Dell 16 Plus Blue

A developer's dream spec sheet at a price that makes sense, as long as you promise never to launch a game on it. Buy it for the RAM, keep it for the snappy CPU, and ignore the mediocre screen.

What surprised us most was how well the integrated Intel Arc graphics handle everyday tasks and light creative work. With 16GB of VRAM shared from that 32GB pool, it's a far cry from the weak integrated graphics of a few years ago. The CPU sits in the 'strong' part of our database, and you feel it. Compiling code, running VMs, and juggling dozens of browser tabs is a breeze. Just don't expect to game on it. The gaming score is a brutal 18.1 out of 100, which is one of the worst we've seen for any modern laptop. This thing is all business.

The obvious competitor is the Lenovo Legion 5i, which will absolutely smoke this Dell in gaming and has a much better screen, but you'll likely pay more for a comparable RAM and storage config. On the other end, an Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is in a completely different universe for performance and display quality, but it also costs as much as a used car. The MSI Prestige is a closer fight, offering a more portable design, but the Dell fights back with a bigger screen and more RAM for the price. If raw CPU power for coding is your only metric, the Dell is a compelling budget-conscious alternative to the premium crowd.

For $1,321, the sheer amount of RAM and storage you're getting is impressive. You'd pay a lot more for a similarly specced Dell XPS or ThinkPad. The value proposition is strong if you need a no-nonsense work machine and don't care about a premium display or gaming. It's a lot of computer for the money, plain and simple.

The Dell 16 Plus is a bit of an odd duck, and honestly, that's what makes it interesting. It's a big, comfortable 16-inch laptop with a solid Intel Ultra 9 chip and a ton of RAM, but it completely ignores the gaming crowd to focus purely on getting work done. The one thing to know is this: it's a developer's workhorse that's been given a touchscreen and a surprisingly capable AI engine, all wrapped in a package that won't break the bank.

We're looking at a machine that's been professionally upgraded by Velztorm, which explains the generous 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. It's not trying to be a MacBook Pro killer or a gaming beast. Instead, it carves out a niche for coders, data crunchers, and anyone who needs a big screen and serious multitasking muscle without a dedicated GPU sucking down battery life.

If you're looking for a machine that can pull double duty for gaming after work, this isn't it. Go get an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or a Lenovo Legion 5i instead. You'll sacrifice some RAM for the price, but you'll actually be able to run modern games at playable frame rates.

The Dell 16 Plus is a purpose-built tool that knows exactly what it is and isn't. It's a fantastic choice for developers and productivity users who want a big screen, a fast CPU, and tons of memory without paying for a dedicated GPU they'll never use. The weak display and non-existent gaming chops are the trade-offs. If you can live with those, this is an easy recommendation.