This Shouldn’t Be Dell’s Best Laptop - Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
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Promos
Check out the budget-conscious MotionGrey Ergo2 Sit-to-Stand Desk and use code LINUS to get 10% off at motiongrey.com Dell, Dell, Dell... Alex used to fawn over you. Every XPS seemed to be better than the last and whenever someone wanted to buy a new laptop, it was such an easy recommendation. Then they started making odd design choices and raising prices until we had to put our foot down and say "The XPS is dead." Luckily, they have their new Inspiron 16, which puts upgradeability first! With decent specs and a great keyboard but some intense heat, can Dell get back on track? Buy a Dell Inspiron 16 Plus: geni.us Canada: lmg.gg Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Want us to unbox something? Make a suggestion at lmg.gg ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► PRODUCTS WE USE ON THE SHORTCIRCUIT SET: lmg.gg FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Instagram: @shortcircuityt TikTok: @linustech Facebook: @ShortCircuitYT CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 You good, bro? 0:32 Unboxing and IO 1:46 Givin it a touch 2:26 Sponsor - MotionGrey 2:58 Weight and display impressions/LABS results 4:55 Specs 5:59 Keyboard and trackpad 6:39 Gaming impressions and extreme heat levels 7:50 Speaker and webcam impressions 9:09 Teardown and battery life 11:16 Overall thoughts 11:50 Outro
The video presents a hands-on evaluation of the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, framed as a contrast to Dell's previous XPS designs. The host begins with packaging and IO, noting that the Inspiron 16 Plus keeps a broad set of ports including USB Type-A, USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, a microSD slot, and a combo audio jack, while also acknowledging a surprising presence of a barrel jack on the power brick. The build quality is described as solid and tactile, with rounded edges and a comfortable touch, though the trackpad is criticized for its size and the bezels rely on a plastic, not Gorilla Glass, construction. A key early point is that this model aims to be upgradeable and user-serviceable, which the host views positively in the context of a 2024 laptop, including accessible RAM, PCIe storage, and a replaceable Wi-Fi card. The reviewer teases a sponsored segment briefly and then returns to the device, detailing the display options and brightness performance, acknowledging that while the panel is not top-tier in spec, it remains adequate for its price point and general editing tasks when used in the correct color profile. The core hardware section reveals an Intel Core Ultra processor with 16 total cores and a turbo up to 4.8 GHz, 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, and optional Nvidia RTX 4060 with 60W of power delivery, highlighting that thermal limits temper gaming performance. Overall, the keyboard earns high marks for feel and travel, while the trackpad is more average, and despite some thermal concerns, the design supports meaningful upgradability and future-proofing. The host concludes that this laptop isn’t aimed at hardcore gaming or pro-grade editing, but it provides a compelling balance of decent performance, strong upgradeability, and a practical feature set for a long-term workhorse, concluding with an upbeat message to viewers.
Topics · technology · hardware · laptops · computers · review
Questions answered
- What are the main upgradeable components in the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus?
- The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus offers upgradeable RAM, an additional second SSD slot, and the option to replace the Wi-Fi card, allowing for memory and storage upgrades as well as potential network enhancements.
- How does the display perform relative to expectations?
- The display is not top-tier but remains adequate for the price, with 326 nits peak brightness and a color profile that favors sRGB. It lacks a touchscreen and some may find the brightness and graininess under load suboptimal for professional photo or video work.
- Is the laptop suitable for hardcore gaming or professional editing?
- No, the device is not aimed at hardcore gaming or professional editing. It offers decent general performance and good upgradeability, suitable for casual gaming and casual to moderate workloads, but may struggle with sustained high-end tasks without thermal throttling.