I’ve come to realise the Dell XPS 16 (2026) is like a swanky cocktail party—flashing lights, glamorous looks, but when you scratch the surface, you find it’s mostly hollow conversations and not enough chairs. Oh, it promises the world with its 16-inch OLED touch display—truly a sunset in your lap—and the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor is like that suave guest who can talk about anything. But then, a closer look and you notice the USB-C pasta only diet and the lack of a microSD card slot, leaving you longing for the good old days of connectivity.
Let’s be honest, the USB-C-only approach is more of an inconvenience than a revolution. It’s like inviting everyone to an exclusive party and telling them they can only enter if they’re wearing blue shirts—no exceptions. How many dongles shall we carry, Dell? I mean, I get that Apple does it and all, but do we really need to emulate that?
The numbers
- 16-inch OLED touch display
- Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor
- Up to 64GB LPDDR5X RAM
- Up to 2TB SSD storage
- USB-C-only port layout
- Improved keyboard and touchpad
- High-quality webcam
- Solid speakers
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s a stunning bit of kit—sleek, well-built, the sort of design that makes you want to stroke it absentmindedly like a Bond villain’s cat. But therein lies the rub; it’s like building a dream house with no bathroom. Sure, you can look at it all day, but at some point, you have basic needs.
The lack of a microSD card slot in a high-end device in 2026 is a bit like serving a four-course meal but forgetting to hand out forks. Sure, you can muddle through, maybe carve bits with your knife, but this isn’t a Renaissance fair, Dell.
In terms of competition, the Dell XPS 16 (2026) is up against the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch, the HP Spectre x360 16, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme. They’re formidable foes, and honestly, some bring their own cutlery to the table. When compared to something like a Venom BlackBook, with its actual port diversity and storage expandability that don’t require a sherpa to carry myriad adapters, it’s clear where the XPS 16 falls short in practical usability.
So, the verdict? If you’re all about those surface-level connections—eyeing that OLED screen like a revered piece of modern art—this might just be your thing. But if you’re lugging around peripherals and living outside the USB-C bubble, you might want to rethink your invite list.
Sources: tomshardware.com, techradar.com, tomsguide.com