Living in Denial: My preference for smaller laptops
I’ve been living in denial. I’m about the size of a football player, and I’ve had bigger hands since I was in middle school. I’m more likely to be a linebacker than a wide receiver, but for some reason, I’ve always liked smaller laptops—I own a Chromebook and a MacBook that are almost dainty.
First impressions: Switching to the Dell XPS 16
Recently, I tried the Dell XPS 16 and was pleasantly surprised by how fast I could type on this machine and how the bigger, more colorful screen made it easier to watch movies, inspect Excel spreadsheets, and browse the web. While I will admit I seem to be able to type faster on my MacBook 14-inch model, I broke away from my norm for several weeks with the Dell XPS 16 and started to appreciate the bigger size.
Enhanced media experience with Dell XPS 16
It all started with a movie. I’m lazy about the apps I install after writing product reviews since 2001. If I don’t need to install the app, I skip it and get around to it eventually. But I did decide to install the Netflix app for Windows and used it for a few recent movies. I watched the first Rebel Moon and felt the sound and visual quality made up for the complete lack of story and character development.
Gaming on the Dell XPS 16
I’m not into gaming as much as I used to be, but I also found that Starfield looked amazing on this laptop and ran smoothly, despite my reservations. (Modern computer gaming has progressed to the point where the game tends to adjust and compensate for the laptop or desktop you are using to some extent.)
Display and audio quality
It’s remarkable how much the screen extends to the edges of the display—Dell has been perfecting that for ages, but for my movie-watching experience, it meant the XPS felt like I had a portable television with me. I cranked up the sound and was amazed at how clear it all sounded. That might actually have something to do with my soundbar at home, which doesn’t seem the best at replicating voices but does have a nice sonic boom. I kept realizing I could hear the dialogue on the XPS and didn’t need subtitles.
Key features and specifications
I will skip all of the specifications for the machine I tested, which you can readily find at this link, but suffice it to say, this is a powerful laptop meant for both business and creative work. It’s not exactly a “spreadsheets-only” laptop. Still, there are a few important call-outs:
- Intel Core Ultra chipset supports efficient AI processing.
- The display easily supports HDR color processing.
- The onboard Wi-Fi 7 chipset is cutting-edge.
- The display has an ambient light sensor that adjusts lighting automatically.
Microsoft Copilot button and webcam quality
My favorite more subtle feature is that the Dell XPS 16 has a dedicated Microsoft Copilot button. We’re living in the era of AI, so I’m guessing we’ll all start using this button more often. The webcam on this laptop supports HD-quality video, so Zoom calls will look crisp and clear.
Conclusion: Embracing the Dell XPS 16
I could digress further into some of the other features and specs, but to cut to the chase—I warmed up to the bigger size even when I thought I would not. That’s saying something special for me because I tend to grab my MacBook 14 more than anything these days. Movies, games, and spreadsheets all looked stunning on the Dell XPS 16.
It will be hard to send back to Dell for sure. Maybe just watch one more movie?
Related Articles
- I’ve tested every laptop under the sun and this Dell XPS model shines brightest (literally)
- I tested Starfield on a Dell XPS 8960 desktop and here’s my big discovery
- Is the Alienware 51M gaming laptop overpriced or just right?
External Resources