ZDNET’s key findings
- Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 It’s available now, and pricing varies significantly depending on configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB, 1TB configuration costs $1,399.
- It’s an incredibly well-rounded laptop that can switch tasks with ease and comes with a handful of different configurations to match its versatility.
- It’s a bit heavy.
He Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 (2024) This is an upper-midrange laptop for users looking for a large screen and respectable performance, but who want to stay comfortably under that $2,000 price tag. Versatility is the watchword here, with all-terrain power giving the Inspiron 16 a reputation for being an all-rounder and up to anything.
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Last year, my colleague Cesar Cadenas He got down to work with the Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 –the 2023 version of this laptop. This year’s version is a subtle continuation with improved hardware and more AI capabilities, but it’s comparable in performance.
The biggest upgrade is the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or Ultra 9 185H “Meteor Lake” processors, with clock speeds up to 4.8GHz and 5.1GHz, and an integrated NPU for AI tasks.
AI readiness is a general theme across all laptops released this year, and the Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 is no exception. Of course, this year’s version also features a dedicated Copilot key on its keyboard as part of Microsoft’s effort to integrate AI-related tasks into Windows.
Aside from the processors, though, not much else has changed. Both versions of the Inspiron 16 Plus come in a single “ice blue” color, Dell’s clamshell design with rounded edges, and the spacious keyboard.
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The starting weight of this laptop is 4.94 pounds, which definitely puts it on the heavier end of the spectrum, though acceptable for a 16-inch computer (though barely; I traveled with this machine for a week and can say that it wouldn’t be my first choice for a portable laptop).
This year’s Inspiron Plus 16 also has the same dedicated graphics card options as last year: the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 or 4060, with 6GB and 8GB of memory, respectively. The integrated Intel UHD or Arc GPUs that come with the lower-end configurations are fine for everyday users, but serious creators will want to take advantage of the performance boost possible with the Nvidia cards.
However, if we’re talking about creators, this laptop’s display might leave you wanting more. Last year’s version had a 2.5K (2560 x 1600 pixels) display resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate, which we found looked incredible with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060.
This year’s model features the same GPU, resolution, and 120GHz refresh rate. The 300 nits peak brightness is fine, but a brighter display with an OLED option would have been a nice addition for a mid-range creator-focused laptop. I guess that’s the appeal to opt for Dell XPS 16from its line of creator-focused laptops equipped with OLED.
If you want an OLED display, the XPS 16 starts at $2,199 with the same graphics card and processor. This suggests that Dell is targeting the Inspiron Plus 16 toward mid-range creators who work in video and photo editing, animation, or graphic design but don’t need the best hardware.
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Along those lines, Dell told me that this laptop, while capable of running games, isn’t designed to be a machine that’s primarily dedicated to gaming. I ran a few games on Steam with the GeForce 4060 and 16GB of RAM on my test unit, and it actually performed better than I thought it would. The average brightness is a limiting factor, though.
Similar to the use cases mentioned above, the Inspiron Plus 16’s gaming performance aligns with the profile of someone who isn’t an avid or serious gamer, but does like to play a bit from time to time.
The other drawback to this laptop’s gaming potential is the noisy fan that kicks in when the hardware starts to heat up. The degree to which it heats up in the first place also confirms the fact that it’s not particularly well-optimized for gaming, especially for long periods of time.
Another improvement over last year’s model is battery life. During my testsI got almost 12 hours on a single charge, which is pretty good given the balance struck between the display and the high-performance hardware. Basically, this is a laptop that will have no problem running for a full day and more.
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In addition to the configuration options, the Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 offers 16GB or 32GB of RAM and 512GB to 2TB of storage. It’s certainly nice to see a 2TB option, but if you opt for that configuration, the starting price will jump to $1,700, which is just $100 less than the new Dell. XPS 13 with the Snapdragon X Elite processor.
This is the paradox of all-purpose, do-it-all laptops: they can certainly do everything, but if you opt for the most optimized version possible, you end up paying quite a bit more than if you simply went for a machine optimized for that use case in the first place.
The Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 shines for what it is: a versatile laptop that isn’t the flashiest machine on the market, but is reliable and capable. I’m a particular fan of Dell laptops for their understated reliability, and this laptop fits that bill well.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 It’s a great choice for consumers who want a well-rounded laptop with plenty of storage and a respectable set of hardware that will last, but don’t need a specialized machine or require a top-tier display.
The combination of an Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 9 processor, your choice of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 or 4060 graphics card, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage creates a powerful set of hardware that’s more than adequate for the needs of the average consumer, as well as those who dabble in creative tasks.
If you like this laptop but don’t mind going for last year’s Inspiron 16 Plus (2023)It’s significantly discounted, starting at just $649, which is less than half of this year’s model I reviewed.