Dell Plus 16" 2.5K 2-in-1 Midnight Blue 2024 Review
Dell's Plus Copilot+ PC offers a stunning 16-inch touchscreen in a 2-in-1 design, but its integrated graphics fail to deliver the performance its premium price suggests.
The 30-Second Version
The Dell Plus Copilot+ PC is a premium 2-in-1 with a stunning 16-inch screen and great ports, but its integrated graphics are weak. It scored a dismal 19.6/100 for gaming. Only worth buying if you need a big touchscreen more than you need performance.
Overview
Dell's new Plus Copilot+ PC is a big, beautiful 2-in-1 that's all about that screen and AI features. It's a creative's laptop on paper, with a 16-inch 2.5K touchscreen that hits 630 nits and a 360-degree hinge for tablet mode.
But the specs tell a more nuanced story. You're getting Intel's latest Core Ultra 9 chip and 32GB of RAM, which sounds great. Yet, our database shows its CPU performance lands in the 63rd percentile, and its integrated Arc graphics are firmly in the middle of the pack. This isn't a raw power machine, it's a jack-of-all-trades.
Performance
Performance is a mixed bag. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V and 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM are plenty for heavy multitasking and creative apps like Photoshop or Lightroom. Our benchmarks put the CPU in the 63rd percentile, so it's solid but not class-leading. The real story is the GPU. The integrated Intel Arc 140V lands in the 62nd percentile, which is fine for video calls and light photo edits, but it's not built for serious 3D work or gaming. That 19.6/100 gaming score is no joke. The 90Hz, 630-nit display is the star here, making everything look fantastic.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The 16-inch 2.5K touchscreen is bright, sharp, and a joy to use. 98th
- 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD are generous for a machine at this price. 97th
- Port selection is excellent, with Thunderbolt, USB-A, and HDMI all present. 94th
- The 2-in-1 hinge adds genuine versatility for drawing or media consumption. 90th
Cons
- Integrated graphics are too weak for gaming or demanding creative work. 16th
- It's a heavy 2-in-1 at over 2kg. 29th
- Reliability scores in our database are worryingly low (26th percentile).
- Battery life is a big unknown, which is never a good sign.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 288V |
| Cores | 8 |
| Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Arc Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM | 16 GB |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 1000 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 16" |
| Resolution | 2560 (QHD) |
| Panel | Mini-LED |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Brightness | 630 nits |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| USB Ports | 2 |
| Thunderbolt | 1 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 2.0 kg / 4.5 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At $1600, the value proposition hinges entirely on how much you value that big, beautiful touchscreen and the 2-in-1 form factor. You're paying a premium for the display and hinge over a traditional clamshell laptop with similar CPU power. The 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD are great specs for the money, but the middling CPU and weak integrated graphics hold it back from being a true powerhouse. If the screen is your non-negotiable, it's a fair price. If raw performance per dollar is your goal, look elsewhere.
vs Competition
This Dell sits in a weird spot. It's not as powerful as a Lenovo Legion or MSI Vector for gaming and creative work. It's not as portable or battery-efficient as the ASUS ProArt PX13 or Microsoft Surface Laptop, which are also Copilot+ PCs. And it's not in the same performance universe as an Apple MacBook Pro with an M4 Max, though you do get a touchscreen and more ports. Its closest competitor might be the ASUS ProArt, which offers similar AI features but pairs them with a dedicated RTX 4050 GPU for actual creative work, albeit in a smaller package.
Common Questions
Q: Can this laptop run games?
Not really. With its integrated Intel Arc graphics, it scored only 19.6/100 in our gaming tests. It's fine for very old or casual games, but forget about modern titles.
Q: Is the battery life good?
Battery specs are unknown, which is a red flag. Given the large, bright screen and Intel chip, we wouldn't expect all-day endurance without a charger nearby.
Q: Is it good for video editing?
For simple 1080p edits, maybe. The 32GB RAM helps, but the weak integrated GPU will struggle with effects, rendering, and any 4K timeline. A laptop with a dedicated GPU is a better choice.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you're a gamer, a 3D artist, or a video editor. The integrated graphics are a hard stop for those tasks. Also, if you need to carry your laptop everywhere, its 2kg+ weight and low portability score (18th percentile) make it a chore. Look for a lighter clamshell or a machine with a real GPU.
Verdict
Buy this Dell Plus if you're a digital artist, note-taker, or media consumer who absolutely needs a large, high-quality touchscreen and tablet mode in a Windows machine. The AI features are a bonus for tinkerers. For everyone else—especially developers, gamers, or video editors who need GPU muscle—the compromises in graphics performance, portability, and unknown battery life are too significant. There are better, more focused tools for those jobs.