Dell 16 Plus 16" LDB16250-9555BLU-PUS Ice Blue

The Dell 16 Plus is a productivity-focused 16-inch laptop with a massive 2TB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. It's great for developers and multitaskers but held back by integrated graphics, a dim 300-nit display, and mediocre battery life. At $2,000, it's a solid choice for office work but not for gaming or creative workloads.

The Core Ultra 9 288V is a solid performer for everyday tasks. Our database puts the CPU at the 68th percentile, which means it's above average but not a chart-topper. For compiling code, running virtual machines, or juggling dozens of browser tabs, the 32GB of RAM does a lot of heavy lifting. That's a 93rd percentile spec, and it shows. You won't feel memory pressure in normal use.

The integrated Arc Graphics with 16GB of shared VRAM is where things get interesting. The GPU lands at the 66th percentile, which is respectable for integrated graphics but nowhere near what you'd get from a dedicated card. Light photo editing and casual games will run fine. Anything demanding, like modern AAA titles or 3D rendering, will struggle. The 2TB SSD is a standout, sitting at the 94th percentile. That's a ton of fast storage for a laptop in this class.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, the Dell 16 Plus loses on nearly every performance metric. The MacBook's display is brighter and more color-accurate, its GPU is in a different league, and battery life is dramatically better. But the Dell undercuts it on price and offers more storage out of the box.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is the more interesting comparison. It's smaller, lighter, and packs discrete graphics that crush the Dell's integrated Arc GPU. If you want to game or do creative work, the G14 is the obvious choice. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 is even more powerful but bulkier and pricier. For pure productivity, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a better display and longer battery life in a sleeker package. The Dell's main advantage is that 2TB SSD and the Core Ultra 9's AI capabilities.

At $2,000 USD, the Dell 16 Plus is asking for a lot of money. You're paying for the Core Ultra 9, the 2TB SSD, and the 32GB of RAM, all of which are genuinely impressive specs. But the 300-nit display and integrated graphics feel like compromises at this price point. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max costs more but delivers dramatically better performance and a far superior screen. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 offers discrete graphics for similar money. If you need raw productivity power and storage, this Dell makes sense. If you want a well-rounded premium laptop, there are better options.

The Dell 16 Plus sits in that interesting middle ground of premium laptops, the kind of machine that costs real money but isn't chasing gaming glory. At around $2,000 USD, you're getting an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a massive 2TB NVMe SSD. That's a serious productivity setup wrapped in an aluminum chassis with a 16-inch 16:10 display.

Dell is clearly aiming this at developers, students, and office workers who want AI-ready hardware without a discrete GPU. The Copilot+ branding and Windows Hello camera are front and center. And honestly, for spreadsheet wrangling, coding, and multitasking, this thing has the specs to keep up. But the integrated Intel Arc Graphics means it's not built for serious gaming or heavy creative workloads.

Is the Dell 16 Plus good for everyday productivity? Mostly yes. The 2.5K display gives you plenty of screen real estate, the keyboard is backlit, and the port selection covers the basics. Just don't expect it to replace a workstation or gaming laptop.

Skip the Dell 16 Plus if you're a gamer, video editor, or 3D artist. The integrated Arc Graphics simply can't keep up with discrete GPUs found in similarly priced laptops like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or HP OMEN Transcend 14. If you work outdoors or in bright rooms, the 300-nit display will frustrate you. And if battery life is a priority, the 60Wh capacity is underwhelming for a 16-inch machine. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro or Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max are better picks for those who need all-day endurance and a premium screen.

Should you buy the Dell 16 Plus? If you're a developer or office worker who needs massive storage, plenty of RAM, and a big screen for multitasking, this laptop delivers. The 2TB SSD alone is a huge selling point, and the Core Ultra 9 handles productivity workloads without breaking a sweat.

But if you want to game, edit video, or do any kind of 3D work, look elsewhere. The integrated graphics are a real limitation, and the 300-nit display feels cheap for a $2,000 machine. The battery life is also concerning given the 60Wh capacity. This is a niche machine for a specific kind of user, and it nails that niche. Everyone else should keep shopping.