Dell's XPS 16 (2026) Is Almost Everything I Could Have Asked for Almost

"Instead of simplifying the buying process, Dell replaced its established lineups like Inspiron, Latitude, and Precision with the more confusing Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max, respectively. The Dell Plus also replaced the Inspiron Plus; Dell Pro Max replaced Precision; and Dell Premium replaced XPS. The latter was especially missed by consumers. You knew it was a stupid idea when the company needed a 3 x 3 reference grid to explain all the new laptop names and people were still left scratching their heads."

"The Dell XPS 16 (2026) delivers the same strong performance, gorgeous 16-inch display, and long battery life as its predecessors. What makes it stand apart is the subtle design changes that give it a thinner and sleeker look. However, what remained from the 2025 version is its tightly packed keyboard, which is prone to providing discomfort and typos."

"Dell sent Gizmodo the $2,350 model of the XPS 16, which is outfitted with an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU and 32GB of RAM. While it is a strong overall performer, it still only lands in the middle or lower end of the pack when compared to the MacBook Pro's M5 chip and the Core Ultra X9 388H CPU. I'll argue the differences are negligible to the average user."

"It won't be a priority for everybody, but the integrated GPU scored playable frame rates at high settings in AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 (an impressive win). Unfortunately, at the XPS 16's price point, it doesn't make a great case against machines like the M5 MacBook Pro, which costs $250 less when similarly specced. For a similar price as the XPS 16, you can get"

Dell’s 2025 laptop rebranding replaced familiar lines with confusing new names, prompting backlash and leading to the return of the XPS brand. The Dell XPS 16 (2026) remains a strong performer with a 16-inch display and long battery life, along with subtle design changes that make it thinner and sleeker. The keyboard stays tightly packed, causing discomfort and typos. A $2,350 configuration with an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H and 32GB RAM performs well overall, but it ranks in the middle or lower range versus higher-end alternatives. Integrated graphics deliver playable high-settings frame rates in AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, but the price makes it less compelling than similarly specced competitors.

Read at gizmodo.com