The Dell 16 Premium loses the plot right here. It could be higher if Dell had used an ordinary keyboard and trackpad setup. They’ve invested numerous sources in offering an expertise that feels worse to make use of. And, with the dearth of tactile suggestions, I don’t assume it’s one thing I might adapt and get used to — even when I purchased this machine and used it as my each day driver.
Dell 16 Premium: Display and audio system

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
The Dell 16 Premium mannequin Dell loaned us for this evaluation had a 16.3-inch 4K OLED show with a variable refresh fee as much as 120Hz. It appeared vivid and exquisite — like the remainder of this machine, it’s a looker.
The foremost downside with the show is its pretty low brightness for an OLED. It maxes out at 400 nits, and whereas that’s affordable sufficient, many laptops with OLEDs are inclined to ship extra brightness. I felt like I needed to maintain the brightness cranked as much as most more often than not, even when utilizing the laptop computer in a reasonably darkish room. Combined with the shiny show (a mainstay for OLED panels), this machine isn’t excellent to be used outside in difficult lighting circumstances. However, it did do fairly nicely on a cloudy New England day within the fall, as you possibly can see in a few of my photographs.
The Dell 16 Premium boasts a quad speaker setup, and it sounds nice for a laptop computer. There’s loads of quantity. To take a look at laptop computer audio system, I all the time fireplace up Spotify and play Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. The audio system did a surprisingly good job with the crisp instrument separation in Aja, and there was sufficient bass to ship a enjoyable sound in Get Lucky. These are unusually good laptop computer audio system.
Dell 16 Premium: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
The Dell 16 Premium’s 1080p webcam captures a transparent, sharp image, and it appeared higher than common, even in difficult and dim lighting circumstances. I used to be impressed with the standard of the picture.
In protecting with the spirit of minimalism, the Dell 16 Premium doesn’t provide a bodily shutter or swap to dam the webcam. That’s a disgrace.
The microphone picks up clear audio with good noise cancellation, and I’d be joyful to make use of it in video conferences, though I’ll stick to a studio mic for my podcast appearances.
The Dell 16 Premium has each facial recognition {hardware} and a fingerprint reader. You can sign up together with your face or contact your finger to the fingerprint reader constructed into the facility button on the top-right nook of the laptop computer’s keyboard. Both labored nicely, supplying you with a number of methods to signal into your PC with Windows Hello.
Dell 16 Premium: Connectivity

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
The Dell 16 Premium cuts means again on ports in comparison with the common 16-inch $3,199 laptop computer with a discrete GPU. It gives three Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports — two on the left, and one on the proper. It prices through one in every of these ports, too.
Then, you get a combo audio jack and a microSDXC card reader slot on the proper. That’s it. Dell has optimized this machine for a svelte, tapered look, as if a premium laptop computer means one with fewer ports.
That could fly once we’re speaking about thin-and-light minimalist laptops, however I don’t assume this is sensible for a 16-inch laptop computer that’s over 4.5 kilos with discrete graphics. The viewers for this sort of laptop computer will need further ports — USB Type-A, HDMI, and possibly even Ethernet. You’ll in all probability need to pair this machine with a dongle or dock.
The Dell 16 Premium does have each Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It’s good to see assist for the newest wi-fi requirements.
Dell 16 Premium: Performance
The Dell 16 Premium mannequin we reviewed had an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU (Arrow Lake), Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM operating at 8400 MT/s, and a 1 TB PCIe SSD. With specs like that, it’s no shock it ran nicely. These specs are nearer to a gaming laptop computer than the common productiveness machine.
The followers keep quiet and there isn’t a lot warmth on the keyboard, even when operating demanding duties. Dell says this laptop computer has a vapor chamber cooling system, and that’s the type of high-end contact that does make the {hardware} really feel premium.
We ran the Dell 16 Premium by way of our standard benchmarks to see the way it performs.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of total system efficiency. With an total PCMark rating of 8,204, the Dell 16 Premium delivered glorious efficiency. It’s nearer to what you’d anticipate to see from a gaming laptop computer, and that’s no shock given the high-end {hardware} and cooling system on this machine.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU efficiency. It’s a fast benchmark, so cooling below prolonged workloads isn’t an element. But, because it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.
With an total Cinebench R20 rating of 9,137, the 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU within the Dell 16 Premium delivered nice efficiency — far exceeding the eight core Intel Lunar Lake CPUs in another 16-inch laptops. Those slower CPUs are the one Intel CPUs that provide an NPU quick sufficient for Copilot+ PC AI options. With Intel, it’s important to compromise a method or one other. This machine was neck-and-neck with an AMD-powered system that does ship an NPU that hits Microsoft’s minimal requirements, nevertheless.
Laptop consumers ought to significantly think about whether or not they need to purchase $3,199 machines that aren’t suitable with the newest options in Windows. An AMD chip may have delivered the perfect of each worlds.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. This is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, but it surely runs over an prolonged interval. This calls for the laptop computer’s cooling kick in, and lots of laptops will throttle and decelerate below load.
The Dell 16 Premium accomplished the encode course of in 699 seconds — that’s simply over eleven and a half minutes. It’s an excellent outcome that reveals this machine’s cooling works nicely. You’d need to go as much as an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU with extra cores for noticeably higher efficiency.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop, but it surely does have a devoted Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. We run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.
With a 3DMark Time Spy rating of 11,016, the Dell 16 Premium was a bit behind the Alienware 16X Aurora, which coincidentally has the identical mannequin of GPU. But the GPU’s identify isn’t the one factor that issues.
The Alienware 16X Aurora is a gaming laptop computer that runs the GPU with extra energy. The Dell 16 Premium runs its RTX 5070 GPU at 65W TGP, whereas the Alienware 16X Aurora runs its GPU at 115W TGP. So, regardless of the Nvidia graphics on this PC, you aren’t essentially getting graphics horsepower on par with a gaming laptop computer.
Overall, the Dell 16 Premium delivered glorious efficiency. Unless you intend on upgrading to a Core Ultra 9 CPU or switching to a beefier gaming laptop computer, you’re not going to do noticeably higher.
Dell 16 Premium: Battery life
The Dell 16 Premium has an enormous 99.5 Watt-hour battery. That goes proper as much as the road — the U.S. Transportation Security Administration gained’t permit a battery onto an airplane if it’s over 100 Watt hours in dimension.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman
To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. We set the display screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case state of affairs for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly, and actual battery life in day-to-day use is all the time going to be lower than this.
The Dell 16 Premium lasted 844 minutes on common, which is about 14 hours. That’s affordable. But, in the true world, that doesn’t essentially imply you’ll make it by way of an eight hour workday, particularly not when you’re operating the demanding software program this machine feels prefer it was constructed for.
The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, with its slower Intel Lunar Lake processor, lasted over 23 hours in our benchmarks. If you’re eyeing this machine for its sleekness and minimalism, a machine like that Galaxy Book could also be extra up your alley.
Dell 16 Premium: Conclusion
The Dell 16 Premium is a wonderful, well-built machine with critical care and craftsmanship put into it. It’s additionally a confused hybrid that feels designed by committee. By making an attempt to marry high-end {hardware} with a svelte laptop computer expertise, Dell has created a compromised expertise.
But the largest downside is the keyboard and trackpad. The lack of tactile suggestions and the very low 1.0mm of key journey means this laptop computer isn’t nice to kind on for lengthy durations of time. At $3,199, that simply feels unacceptable.
For what it’s price, a Dell consultant famous this specific configuration has already been on sale for as a lot as $400 off the retail value. The PC market is all about gross sales, and costs are arduous to pin down.
Still, I really feel a bit dangerous knocking this laptop computer. The Dell 16 Premium is constructed on a imaginative and prescient that doesn’t actually make sense. But, after the thought stage, everybody concerned knocked it out of the park and did an unimaginable job of bringing that imaginative and prescient to life.