The new lineup of Dell laptops drops the name Inspiron, shedding it alongside XPS for one common name. What once might have been an Inspiron, this 16-inch 2-in-1 now carries the new name with a size, design, and “fancy” level. Removing the XPS left a little bitter taste in one’s mouth, but this does smooth over the process for average consumers.
The new naming convention and sharp lines have been introduced into Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, a convertible that categorizes itself indisputably beyond simple aesthetics. It’s not so much a revolution, but an old-school, reliable workhorse that puts in its hours with a bit of versatile flair. Yet, behind the glossy looks and the able performance, there is yet a slight feeling of unfulfilled promise.
Design
Dell / Engadget
Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1
The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is that chameleon laptop bending backward to accommodate you. Mini LED display option? Expect some serious fireworks. But the very adaptability and flair rob this machine of something precious… time-poor, soul-less. Yes, it grinds the work out fine, but does it encourage happiness in time?
Pros
- Solid build
- Vivid mini LED display
- Above-average battery life
Cons
- Lackluster touchpad
- Mediocre speakers
- Needs another USB-C port
$750 at Dell
Dell has redesigned its laptop portfolio, with the new XPS 16 Plus 2-in-1 leading the charge. No more sharp edges: It is all about cool aluminum with a smooth matte finish and soft rounded corners that are just begging to be caressed. How about the hinges? Not a clunky mess! They’re neat, almost invisible, yet absolutely solid when holding it in tent mode or going all the way to the tablet. The only ones capable of shining through the whole quiet quality are those delightful little letters of Dell right in the middle of the lid. It is austere and quite unassuming; one cannot help but wonder if Dell has gone a littletoofar with minimalism. It is a stunning blank slate, but will it charm enough to stand out?
This goes under connectivity. You get a Thunderbolt 4-enabled USB-C port, another USB-C port that supports DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-A port, an HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack. So far, so good. Yet, considering its size, losing out on the second USB-C port, perhaps on the right side of the enclosure, feels a little bad. Likewise, depending on charging from one side offers an inconvenient tether. And content creators, the lack of a microSD card reader hurts one way or another.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The keyboard responds to my fingertips with that satisfying clicking symphony, aided by the full number pad – a blessing for an Excel warrior. Alas, the 16 Plus touchpad induces a pitiful symphony. Despite ample real estate, responsiveness is a rare trait to be spotted. Initially, right-clicks vanished into thin air almost 25% of the time. I had half learned to live with it, but the stubbornly awkward and unsatisfying feeling of clicking was really annoying.
It feels like a crime to almost have the sound muffled, with downward-firing speakers tucked in as if guilty. Even when volume reaches an all-time high, the sound would rather just stay flat and lifeless, bouncing as if from the bottom of a well. Given the chance, I’d give my number pad away in trade for speakers flanking the keyboard, facing upward. Imagine actually having immersive sound instead of being stuck in this sonic purgatory.
Display
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The star of our review unit? The gorgeous 16-inch touch display. We’re talking about Dell’s 2.5K mini LED optional masterpiece (2,560 x 1,600). Forget about the standard brightness; this one pushes it to a whopping 600 nits and offers a smoother 90Hz refresh rate, putting the pathetic 300-nit FHD+ panel to shame. After weeks of use, our opinion is clear: this screen is much more than an upgrade; it’s a delight to even look at. Prepare to be dazzled by popping colors, deep blacks, and contrast so sharp that it gives the impression of stuff coming out of the screen. Ditch that basic LCD now; your eyes will truly thank you.
Performance
Inside an elegant body, the Intel Core Ultra, either 5 226V or powerful 7 258V, roars loudly. Packing 32GB of RAM and one TB of storage, it handles life with cash. With its silicon brain, having either 40 or 47 TOPS, the 16 Plus opens the gates for the much-demanded Copilot+ AI suite from Microsoft. But I would definitely warn that these discrete-grade graphics could be a bit of an eye sore if you happen to create AoE2 runes, intense 3D modeling work, or professional video editing.
Battery life
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 brushed aside any battery life concerns. That is because it is equipped with a robust 64WHr battery. We are looking at 8 hours, 12 minutes off productivity as per PCMark10’s Modern Office test. The competitors such as the HP Spectre x360 16, with just about five hours of grace time, can only sit back and do the envy dance. Then of course, the ASUS Zenbook A14 wins in this contest by storm with its 18+ hour of battery life. It would be tough to keep abreast of that. This way, the Dell 16 Plus still manages to be top-tier in the long-performance realm for power-classed 2-in-1s.
The 65W Dell charger provided is delightfully tiny and easily portable. But feel free, darling, not to be a slave to it- dear XPS 16 Plus sits embracing USB-C charging at either port, warmly welcoming your third-party power bricks.
Wrap-up
The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1: Competent Doesn’t Begin to Cover It.
Forget standard hybrids that bore. This laptop bends over backward (literally!) to meet every demand one might have. Its convertible hinge is not a trick; it allows for unlimited modes. The design may not be screaming “look at me,” but one can be assured that the build quality is of premium standards.
The performance is absolutely solid, so think battery life and “road trip ready,” not “race to the nearest outlet.” But then your rock star is the choice of the mini LED display. Get ready for popping, highly saturated colors that reconsider immersion.
Price? Starting at a steal at $750 (or around $1,400 for our tricked-out unit of test), the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 does not merely feel reasonably priced; it feels like an absolute robber.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Dell’s new 16 Plus 2-in-1 laptop screams dull so loud, it almost feels invisible. On paper, the design was simplified, and it was rebranded as such; but somewhere along the way, the soul might have slipped away. It is in no way a bad machine; it just doesn’t make you happy with its presence. It is the beige of laptops. Then, the name itself is just a mess. Apple gives you the MacBook and it’s instantly recognizable. It’s either the company that is Dell or the laptop, or is it some unwieldy, unwieldy 16 Plus 2-in-1 designation? Either way, it is a branding black hole.
An empty PC, a tool. The thirst is for a relationship, a spark of connection. Dell’s recent range? Cold, sterile, and unlovable. They have, in fact, drained machines of their souls.
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