Dell Inspiron 16 Plus review: premium price without the luxury

Looking for a powerful and affordable 16-inch laptop? The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus might be just what you need. With fast CPUs, discrete GPUs, and large displays, it’s perfect for creators who demand top-notch performance for photo editing and video editing. However, when it comes to design, it falls short compared to its premium competitors. In this review, we’ll explore the pros and cons of the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus and suggest alternative options that might better suit your needs. Don’t miss out on this comprehensive guide to finding the best laptop for your creative work.

Specs and configurations

Dell’s website offers limited configurations for the Inspiron 16 Plus, restricting RAM and storage options. Currently, the base model starts at $1,200 with a Core i7-13620H CPU, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, Intel UHD graphics, and a 16-inch 16:10 2.5K IPS display. For a maximum of $1,850, you can upgrade to a Core i7-13620H, 32GB RAM, a 2TB SSD, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, and the same display. Interestingly, my review unit costs $1,450 and features a Core i7-13700H, 32GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4060. Opt for a slightly faster CPU and half the storage to save $400. Choose the ideal configuration that suits your needs and budget.

The Inspiron 16 Plus competes directly with the HP Envy 16, priced at $1,735 for an identical configuration. While the HP model carries a higher price tag, it boasts several advantages that deserve careful consideration.

It’s important to note that when configuring the Inspiron 16 Plus, the choice of GPU impacts the RAM and its speed. Only the RTX 4060 has the capability to support up to 64GB of faster DDR5 RAM, although this option is not yet available for purchase.

A design that doesn’t fit the price

The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, although a solid midrange laptop, falls a bit short in terms of design. While it features an all-plastic chassis commonly found in laptops priced under $1,000, the expectation at this price point is for a more premium metal construction. The bottom chassis and keyboard deck of the Inspiron 16 Plus are adequately firm, but the lid lacks sturdiness and the display shows some distortion. In comparison, the slightly pricier HP Envy 16 offers a more rigid, all-metal build, providing a higher-quality feel. Additionally, the Envy 16 boasts a more attractive design.

In terms of dimensions, the Inspiron and Envy are nearly identical, with similarly sized display bezels. However, the plastic bezels on the Dell contribute to a relatively lower-end perception. One advantage of the plastic build of the Inspiron 16 Plus is its lighter weight, coming in at 4.54 pounds compared to the Envy 16’s 5.12 pounds.

After testing the Inspiron 16 Plus, I found the keyboard to be a bit loose for my liking. While it offers satisfactory key spacing and decent travel, I personally prefer the snappier keyboard of the HP Envy 16. It’s worth noting that the Inspiron’s keyboard falls short compared to Dell’s XPS machines and Apple’s MacBooks, which are industry-leading.

Although the touchpad could have been larger, it does offer a responsive experience with precise buttons that aren’t overly noisy. In terms of connectivity, the mix of Thunderbolt 4 and legacy ports provides good options. However, it would have been nice to see an additional Thunderbolt 4 port. It’s also worth mentioning that the RTX 4060 version comes with a miniSD card reader instead of the full-size reader found in the other models. As for wireless connectivity, it is up to date.

Overall, while the Inspiron 16 Plus has its shortcomings in the keyboard and touchpad departments, it offers decent connectivity options.

The webcam on this device operates at 1080p resolution, delivering high-quality video for seamless videoconferencing. While it doesn’t have an infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello facial recognition, the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button works perfectly. Additionally, a physical shutter is included for enhanced privacy. Experience excellent webcam performance and robust security features! Discover more about this webcam-equipped device now.

Competitive performance, unpredictable battery life

In my review of the Inspiron 16 Plus, I tested it with the powerful Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, boasting 14 cores and up to 5GHz clock speed. This CPU configuration is widely used in 16-inch laptops and delivers excellent performance. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 also performs admirably in creative applications.

When it comes to CPU-intensive benchmarks, the Inspiron 16 Plus performs exceptionally well, matching expectations across the board. The only exception was the Cinebench R23 benchmark, where it slightly trailed the Dell XPS 15 with the same chip. In the Pugetbench Premiere Pro benchmark, which utilizes the GPU for faster processing in Adobe’s Premiere Pro, the Inspiron 16 Plus lagged behind the Dell XPS 15 but remained competitive with the MSI Prestige 16 Studio. Comparatively, the HP Envy 16 outperformed the others, benefiting from a faster CPU in a more expensive configuration.

Overall, the Inspiron 16 Plus with its top-of-the-line components delivers impressive speed and performance, making it an excellent choice for demanding tasks and creative work.

The Inspiron 16 Plus delivers impressive gaming performance, coming close to the HP Envy 16. While the HP model boasts a faster CPU, the Dell’s performance in Civilization VI remains commendable. Additionally, the Inspiron 16 Plus outperforms the Dell XPS 15 with the RTX 4070, despite the underclocked GPU. With solid 1080p gaming capabilities, you can even push it to 1440p by adjusting the graphical settings. Experience optimal gaming with the Inspiron 16 Plus!

When it comes to laptops with large, high-resolution displays, fast CPUs, and discrete GPUs, great battery life isn’t typically expected. However, there are exceptions like the Dell XPS 15 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 that offer decent and long-lasting battery performance. On average, most devices in this class can make it to lunch before needing a recharge.

Assessing the battery life of the Inspiron 16 Plus was tricky. It lasted longer in our web-browsing test than in our video-looping test, which is uncommon. Unfortunately, it couldn’t complete the PCMark 10 Applications battery test, which is widely regarded as the best measure of productivity longevity. Based on the available numbers, I would say the battery life is just OK and it falls short of lasting a full day on a single charge.

The display’s not for creators, and there’s no better option

The Inspiron 16 Plus offers two display options: both 16.0 inches at a productivity-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio. The Full HD+ IPS panel at 60Hz is yet to be released, which may result in a lower price. However, my review unit came with the high-end display – a 2.5K IPS display running at a speedy 120Hz.

During my assessment with a colorimeter, I found that the Dell panel may not be as bright as the HP Envy 16’s display with the same specifications. Nevertheless, it does provide a significantly higher contrast ratio and slightly wider colors. Notably, both screens exhibit excellent color accuracy, close to DeltaE of 1.0, which means that color differences are imperceptible to the human eye.

In terms of productivity, the display on the Inspiron 16 Plus is very good. However, it may not meet the requirements of creators who demand wider color gamuts. Unfortunately, there are no better options available, unlike the Envy 16 which offers a 2.8K OLED display with the likelihood of extremely wide colors. Although this option may come at a higher cost, it is at least available.

The audio system of this device features a set of quad speakers, with two positioned above the keyboard and two located at the bottom of the chassis. At maximum volume, the sound is crisp and clear, delivering pleasant highs and mids, although lacking in bass. However, the main drawback is that the audio output is not very loud. While it suffices for occasional YouTube videos, for an optimal experience with streaming media and music, it is recommended to connect a high-quality pair of headphones.

A decent laptop that just falls short

The Inspiron 16 Plus laptop falls just short of being a recommended choice due to a few drawbacks. While it delivers good performance for most users, it lacks a display option that fully caters to the needs of demanding creators. Additionally, its pricing suggests a premium device, but it disappoints with a plastic build rather than a desirable metal chassis and lid typically expected in this price range ($1,500 or more).

For productivity users seeking a fast laptop, the Inspiron 16 Plus can be considered. However, there are several other 16-inch machines that offer similar options. One such alternative is the HP Envy 16, which boasts a comparable configuration and a more premium feel. In conclusion, unless the price of the Inspiron 16 Plus significantly decreases, it may be best to explore other options.