Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Dell ’s XPS 16is a brand - new machine , replacing the largerXPS 17 in size and conformation . What it gives up in possible performance , it tries to make up for witha silky ( and controversial ) invention . Meanwhile , HP update its expectant convertible 2 - in-1 , theSpectre x360 16 , with a smoothed - out appearing and updated constituent .
The XPS and Spectre line of business have reputations for firm builds and attractive aesthetic , but they ’re unlike automobile . One can be flipped around into tablet mood ; one can be configure with a fast GPU . As we look ahead to test these products ourselves , here ’s how the two compare .
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Specs and configurations
The Spectre x360 16 has a lower starting price of $ 1,600 ( on cut-rate sale for $ 1,250 ) , which includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , Intel Arc graphics , and a 16.0 - inch WQXGA+ ( 2560 x 1600 ) IPS display . Fully configured , the Spectre costs $ 2,330 ( $ 1,979 on cut-rate sale ) with 32 GB of RAM , a 2 TB SSD , an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU , and a 2.8 K OLED dialog box .
The XPS 16 is more expensive , starting at $ 1,699 for a Core Ultra 7 , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , Intel Arc nontextual matter , and a 16.3 - column inch FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) IPS display . With a Core Ultra 9 , 64 GB of RAM , a 4 TB SSD , an RTX 4070 , and a 4K+ ( 3840 x 2400 ) OLED display , the XPS 16 costs $ 4,249 .
The XPS 16 can be configured with a faster chipset , more memory and warehousing , a fast GPU , and a higher - res OLED display for a lot more money .
Design
The XPS 16 adopts the space - age intention of theXPS 13 Plus , which is now defunct as new 13 - inch and 14 - inch variants share the young pattern . The laptop computer search a portion like its predecessor , theXPS 17 , on the outside , with the same all - aluminum eyelid and chassis in silver and graphic color schemes and anodized chrome accents along the edge .
Open it up , though , and you ’ll find a keyboard with closely space keys , a row of LED function keys along the top , and a tactual touchpad that ’s veil on the all - glass medal relief . The keyboard and touchpad have receive a lot of warmth from onlookers since the announcement , disappointed that Dell has opted for the more divisive decision on its more “ Pro”-level laptop . Still , the ultra - modern appearance is augmented by the thinnest display bezel around — a trademark of the XPS steel .
The Spectre x360 16 contribution its predecessor ’s sleek innovation but has sharpness that have been sandpaper off into a fluid finish . It keep back the notch in the display and rearward soma , the latter housing a Thunderbolt 4 port and audio diddly-shit for added convenience . within , it ’s a more traditional design with a stock island keyboard and a large tactual touchpad . The all - aluminum build comes in Nightfall black , and while its side bezels are thin , its top and bottom bezels are large — the latter to fit the 2 - in-1 hinge that supports clamshell , tent , mass medium , and tablet modal value .
Both laptop are very well - build , with all - aluminum chassis that palpate solid in hand . The two devices are also like in width and profoundness , with the XPS 16 being slightly thin and the Spectre x360 16 being half a Irish pound light .
As mention , the XPS 16 has a keyboard with big keycaps that offer up no cardinal spacing , and you ’ll enjoy shallow but snappy and accurate switches even as you take some time to grow accustomed to the zero - wicket layout . The Spectre x360 16 ’s keyboard also offers big keycaps with bluff inscription and more key spatial arrangement and has light switches with a precise response that ’s comfortable for long typing sessions . render its more standard layout , the Spectre ’s keyboard is likely to please more the great unwashed .
The Spectre ’s large haptic touchpad is fantabulous in its reactivity and natural flavour , while the XPS 16 ’s hidden touchpad also works well ( with the haptics turn all the way up ) , and it ’s large enough that the hidden design works well . Overall , the Spectre ’s haptics are flying and more naturalistic , making for a better overall look . Many users will appreciate the Spectre ’s physical function key and seeable touchpad , and the Spectre also supports an active pen on its received contact keyboard . The XPS 16 ’s 4K+ display is touch - enabled .
Both laptops have in force haptic touchpads .
Connectivity is interracial , with the XPS 16 having an additional Thunderbolt 4 larboard and the Spectre offer HDMI and legacy USB - A ports . The XPS 16 has a microSD card referee , which is exchange from the XPS 17 ’s full - size South Dakota card reader , while the Spectre x360 16 drops an SD card reader altogether . Both laptops offer Wi - Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 , placing them on the cutting edge of wireless connectivity .
The Spectre x360 16 offers a 9 - megapixel webcam supporting up to 2160p video and hardware - attend low - lighter capabilities , compare to the XPS 16 ’s 1080p webcam . Both have infrared cameras supporting Windows 11 Hello facial recognition , and both have fingermark readers embedded in their power button . In addition , both patronise exploiter presence - smell technologies that can lock and put them to sleep when a exploiter leaves , wake them up , and log back in when a user recurrence .
To vary degrees , both laptops also practice the Neural Processing Unit ( NPU ) in the IntelMeteor Lakechipset for various AI functionality , such as videoconferencing enhancements , great power management , and more .
Performance
The Specture x360 16 uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H , a 28 - W CPU with 16 cores ( six Performance , eight Efficient , and two Low Power Efficient ) and 22 threads , running at up to 4.8GHz . The XPS 16 matches the Spectre while offer the Core Ultra 7 165H , which runs up to 5.0GHz , and the 45 - W Core Ultra 9 185H , which runs up to 5.1GHz .
Both laptop computer offer similar CPU functioning , although the Spectre is expect a BIOS update that will improve its public presentation . More important are the GPUs uncommitted with each machine . Both extend integrated Intel Arc graphics and the entry - degree Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 distinct GPU , but the XPS 16 has the RTX 4060 and RTX 4070 as options . That means it will allow significantly better performance in originative apps that can utilize the GPU and in gaming . The XPS 16 can also be configure with up to 64 GB of RAM , compare to the Spectre x360 16 ’s 32 GB maximum .
The faster GPU demo up most in the Cinebench R24 GPU trial and the Pugetbench Premier Pro benchmark that runs in a live adaptation of Adobe ’s Premiere Pro TV redaction covering . The GPU can be used to rush along up various tasks , and its impact is shown in importantly higher score for the XPS 16 .
Thus , the XPS 16 will be a better automobile for demanding creators and gamers , while both laptop will serve productiveness users and spiritualist consumer evenly well .
Display
The Spectre x360 16 has two presentation options , WQXGA+ ( 2560 x 1600 ) IPS and 2.8 KiB ( 2880 x 1800 ) OLED . Both run at up to 120Hz . The XPS 16 has optional FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) IPS and 4K+ ( 3840 x 2400 ) OLED , operate at 60Hz and 90Hz , respectively .
The Spectre ’s low - end exhibit has a gamey resoluteness , while its high - death display has a depleted resolution , providing mixed sharpness compared to the XPS 16 . We tested both OLED video display , and they both have the usual bright and accurate colour and bass contrast . We ca n’t prognosticate the performance of the IPS panels .
As a 2 - in-1 , both Spectres ’ exhibit option are pen- and touch - enabled , while the XPS 16 ’s 4K+ OLED exhibit is sense of touch - enabled .
Portability
Both laptops are great machines , with the Spectre x360 16 being considerably lighter . They ’ll both engross plenty of space in your backpack , but the Spectre will be sluttish to cart around .
The XPS 16 has a larger battery than the Spectre x360 16 while offering a more effective IPS panel and a more ability - thirsty OLED presentation . The Dell also utilizes more powerful CPUs at the high end . Battery life will , therefore , vary greatly based on each laptop computer ’s configuration . Neither is likely to get all - daytime battery life .
The Dell XPS 16 looks like the more popular laptop
The XPS 16 is a faster laptop with a mellow - solution OLED show choice , predict the best experience for creators and gamers . It ’s a more futuristic design , with some elements such as the LED function key fruit and hidden touchpad being less attractive to many exploiter . The Spectre x360 16 offer a convertible 2 - in-1 ’s tractableness and is n’t as tight , in particular given the XPS 16 ’s faster GPU option .
While the XPS 16 is more expensive , it ’s a more mainstream gadget that will appeal to more users . productiveness users and media consumers will appreciate the Spectre ’s more elastic excogitation .
