Expert Score8.9
1 / 3
Dell•product
Dell XPS 16 (DA16260) 2026
16-inch Tandem OLED laptop with Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake), Intel Arc B390, 3200x2000 120Hz, and 1.63 kg weight
Expert Rating
8.9/10
Best Pricing & Availability
official
Check Price
In Stock
The Analysis
Quick Specs
Price$2,349
Weight1.63
Battery LifeUp to 15 hours mixed productivity use on the internal battery with 100W USB-C fast charging
Display Size16
Expert Review Summary
The Dell XPS 16 (DA16260) represents a return to form for the XPS line after the polarizing 2024 redesign. Powered by the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake, Series 3), it delivers class-leading CPU efficiency and AI-accelerated workloads in a chassis that weighs just 1.63 kg (3.6 lbs), nearly a full pound lighter than its predecessor. The 16-inch Tandem OLED display at 3200x2000 resolution with 120Hz refresh rate and 500-nit peak brightness is among the finest screens available on any Windows laptop, rendering color-graded video and high-resolution photography with exceptional fidelity.
Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics handle GPU-accelerated creative workflows including Adobe Premiere export and DaVinci Resolve with reasonable efficiency aided by Intel's XeSS upscaling and AV1 hardware encode. For heavier 3D rendering or gaming, the Creator Edition (DX16263) offers discrete NVIDIA GPU options. The reviewed DA16260 configuration ships with 32GB of LPDDR5X-9600 and a 1TB SSD, with 100W USB-C fast charging from the included adapter. Dell redesigned the keyboard for 2026, reverting to a conventional layout that addresses a primary criticism of the 9640 generation.
Creative professionals who prioritize display quality, build craftsmanship, and peak Panther Lake CPU performance over discrete GPU horsepower will find the XPS 16 (2026) a compelling choice. At $2,349 for the reviewed configuration, it competes directly against the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and delivers a premium Windows workstation experience for professionals unwilling to leave the Windows ecosystem.
Technical Specifications
Price$2,349
Weight1.63
Battery LifeUp to 15 hours mixed productivity use on the internal battery with 100W USB-C fast charging
Display Size16
Portability1630
Ram Capacity32
Build QualityCNC-machined aluminum chassis in Platinum, premium construction with revised flush-free keyboard deck versus the 9640 generation
ConnectivityWi-Fi 7 802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4, 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB4 40Gbps), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio
Storage Speed7000
Charging Speed0.1
Webcam Quality1080p IR webcam with Windows Hello facial recognition and temporal noise reduction
Cpu Performance20200
Display Quality16-inch Tandem OLED 3200x2000 120Hz touchscreen, 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits peak, HDR
Gpu PerformanceIntel Arc B390 integrated GPU, Battlemage architecture, Xe2 cores
Keyboard QualityRevised full-size backlit keyboard with conventional layout, 1.3mm key travel, large Precision glass touchpad
Operating SystemWindows 11 Pro
Storage Capacity1000
Security FeaturesWindows Hello fingerprint reader, IR facial recognition, Kensington lock slot, fTPM 2.0, Dell Optimizer software
Display Brightness500
Thermal ManagementRedesigned dual-fan vapor chamber sustains Panther Lake TDP efficiently; surface temperatures remain controlled under prolonged creative workloads
Display Refresh Rate120
Display Color Accuracy100
Processor PerformanceIntel Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake, Series 3) up to 5.1 GHz