Dell XPS 16 9640 (2026)

Dell XPS 16 9640 (2026)

$2,199 8.6/10
The best laptop for creative professionals who prioritize display quality and portability over raw GPU power. The OLED panel is unmatched, but gamers and AI users should look elsewhere.

Pros

  • + Stunning 4K+ OLED display with 100% DCI-P3, best-in-class for color work
  • + Premium aluminum build feels more professional than any gaming laptop
  • + 4.7 lbs is light for a 16-inch with a dedicated GPU
  • + Near-silent under light workloads

Cons

  • No USB-A ports, dongle life required
  • RTX 4070 Laptop is last-gen and trails the 5070 Ti in gaming laptops
  • $2,199 is steep when gaming laptops offer more raw performance
  • Haptic touchpad is polarizing. Some love it, some miss physical clicks

Dell XPS 16 9640 (2026)

$2,199

via newegg

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Who Is This For?

The XPS 16 is built for creative professionals and power users who care most about display quality and build:

  • Photographers and video editors: the 4K+ OLED with 100% DCI-P3 is the best display you can get in a laptop
  • Designers and illustrators: touch display with pen support for Photoshop and Illustrator
  • Professionals who take laptops to meetings: the premium build makes a better impression than a gaming laptop

If you’re primarily gaming or need cutting-edge GPU performance, the Legion Pro 5i or Strix G16 are better values.

Creative Workload Performance

WorkloadXPS 16 9640Legion Pro 5i
Lightroom Classic export (100 RAW)2m 45s2m 10s
DaVinci Resolve 4K timelineSmoothSmooth
Premiere Pro 4K H.265 export (10 min)8m 30s6m 15s
Photoshop large canvas (8000x6000)SmoothSmooth

The RTX 4070 Laptop is capable but clearly a generation behind. For GPU-heavy exports, the gaming laptops are faster. For color-critical preview work, nothing touches this OLED.

Display

This is the main reason to buy this laptop. The 16.3-inch 4K+ (3840x2400) OLED panel delivers:

  • 100% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB coverage
  • True blacks and infinite contrast ratio
  • 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling
  • Touch + pen support

The Bottom Line

The XPS 16 is a specialist tool. If display accuracy is your top priority and you’re willing to trade some GPU performance for it, this is the best option available. Everyone else should save money and get a gaming laptop with better specs.

Dell XPS 16 9640 (2026)

$2,199

via newegg

Check Price →

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.