Dell Latitude 16" 7650 BTX Review

The Dell Latitude 7650 BTX is a confusing laptop that doesn't know what it wants to be. It's got a business laptop's name and a developer's price tag, but its performance lands squarely in the middle of the pack. The one thing you need to know? For over $2300, you're paying a huge premium for 32GB of RAM and not much else.

The numbers tell a clear story. The Intel 165U CPU sits in the 40th percentile, which is fine for office work but a letdown for a machine marketed to developers. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are predictably weak, scoring a 50th percentile. That 17.7/100 gaming score is no joke. The only standout is the 32GB of RAM, which hits the 81st percentile. So it can handle a ton of browser tabs, but the processor might struggle to keep up with what's in them.

It's a terrible value. At $2371, you're being charged a 'business tax' for the Latitude name and that chunk of RAM. The core components—CPU, GPU, screen, storage—are all average or worse. You can get much better performance for this money.

Look at the Apple MacBook Pro 14" with an M4. For a similar price, you get a vastly better screen, a CPU that destroys the 165U, and incredible battery life. If you need Windows, the ASUS Zenbook Duo offers a revolutionary dual-screen design for creative work at a lower price. Even a Lenovo Legion gaming laptop would give you a far faster CPU, a dedicated GPU, and a high-refresh-rate screen for less money, though it would be heavier.

Skip it. The Dell Latitude 7650 BTX is a spec sheet in search of a purpose. It's too expensive and underpowered for serious developers, and its mediocre screen and battery make it a poor travel companion. Only consider this if your company is forcing you to buy a Dell Latitude and your IT department mandates 32GB of RAM. For everyone else, there are dramatically better options.