Dell Pro 16 Plus 2025, Core Ultra 5 235U, 32GB, 512GB SSD, Platinum Silver

The Dell Pro 16 Plus is a business workhorse with 32GB of DDR5 and a top-tier port selection, but it's held back by a dim display, weak gaming performance, and a reliability score that gives us pause. Pricing varies wildly from USD 2,010 to USD 2,682, so shop around. It's a solid pick for developers and office workers who need RAM and ports, but creatives and gamers should look elsewhere.

The Core Ultra 5 235U is a hybrid chip with two performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and two low-power cores. That's a lot of cores for a mid-range business CPU, and it shows in multitasking. The 32GB of DDR5 is the real star here. Our database puts the RAM at the 87th percentile, which means this thing can juggle dozens of browser tabs, a couple of VMs, and a code editor without breaking a sweat. The CPU itself sits at the 57th percentile, so it's solidly average for the category. Not a barn burner, but it won't hold you back in day-to-day work.

The integrated Intel Arc Graphics are, well, integrated. Our GPU score lands at the 56th percentile, which is fine for driving a 1920x1200 display and handling video playback. But gaming is a different story. The gaming score is 17.6 out of 100, which is rough. You can play older titles or indie games at low settings, but anything modern will struggle. The 512GB SSD is also middle of the pack at the 52nd percentile. It's fast enough for boot times and app launches, but you'll want external storage if you deal with large media files.

The obvious comparison is the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max. That machine absolutely destroys this Dell in raw performance, display quality, and battery life. But it also costs significantly more and runs macOS, which isn't for everyone. If you need Windows and a lot of RAM without spending MacBook money, the Dell makes a case for itself.

On the Windows side, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i are gaming laptops that will run circles around the Dell in graphics performance. But they're heavier, louder, and often have worse battery life. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is a closer competitor in terms of portability, but it's aimed at gamers and creators, not office workers. The MSI Raider is a desktop replacement, not a travel companion. The Dell's real advantage is that it's a boring, dependable business machine with ports for days. That's not exciting, but it's exactly what some people need.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 2,010 to USD 2,682 across three vendors. That's a USD 672 spread for the same machine, which is wild. Staples has the best deal at the low end, and they're throwing in free next-day delivery if you spend over $35. If you're in Canada, there's a single listing at CAD 2,769.

Here's the thing: at USD 2,010, this is a reasonable deal for a 32GB business laptop with a solid port selection. At USD 2,682, you're paying a premium for something that doesn't outperform cheaper alternatives. The customer review we do have mentions getting it for under $1,500, which would be a genuinely good price. If you can find it closer to that number, it's a much easier recommendation.

The Dell Pro 16 Plus is one of those machines that makes more sense the longer you look at it. On paper, it's a business laptop with a 16-inch screen, a 12-core Intel Core Ultra 5 235U, 32GB of DDR5, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. Nothing flashy. But the port selection is genuinely impressive, and that RAM count puts it ahead of most things in this class. This is a workhorse, not a show pony.

Dell is clearly aiming this at people who need a dependable machine for spreadsheets, code editors, and the occasional AI-assisted task. The Intel AI Boost NPU is rated for 12 TOPS, which is modest by current standards but enough for local Copilot features and light AI workloads. The aluminum top cover and palm rest give it a more premium feel than the spec sheet suggests.

Our database scores this at 51 out of 100 overall, with developer use cases landing at 63.4. That tells you a lot. This isn't a laptop for everyone. It's a laptop for people who prioritize ports, RAM, and a big screen over raw performance or portability. And at 1.84kg, it's not exactly a featherweight.

If you do any kind of creative work, skip this. The 45% NTSC color coverage and 300-nit brightness make it a poor choice for photo editing, video work, or even watching movies in a bright room. You'd be better served by a MacBook Pro or a Windows laptop with a higher-quality display.

Gamers should also look elsewhere. The integrated graphics simply can't keep up with modern titles, and the 60Hz refresh rate means even if you could push frames, you wouldn't see them. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or Lenovo Legion Pro 7i are far better options for gaming. And if portability is your top priority, the 1.84kg weight and 16-inch footprint make this a poor travel companion compared to smaller ultrabooks.

If you're a developer or office worker who needs a big screen, tons of RAM, and every port under the sun, the Dell Pro 16 Plus is a solid choice. The 32GB of DDR5 means you won't be upgrading for a while, and the Thunderbolt 4 port gives you room to grow with external GPUs or docks. Just make sure you're not paying more than USD 2,100 for it.

If you're a creative professional or gamer, look elsewhere. The 45% NTSC color coverage is a dealbreaker for photo or video work, and the integrated graphics won't handle modern games. The 300-nit display is also a problem if you work near windows or outdoors. This is a machine for spreadsheets, code, and email, not for rendering or fragging.