Last year, Dell did us dirty by changing the XPS name to the Dell 16 Premium, and while the hardware was still good, the name sucked. To their eternal credit, the company listened to its fans, and the XPS name is back for 2026.

What's also here is a redesigned chassis. The zero-lattice keyboard remains, as does the (near) invisible touchpad, which now has a couple of ridges on the edges so you know where it is. But instead of opening from the back, the keyboard lifts out if you want to upgrade storage, etc., which is kinda neat as it gives a tiny ridge around the keyboard deck.

Unlike earlier XPS models, this is a Copilot+ PC, since all Panther Lake CPUs have a sufficiently strong NPU. That means extra webcam tweaks and a few other handy things. And one last thing, the tandem OLED is fantastic. It's not quite as bright as it could be based on other models we've tested, but it has stunning color reproduction and is a joy to sit in front of.

About this review: Dell sent us the Dell XPS 16, and had no input into the contents of this article.

Dell XPS 16 (2026)
8.5/10
Operating System
Windows 11
CPU
Up to Intel® Core Ultra X9 Processor 388H (16- Core, 18MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz)
GPU
Intel graphics (post launch) Intel® Arc graphics
RAM
16GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 7467 MT/s 32GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s 64GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s

The XPS 16 is back for 2026, back to the old branding but with a newly tweaked chassis that opens from the keyboard side for easily upgrading storage. It's powered by Intel's Panther Lake chips, and feels every bit as premium as the price tag would suggest.

Pros & Cons
  • Tandem OLED screen is gorgeous
  • Feels futuristic
  • Good to have the XPS name back
  • Battery life could be better
  • No fingerprint reader
  • Keyboard takes some getting used to

Dell XPS 16 (2026): Pricing, availability, and specs

Dell announced the XPS 16 (2026) at CES this year, and the only option at the time had a $2,200 price tag. Now that more versions are out, the base MSRP is $1,750. As reviewed with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and touchscreen OLED, it rounds out at $2,350, which isn't a bad price these days. It's also almost a full pound lighter than last year's Dell Premium 16, which is impressive.

If you don't want the larger screen, the XPS 14 starts from $1,350. It's the same chassis change, the same upgraded 8MP webcam, just with a smaller frame. Pricing is always variable, direct from the OEM, so check every so often, and you might find a better deal.

Dell XPS 16 (2026)
CPU
Up to Intel® Core Ultra X9 Processor 388H (16- Core, 18MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz)
GPU
Intel graphics (post launch) Intel® Arc graphics
Display type
16-inch 2K (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge nontouch display, 500-nits typical brightness, 100% sRGB color gamut, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 176° wide viewing angle +/- 88° / 88° / 88° / 88°, 1-120Hz, Dolby Vision , Eyesafe® technology, anti-glare 16-inch 3.2K (3200 x 2000) OLED InfinityEdge touch 400-nits typical brightness, 100% DCIP3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 178° wide viewing angle +/- 88° / 88° / 88° / 88°, 20- 120Hz, Dolby Vision , Eyesafe® technology, anti-reflective, anti-smudge
RAM
16GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 7467 MT/s 32GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s 64GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s
Storage
512GB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4) 1TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4) 2TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 5, SED ready) 4TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 5, SED ready)
Battery
70Whr battery (integrated), 900ED cells ExpressCharge 1.0
Ports
3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C ) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery Kensington lock supported via USB Type-C ports Universal audio jack
Operating System
Windows 11
Webcam
8MP/1080p HDR webcam Windows Hello compliant, Intel IPU7
Cellular connectivity
No
Wi-Fi connectivity
Intel® Wi-Fi 7* BE211 2x2 + Bluetooth 6.0 Wireless Card
Dimensions
13.88x9.35x0.58in
Weight
3.65 pounds
Speakers
Studio quality tuning with Waves MaxxAudio® MaxxVoice 15 Quad-speaker design with 3W Main x 2 Channel + 2W Tweeter x 2 Channel; 10W total peak output Universal audio jack Dual microphone array optimized with Intelligo High Fidelity Audio Dolby Atmos
Colors
Graphite, Shimmer
NPU
Intel® AI Boost NPU 47 TOPs on 325, 49 TOPs on 355, 50 TOPs on 358H & 388H

The XPS range has always been futuristic

The new chassis is superb

Two chassis and name changes in two years bring us to what's my favorite XPS yet. From the outside, it's understated, with no sharp angles, corners, or other design elements that this price bracket usually has. The only thing you notice is the simple line work of the XPS logo, back on the lid where it belongs.

With all that real estate, you might wonder why there are only three ports on this machine, but they're all Thunderbolt 4 ports. That means no more guessing which port is really USB-C in disguise, or which one will charge your laptop properly, or which one will support output to an external display. They all do, and it's something you don't realize unless you've used the usual hodgepodge of ports that many laptops come with.

The only thing you notice is the simple line work of the XPS logo, back on the lid where it belongs.

Then you open it, and it's unmistakably an XPS, with the zero-lattice keyboard that now has physical F-keys again, and the huge, nearly invisible touchpad that's almost as good as the MacBook's. Almost.

Dell has somehow managed to trim almost a full pound this year, so it's now just over 3.6 lbs, which makes it much easier to tote around in the 16-inch size.

👁 Dell XPS-3
Dell listened and the XPS 14 is back, baby, yeah

One of the most storied names in the game is back

Bigger is better (mostly)

The XPS 16 outperforms its smaller sibling

Panther Lake is really, really good, guys, and I've been impressed with the entire stack from entry level to flagship. The Intel Core Ultra X7-358H in the review unit is a midrange offering, but it has plenty of power for everyday tasks and won't drain the battery as quickly. I noticed that it's slightly better-performing than the same CPU in the XPS 14, likely due to a larger cooling system.

The one disappointment for some is the lack of discrete graphics card options this year. Dell often puts Nvidia GPU options into the XPS range, but is banking on the performance of Intel's new iGPU to carry the day. I've used enough Panther Lake CPUs to know the iGPU is decent, and I can't say I missed the annoyances of a dGPU either.

Dell XPS 16 (2026) (Intel Core Ultra X7-358H)

Dell XPS 14 (2026) (Intel Core Ultra X7-358H)

Dell XPS 14 (2026) (Core Ultra 7 355)

Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro (Core Ultra X7-358H)

Asus Zenbook Duo (Intel Core Ultra X9 388H)

Dell Pro 14 Premium Core Ultra 7 268V

PCMark 10 (AC / battery best / battery balanced)

9,901 / 9,273 / 8,377

8,980 / 9,561 / 8,313

7,141 / 7,854 / 6,972

9.069 / 9,391 / 7,955

9,474 / 9,692 / 9,112

7,257 / 6,863 / 4,690

Geekbench 6 (single / multi)

2,763 / 16,631

2,835 / 16,358

2,642 / 11,200

2,893 / 16,935

2,956 / 17,343

2,853 / 11,217

Cinebench 2024 (single / multi)

119 / 963

123 / 806

105 / 460

124 /1,002

129 / 1,114

125 / 665

Crossmark

2,166

1,905

1,639

2,008

2,010

1,783

3DMark (Time Spy / Wild Life / Night Raid)

6,751 / 31,098 / 45,848

6,136 / 33,695 / 37,886

3,011 / 21,185 / 30,911

7,397 / 46,510 / 48,018

7,721 / 36,969 / 47,631

4,539 / 29,280 / 34,386

Battery life is all-day for work tasks, though it tested slightly lower than the XPS 14 in our looping video test. I'm not sure if that's because of the slightly higher brightness of 230 nits vs 200 nits, combined with the larger screen, but it was repeatable. The XPS 16 still manages nearly 13 hours of looped video, though, which is plenty of juice, and the charger is small, so you can carry it with you.

Tandem OLED is magnificent

It could be a little brighter though

Like on the smaller sibling, the tandem OLED touchscreen is gorgeous. It covers 100% of sRGB, 97% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3 on an LG panel. Gamma was spot-on at 2.2, and with a peak SDR brightness of 444 nits, it's going to do fine outside. It's got a very consistent panel for both luminance and color accuracy, and is probably the better option over IPS in this case.

👁 An image of a Dell XPS 14, 2026 edition.
Best laptops in 2026

Looking for a new laptop for work, school, or anything else? Here are the very best laptops on the market right now.

Should you buy the Dell XPS 16 (2026)?

You should buy the Dell XPS 16 if:

  • You want a gorgeous 16-inch laptop
  • You want a solidly-built laptop
  • You dig the flat keyboard and invisible touchpad

You should NOT buy the Dell XPS 16 if:

  • You need a numpad on your keyboard
  • You need the power of a discrete GPU
  • You need a fingerprint reader

Dell's XPS line has always been a showcase for the best display technologies and future-forward design, and the XPS 16 (2026) carries that torch forward. The 3.2K tandem OLED screen is a joy to look at, the touchpad is there when you need it and not when you don't, and the keyboard might not be everyone's cup of tea, but that's okay.

Dell's XPS line has always been a showcase for the best display technologies and future-forward design, and the XPS 16 (2026) carries that torch forward.

We often call the XPS 14 "the best 14-inch laptop," and that's easily carried over to the 16-inch model. It's the best laptop for Windows users at that size, with a MacBook Pro feel, but by forging its own path to get there. And it's now a Copilot+ laptop, which means you'll get Microsoft's latest AI features, whether you want them or not.

The Dell XPS 16 is as good as you can get, and I know we say this every year, but it's one of the few product ranges that consistently improve. Just buy one. If you need a new laptop, that is.

Dell XPS 16 (2026)
8.5/10
CPU
Up to Intel® Core Ultra X9 Processor 388H (16- Core, 18MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz)
GPU
Intel graphics (post launch) Intel® Arc graphics
Display type
16-inch 2K (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge nontouch display, 500-nits typical brightness, 100% sRGB color gamut, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 176° wide viewing angle +/- 88° / 88° / 88° / 88°, 1-120Hz, Dolby Vision , Eyesafe® technology, anti-glare 16-inch 3.2K (3200 x 2000) OLED InfinityEdge touch 400-nits typical brightness, 100% DCIP3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 178° wide viewing angle +/- 88° / 88° / 88° / 88°, 20- 120Hz, Dolby Vision , Eyesafe® technology, anti-reflective, anti-smudge
RAM
16GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 7467 MT/s 32GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s 64GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s
Storage
512GB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4) 1TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4) 2TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 5, SED ready) 4TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 5, SED ready)
Battery
70Whr battery (integrated), 900ED cells ExpressCharge 1.0
Ports
3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C ) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery Kensington lock supported via USB Type-C ports Universal audio jack
Operating System
Windows 11
Webcam
8MP/1080p HDR webcam Windows Hello compliant, Intel IPU7
Cellular connectivity
No
Wi-Fi connectivity
Intel® Wi-Fi 7* BE211 2x2 + Bluetooth 6.0 Wireless Card
Dimensions
13.88x9.35x0.58in
Weight
3.65 pounds
Speakers
Studio quality tuning with Waves MaxxAudio® MaxxVoice 15 Quad-speaker design with 3W Main x 2 Channel + 2W Tweeter x 2 Channel; 10W total peak output Universal audio jack Dual microphone array optimized with Intelligo High Fidelity Audio Dolby Atmos
Colors
Graphite, Shimmer
NPU
Intel® AI Boost NPU 47 TOPs on 325, 49 TOPs on 355, 50 TOPs on 358H & 388H