I’m torn over the Dell 16 Premium’s sleek design — a laptop with great performance but polarizing controls

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In 2021, Dell switched up the labeling scheme for their premium laptop line, renaming it Dell Premium from the previous Dell XPS. The latest version shares a resemblance in exterior and design with its predecessor of last year, however, it comes with internal enhancements.

For about a week now, I’ve been putting the Dell 16 Premium through its paces to understand its potential. It’s an outstanding piece of technology, though not consistently so in ways that everyone might appreciate. To be truthful, this laptop left me indecisive regarding its final rating due to some contentious design choices.

Here’s what you should know about the Dell 16 Premium.

This review was written based on a product sample given by Dell, but they did not influence the content or see it before it was published.

Dell is well-known for manufacturing high-quality devices, as indicated by this laptop’s name. However, it’s important to note that this often translates into higher prices for their laptops.

This laptop offers several options for customization, but the specific model I examined, featuring an Intel Core i7-255H processor, NVIDIA RTX 5070 graphics, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch 4K OLED screen, retails for $3,199.99 on Dell’s website, a price that might prompt your wallet to shed a tear.

This laptop is priced around where I’d expect the 16 Premium model to be, considering other affordable laptops available. Interestingly, it’s $200 cheaper than a comparable configuration of the last XPS 16, but it comes with this year’s Intel processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card options.

It’s important to mention that the Dell 16 Premium model is both a Copilot+ PC and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) PC. This is because it’s equipped with one of Intel’s latest AI-enhanced Core Ultra processors, which includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of at least 45 Tera Operations per Second (TOPS). Additionally, this device comes with a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard.

The 16 Premium model embraces cutting-edge technology, opting for advanced features instead of conventional ones in its design. To illustrate, it exclusively offers Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, excluding HDMI and USB-A ports from its configuration.

As an analyst, I would put it this way:

“I’ve got some exciting news to share! Currently, Dell is running a special launch sale that temporarily lowers the price of their top-tier model, the Dell 16 Premium, to a remarkable $2,799.99. This is a fantastic opportunity, as it means a savings of $400! Considering the laptop’s impressive specifications and capabilities, this deal is not one to be missed!”

Dell 16 Premium: Why I love it

This laptop supports both Windows Hello face identification and fingerprint biometrics for logging in, and I’ve found them consistently reliable during use.

In terms of aesthetics, the 16 Premium model exudes elegance in both formal and informal settings. Its construction suggests durability, with a sleek and robust frame, along with a sturdy, fluidly moving hinge.

I can’t express enough my affection for the soft texture of the white material enveloping the keyboard. It’s a joy to tactilely engage with, and it conceals fingerprint marks remarkably well compared to most other casing materials.

With three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports strategically placed – two on the left and one on the right – connecting different accessories or charging the laptop becomes effortless, as you can choose the side that suits your convenience best.

Unlike the XPS 16 from last year, this model does not include a separate adapter accessory featuring HDMI or USB-A ports. Consequently, if you possess any USB-A devices and wish to utilize them with this laptop, you’ll need a USB-A to USB-C adapter such as this Syntech one available for $9.99 on Amazon.

Apart from a handful of contentious aesthetic decisions that were present in the previous model of XPS 16 released last year, I’ll discuss these points further on.

In terms of functionality, the Dell 16 Premium operated flawlessly during use and delivered primarily outstanding outcomes across multiple benchmark tests, as demonstrated by the graphs provided.

Despite the CPU performance, overall system speed, and SSD rates being comparable, it was disheartening to observe that the 16 Premium RTX 5070 L underperformed in several 3DMark benchmark tests compared to RTX 4070 L laptops.

Absolutely, the Dell 16 Premium is primarily designed for non-gaming purposes. Consequently, its graphics card performance exceeds expectations when handling 3D modeling software and creative applications typically utilized on this notebook.

Despite this, it would have been more desirable for a high-end device at its price point to incorporate a more powerful graphics card from the latest generation of GPUs.

Simultaneously, the 4K OLED touchscreen exhibits a stunning and sharp appearance. In my colorimeter assessment, it demonstrated a commendable coverage of 100% sRGB, 88% AdobeRGB, and 99% P3, along with a peak brightness of 400 nits.

The laptop performs exceptionally well when it comes to cooling; my infrared camera revealed that the warmest spot on the laptop is located above the keyboard, reaching a maximum temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately 46.5 degrees Celsius.

The laptop’s fans are not excessively noisy or bothersome, as indicated by the decibel meter reading of 45.3dB when placed close to my ear and 53.6dB when positioned near the vents (comparable to having a dishwasher running in an adjacent room).

In essence, the laptop I’m using here is quiet enough not to cause any awkwardness or disturbance should I find myself in a professional setting or among others.

Dell 16 Premium: What needs to improve

The battery life on this Dell 16 Premium laptop is relatively short, especially considering it can barely manage 4 hours and 53 minutes under normal usage conditions (display at around 200 nits brightness and running everyday office tasks on Windows). This duration isn’t even sufficient for a complete workday without needing to recharge.

Similar to the XPS 16 from last year, the Dell 16 Premium features debatable capacitive buttons and a touchpad that is seemingly non-existent, sparking differing opinions between myself and our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino. While they appear sleek, their functionality might pose challenges for some users.

If it were only for adjusting brightness and volume, I could tolerate the capacitive buttons. However, since they also encompass functions like Escape, Print Screen, Home, End, Insert, and the Display menu, it becomes a bit more challenging to use them comfortably.

It is important to note that these primary buttons function consistently, however, I do yearn for the tactile response I usually receive from traditional keys upon pressing them. Typing the combination of Ctrl + Alt + Delete seems unusual since the final button lacks the familiar feel of regular keys.

That all said, this is something you could potentially get used to over time.

With this invisible touchpad design, I often find myself not clicking exactly where I intend when trying to left-click or right-click, as it can be tricky to get the correct spot every time.

Additionally, let’s not forget the innovative haptic touchpad, which could be the Sensel-developed model. Unlike traditional touchpads, this one doesn’t have any moving parts; it instead simulates the feel of touch similar to Apple MacBooks. This design leads to enhanced precision and reduces potential points of failure over time, making it more durable with continuous use.

As a tech enthusiast, I’ve encountered an issue that might be familiar: navigating a laptop without clear tactile feedback on the touchpad. Since there are no obvious visual or physical cues indicating where the touchpad ends, I often unintentionally tap on the wrong spots, particularly when attempting left or right-click actions.

Once again, this could be something you adjust to over time.

✅ You should buy this if …

  • You want an elegant AI laptop that offers solid performance and the latest ports
    • There’s no denying that the Dell 16 Premium is a stylish laptop that runs well and offers three Thunderbolt ports. If you like having the latest and greatest technologies, this is the laptop to get.

❌ You should not buy this if …

  • You don’t like the idea of capacitive buttons or an invisible touchpad
    • These divisive design choices can be off-putting to some who prefer a more traditional laptop, and the physical or visual confirmations they provide.

This Dell Premium Laptop 16 model combines aesthetics with power, delivering exceptional CPU performance, a visually striking screen, and high-quality audio, all enclosed in a sophisticated, attention-grabbing exterior. If these features pique your interest, then this laptop is certainly worth looking into.

This computer boasts a GPU that’s quite potent for handling most graphics-heavy applications, but its graphical performance lags behind what some top-tier Windows laptops offer in terms of expectations. Furthermore, design aspects such as the concealed touchpad, capacitive buttons, and lack of certain ports might be seen as divisive rather than refined by some users.

Ultimately, if you’re keen on owning the most stylish technology piece in your surroundings, the Dell 16 Premium will deliver, but if you prefer a more conventional keyboard and trackpad design, it may be worth exploring other options instead.

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2025-07-29 00:11