I didn't expect this Dell laptop to be this good for just $799

Price When Reviewed

$1,149

Best Prices Today:

$1,119.99

$1149.99

The Dell 16 Plus is a 16-inch laptop computer that delivers good efficiency and a stable all-around expertise at an affordable worth. The Dell 16 Plus is a laptop computer designed for the true world — it’s well-designed, nevertheless it clearly received’t flip any heads or win any awards for costly high-end touches. If you’re on the lookout for a 16-inch workhorse, it’s a sensible choice.

That’s very true since you’re getting Intel’s newest Lunar Lake processors right here, whereas different laptops at this worth vary will typically have previous-generation CPUs.

In 2025, Dell axed its XPS, Inspiron, and Latitude brands. Now, it’s all consolidated every part beneath a single model. The Dell 16 Plus looks like it’s the non secular successor to final 12 months’s Dell Inspiron 16 Plus.

Dell 16 Plus: Specs

The Dell 16 Plus is a 16-inch laptop computer with an Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processor — Intel’s Lunar Lake {hardware}, in different phrases. Our evaluate mannequin had an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor together with 16 GB of RAM and Intel Arc 140V graphics. Since that is Lunar Lake, you get a neural processing unit (NPU) for AI duties and Copilot+ PC options in Windows.

Dell says this mannequin retails for $1149, however the Dell on-line retailer is promoting it for $799 as I’m wrapping up this evaluate. Dell has additionally identified this PC has been on deeper gross sales lately, going for as little as $699 on Dell’s on-line retailer. That’s a critical worth contemplating this machine has a contemporary Intel Lunar Lake processor, whereas different laptops in that finances vary will often have previous-generation {hardware}.

This machine can be obtainable with quite a lot of different CPU configurations — from an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor up by an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor. You even have totally different RAM, storage, and show choices. While our evaluate mannequin didn’t have a contact display, this machine can be obtainable with a contact display.

• Model quantity: DB16250
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x RAM
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V
• NPU: Intel AI Boost (as much as 48 TOPS)
• Display: 2560×1600 IPS show
• Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam with bodily privateness shutter
• Connectivity: 2x USB Type-C (One Thunderbolt 4, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2), 1x USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1), 1x HDMI 2.1 out, and 1x combo audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader and IR digicam for Windows Hello
• Battery capability: 64 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.05 x 9.87 x 0.67 inches
• Weight: 4.12 kilos
• MSRP: $1,149 as examined

Dell 16 Plus: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Dell 16 Plus is effectively designed and stable. It’s slightly on the heavy aspect at 4.12 kilos, nevertheless it’s additionally slightly on the bigger aspect at 16 inches, in order that is smart. The 0.67-inch thickness may be very affordable, and the laptop computer doesn’t really feel notably thick.

The chassis is created from a mix of supplies — aluminum on the lid and base and plastic on the palm relaxation and bezel. The plastic feels good — it has a barely matte texture.

The hinge works effectively, and it opens to 180 levels so you possibly can lie this machine flat. As you rotate the hinge open, the again of the laptop computer (the half close to the hinge) tilts up, and that angle helps you kind comfortably.

The “Ice Blue” shade scheme right here appears to be like loads like silver to me — with a little bit of a blue sheen in the fitting lighting.

This machine has good construct high quality — there’s nothing unhealthy about it. But it doesn’t have the high-end touches (all metallic, or tremendous light-weight carbon fiber or ceramic-based “ceraluminum“) that high-end, costlier machines ship.

Dell 16 Plus: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Dell 16 Plus has a great keyboard. The key journey feels good and there’s a crisp “clicky” motion once I press down on them. It’s responsive and nothing feels mushy. There’s additionally a white keyboard backlight you need to use.

The inclusion of a full-size quantity pad on the proper aspect of this 16-inch laptop computer keyboard all the time feels slightly divisive. On the one hand, many individuals select 16-inch laptops to allow them to have a full-size keyboard with a quantity pad, and that enter technique is especially helpful for sure workflows — when you spend plenty of time utilizing spreadsheets or in any other case getting into numbers. On the opposite hand, some folks aren’t followers of the quantity pad and should want a laptop computer with out one. Personally, I prefer to see a quantity pad on a 16-inch laptop computer the place there’s room for one.

The touchpad is sweet and enormous, and it feels responsive. I do assume a pleasant glass-surface touchpad feels smoother to glide your finger over — it is a plastic floor — nevertheless it’s a big and responsive touchpad.

The mannequin we obtained doesn’t have a touchscreen, so hold that in thoughts — in order for you that, you’ll must seek out a Dell 16 Plus mannequin that does have one or select a unique laptop computer. I do want having a contact display — simply as an choice — however I do know many individuals don’t care.

Dell 16 Plus: Display and audio system

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Dell 16 Plus we reviewed has a 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS show with an anti-glare coating and as much as 300 nits of brightness together with a 120Hz refresh fee. That’s a great decision and I used to be happy to see a higher-than-60Hz refresh fee right here.

The anti-glare coating works fairly effectively, and it helps make up for the marginally dim show. But it’s completely readable inside. Even with harsh daylight, the anti-glare coating does a great job and ensures you don’t have to crank up the brightness simply to see the display.

The show appears to be like high quality — it’s a wonderfully serviceable show. But it’s an entry-level show. For this evaluate, Dell additionally offered me with a Dell 16 Plus mannequin with a higher-end show so I may examine the choices. Specifically, they loaned me a mannequin with a touchscreen and a mini-LED show with 600 nits of minimal brightness — mannequin quantity DB16250. This mannequin appears to be like nice: The colours had been noticeably extra vivid, and it was noticeable even on the default desktop background. However, that’s a pricier show, and it additionally has a shiny coating that produces extra reflections.

The Dell 16 Plus has a dual-speaker setup that produces clear, clear audio with a reasonably loud most quantity. I don’t hear any distortion on the most quantity, so it is a good speaker setup. It isn’t a high-end speaker configuration, naturally: I take a look at all of the laptops I evaluate with each Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. The instrument separation in Aja wasn’t as crisp as you’d hear on the type of audio system audiophiles love, and the punchy bass in Get Lucky was missing. But that’s commonplace for laptop computer audio system, and these are stable audio system for the value vary. I all the time wish to pair a great pair of headphones or exterior audio system with my laptops.

Dell 16 Plus: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Dell 16 Plus has a 1080p webcam with a bodily webcam shutter, and that’s all the time an excellent privateness characteristic to see! The webcam itself is obvious sufficient — there’s extra visible noise than I’d count on to see on the type of high-end webcam you typically see on enterprise laptops, nevertheless it’s greater than adequate for on-line conferences and video calls.

Dell says the dual-array microphone setup right here has AI noise discount. In follow, the microphone sounds unexpectedly good, with clear audio and stable noise cancellation of PC followers whirring away in my workplace.

The Dell 16 Plus mannequin we reviewed has each a fingerprint reader on the top-right nook of the keyboard and an IR digicam for facial recognition. Having entry to each forms of biometrics is especially spectacular at this worth vary.

Dell 16 Plus: Connectivity

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Dell 16 Plus’s connectivity is respectable however slightly missing. On the fitting aspect, this machine has a combo audio jack together with a USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1) port.

On the left aspect, it has an HDMI 2.1 out port together with two USB Type-C ports — considered one of them helps Thunderbolt 4 and one helps USB 3.2 Gen 2speeds. While the ports are clearly labeled and it’s good to have Thunderbolt 4 as an choice, it will be good in the event that they had been each Thunderbolt 4 ports.

This machine expenses by way of USB-C. Since that’s the case, you’ll all the time must plug the charger right into a port on the left aspect. That’s slightly annoying. You’d have extra flexibility if Dell had put a USB Type-C port on all sides.

All in all, it is a restricted port choice for a 16-inch laptop computer. It’s not onerous to think about that many individuals would need extra ports — for instance, a second USB Type-A port or perhaps a microSD card reader. You can all the time get a dongle or dock, however remember that you could have to when you want plenty of peripherals.

Thanks to Lunar Lake, this machine is future-proof with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 help, which is nice to see.

Dell 16 Plus: Performance

The Dell 16 Plus offered good efficiency in desktop productiveness apps — Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Word, Slack, and all the standard apps I discover myself utilizing all day. Lunar Lake methods ship good efficiency in real-world desktop utilization.

As all the time, although we ran the Dell 16 Plus by our standard benchmarks to see the way it performs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an concept of total system efficiency. With an total PCMark 10 rating of 7,229, the Dell 16 Plus delivered stable efficiency — decrease solely than methods with quicker CPUs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU efficiency. Since it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit. That’s what we noticed right here — methods with Lunar Lake CPUs are available in behind. Unfortunately, that is considerably decrease multithreaded efficiency than last year’s Dell Inspiron 16 Plus with its Meteor Lake CPU.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. This is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, nevertheless it runs over an prolonged interval. This calls for the laptop computer’s cooling kick in, and lots of laptops will throttle and decelerate beneath load. That could also be what occurred right here — the encode course of took 1,773 seconds (practically 30 minutes) to finish the encode course of. It lags behind different Lunar Lake-powered methods we’ve examined.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop, nevertheless it’s nonetheless good to verify how the GPU performs. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency. With a rating of 3,978, the Intel Arc 140V graphics right here delivered glorious graphics efficiency for built-in graphics.

Overall, the Dell 16 Plus delivered completely usable desktop productiveness efficiency because of Lunar Lake. But Lunar Lake’s huge draw back — low multithreaded efficiency in heavy multithreaded workloads — is on full show right here. This machine appears to be a bit behind different Lunar Lake-powered methods, and it’s far behind final 12 months’s mannequin on this benchmark.

Dell 16 Plus: Battery life

The Dell 16 Plus has a 64 Watt-hour battery, which is on the smaller aspect for a 16-inch laptop computer. Still, since this machine packs power-efficient Lunar Lake {hardware}, we’d count on to see it ship some critical battery life.

IDG / 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 to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case situation 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 Plus lasted 856 minutes, or simply over 14 hours. That’s on the decrease aspect for a Lunar Lake-powered machine, nevertheless it’s seemingly that the mix of a smaller battery and maybe a show that’s sucking extra energy is contributing to that — it’s powerful to say. While you’ll get decrease battery life than this in the true world, I don’t assume it is a critical concern — a 16-inch laptop computer that’s over 4 kilos feels designed for use at a desk plenty of the time. You can get loads of time away from an outlet.

Dell 16 Plus: Conclusion

I just like the Dell 16 Plus loads. But in terms of worth, the value is an enormous issue: At $1,149 retail, I’m loads much less excited than the $799 or much less worth I see proper now! It’s not simply concerning the internals: Decisions like together with each a fingerprint reader and an IR digicam present Dell going above and past what it must at this worth vary.

Looking over the benchmarks, I wasn’t as thrilled as I anticipated to be: Lunar Lake is all about battery life enhancements, however the base Dell 16 Plus makes use of that effectivity improve to drop the battery measurement. I reviewed final 12 months’s Dell Inspiron 16 Plus with Meteor Lake, which was packing a bigger 90 Watt-hour battery, and that machine delivered longer battery life together with stronger multithreaded efficiency. (Of course, final 12 months’s mannequin is heavier and this new Lunar Lake-powered system has higher graphics efficiency.)

It’s true that this method does have an NPU for Copilot+ PC AI options, however Microsoft hasn’t made these vital improve but. I want Intel’s Lunar Lake was extra of a no brainer improve.

Still, it is a stable PC. At a sale worth of $799 or so, none of those issues really feel like they matter.