Dell XPS 16 9640

Matthew Buzzi from PCMag highlights the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a sleek, premium laptop tailored for creative professionals and power users who value cutting-edge design and performance. The review praises its stunning 4K OLED touch display, impressive battery life, and powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, making it well-suited for demanding productivity and media tasks. Unique design elements like the seamless haptic touchpad and LED touch strip offer a futuristic aesthetic, though some changes—such as the touchpad’s feel and keyboard layout—require an adjustment period and don’t necessarily improve usability. While the laptop’s all-USB-C port selection may inconvenience some, included adapters help mitigate this. Despite its high price and some minor design trade-offs, the XPS 16 stands out as a luxurious, capable Windows desktop replacement, though alternatives like the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Alienware m16 R2 offer better value for different user needs.

Andreas Osthoff from Notebookcheck highlights the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a multimedia flagship that prioritizes design and build quality over raw performance. Praising its attractive, sturdy metal chassis, accurate 4K OLED touchscreen, and solid CPU performance, the review notes the laptop’s slim bezels and good battery life as strong points. However, the GPU performance is only average for its class, with the RTX 4070 Laptop falling behind competitors offering higher wattage variants. The input devices receive mixed feedback: the keyboard requires adjustment due to cramped keys, and the touch bar is described as more of a nuisance than a benefit. Connectivity is limited to three USB-C ports with inconsistent Thunderbolt support, and some soldered components restrict upgrade options. Despite a high price tag of $2,899, the XPS 16 impresses with its display quality and system responsiveness but ultimately sacrifices performance and ergonomics for style, making it a better fit for users valuing design over gaming or heavy GPU workloads.

Richard Baguley from T3 highlights the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a powerful and visually stunning laptop that excels in performance and display quality, making it ideal for users who prioritize a large, high-resolution screen and robust computing capabilities. He praises the 16.3-inch 4K OLED display for its brightness, vivid colors, and Dolby Vision support, as well as the strong performance delivered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, which handle gaming and creative workloads smoothly. The review also notes thoughtful design touches like the hidden touchpad with haptic feedback and a quieter cooling system compared to previous models. However, Baguley points out drawbacks including the laptop’s considerable weight, occasional touchpad misclicks, the lack of physical function keys, and a frustrating GPU switching delay that causes temporary system lockups. Battery life is decent for light use but drops sharply under heavy gaming. Overall, the XPS 16 9640 is recommended for those needing high-end power in a portable but bulky package, with a caution about its premium price and size.

Brandon Hill from Tom’s Hardware highlights the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a sleek, well-built laptop with strong performance powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 processors and a vibrant 16.3-inch UHD+ OLED display. He praises its excellent speaker system, solid battery life, and quiet dual-fan cooling, noting the laptop’s competitive edge in Windows 11 performance and premium design quality rivaling Apple’s MacBook Pro. However, Hill points out several ergonomic quirks, including the controversial capacitive touch function row replacing physical keys, an “invisible” haptic touchpad lacking tactile boundaries, and a fingerprint-prone graphite finish. The dedicated Windows Copilot key is seen as underwhelming, and the lack of a physical webcam shutter raises privacy concerns. While the XPS 16 offers a compelling package, its pricing strategy closely mirrors Apple’s premium models, making it less attractive compared to better-equipped, more affordable Windows alternatives. Overall, Hill views the XPS 16 as a great but somewhat flawed premium laptop with a few design compromises.

Matt Elliott praises the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a bold and thoughtfully redesigned creator laptop that balances a spacious 16.3-inch display with a lighter, more minimalistic chassis. He highlights the innovative borderless touchpad with excellent haptics as a standout feature, though he remains critical of the touch-sensitive Function row for lacking tactile feedback. The OLED display option impresses with vivid colors and strong contrast, complemented by surprisingly robust battery life exceeding 11.5 hours despite the power-hungry panel. Performance is solid and versatile, suitable for creative workloads and moderate gaming, though thermal noise under heavy load is noticeable. Elliott appreciates the improved 1080p webcam and rich audio output, rare for laptops. While ports are limited, included dongles mitigate this. Priced at a premium, the XPS 16 9640 delivers a compelling mix of design innovation, performance, and display quality, though some ergonomic trade-offs may not appeal to all users.

Rebecca Spear from Windows Central highlights the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a stylish and powerful AI PC that impresses with its solid CPU performance, exceptional OLED display, and excellent speakers. The laptop’s Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU with an NPU enables efficient local AI tasks, making it a standout for productivity and creative work. However, the review expresses mixed feelings about the design, particularly the divisive capacitive buttons replacing traditional keys and the invisible touchpad, which may frustrate some users. While the laptop’s GPU is strong, its graphical performance falls short of expectations for gaming, positioning it better for work than high-end gaming. The lack of built-in USB-A and HDMI ports, replaced by an external accessory, is another potential inconvenience. Overall, the XPS 16 9640 is praised for its elegance, display quality, and AI capabilities but requires buyers to weigh its futuristic design choices and port limitations against their personal preferences.

Chris Smith from Trusted Reviews praises the Dell XPS 16 9640 as a stylish and powerful laptop that successfully blends a premium design with high-end performance. He highlights the impressive 4K OLED display, which delivers striking color accuracy and deep blacks, making it ideal for creative work and immersive gaming experiences powered by the Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU. The Intel Core Ultra 7 processor also impresses with strong benchmark results, ensuring smooth multitasking and demanding workloads. However, Smith notes some drawbacks, including the laptop’s relatively heavy weight and a keyboard design featuring capacitive touch keys that may divide user opinion due to its shallow travel and layout quirks. Battery life is solid but falls short of MacBook Pro standards, and the price is steep, positioning the XPS 16 against tough competition. Overall, Smith regards the XPS 16 as a bold and capable machine that expands Dell’s lineup and stands as a compelling alternative to premium Windows and Mac laptops.