The Dell 16 Premium (DA16250) is a stunningly designed desktop replacement laptop with considerable power potential, paired with a gorgeous 4K OLED display. However, it’s super pricey and falls short in a few key areas of usability.
Shoppers looking to the Dell Premium (formerly XPS) line for a high-end laptop won’t be disappointed, but several worthy alternatives have landed since Dell’s major rebrand, crashing its party. The Dell 16 Premium (starting at $1,499.99; $3,199.99 as tested in model DA16250) is a masterclass in big-screen laptop design. It’s as elegant as they come, containing a roaring engine with its Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics. Plus, with longer battery life than expected, considering its stunning 16.3-inch 4K OLED display, what’s not to like? For starters, the price for this silicon mix is steep for a mainstream-coded laptop, and its keyboard is less than amazing. The laptop comes up short on ports, too, for its size. While we’ve found plenty to enjoy with the Dell 16 Premium, it’s not quite enough to unseat the Editors‘ Choice award-winning Framework Laptop 16 from the desktop replacement throne, and it’s not prepared to go toe-to-toe with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, either.Configurations: A Wide Range of ‚Premium‘ Options
Dell wasn’t kidding when it labeled this line as „Premium.“ As tested, the Dell 16 Premium costs $3,199.99 (though seen, at times, discounted to $2,799.99) for an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (8GB) GPU, 32GB of memory, a 1TB solid-state drive, and a 16.3-inch 4K (3,840-by-2,400-pixel) 120Hz OLED touch-screen display. This is expensive for these specs, but you’re paying for its premium build in addition to that powerful hardware.
If you like the design but want to spend the least, you can opt for the $1,499.99 starter model. This configuration features an Intel Arc 140T integrated GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a non-touch 2K screen. Unfortunately, this configuration is also still not worth the parts list. The most decked-out model will cost you $3,749.99 for an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 4TB SSD.Design: Elegance Incarnate
This laptop really does scream premium. The Dell 16 Premium’s aluminum hood is painted a platinum color (also available in black), while its curved edges and hinge give off an elegance that says, “MacBook could never.” However, it’s a bit thicker, at 0.75 inch, than the 0.66-inch chassis on the 2024 Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch. Dell could also provide more color options beyond Platinum and Graphite (black).
The lower deck is where the Dell 16 Premium truly shines, resembling a spaceship computer. Between the flat, uniform keyboard and touchpad surface, the LED-lit function bar, and compact, tight speakers, you could easily place this laptop in a sci-fi film, and I’d buy it as future tech. The bezels on the display are remarkably thin, as well.
Dell’s design isn’t for everybody, so be aware that you’re paying a significant amount of money for a unique look and experience. I love how it looks, but maybe not how it feels. (I’ll get into that later.)Display and Audio: Stunning (for Better and Worse)
You cannot get me to look away from a shiny OLED display.you just can’t. The Dell 16 Premium lives up to its name, providing a stunning 16.3-inch OLED display that bursts with color and produces sufficient brightness to combat pesky glare.
With its 3,840-by-2,400-pixel resolution, I could make out all the minute details in the background set of the latest Critical Role episode. Its 120Hz refresh rate makes it smooth enough for effective midrange gaming and an overall smoother desktop experience. Watching movies or playing my favorite games is so satisfying with a screen this vivid.
