Dell XPS 16 9640 Review
XPS 16 · 2025 · Released 2025-02-11 · Tested 2025-12-20 · Test Bench 1.2 · published
Dell XPS 16 9640
Dell XPS 16 9640
Dell XPS 16 9640
Dell XPS 16 9640
7.8/10
Overall · Test Bench 1.2
- Best for
- Video editing, photo editing
- Not ideal for
- Travel and budget buyers
- Tested config
- Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 32GB, 1000GB
- Current price
- $3,199
- MSRP
- $3,499
- Warranty
- 1-year limited (onsite available)
Where to buy (CAD)
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BestLaptop.ca Test Team
Reviewed and tested in-house · Updated 2025-12-20 · Test Bench 1.2
How we test →Featured in our rankings: Best Windows Laptops in Canada, Best Laptops for Video Editing in Canada, Best Laptops for Photo Editing in Canada, Best 16-Inch Laptops in Canada, Best Dell Laptops in Canada, Best Laptops for Engineering Students in Canada.
Quick Verdict
The XPS 16 9640 is a striking creator laptop with a superb 4K OLED display and strong performance. It is a strong choice for video and photo work, but it is expensive, port-limited, and battery life is only average.
Pros
- Stunning 4K OLED display
- Strong creative performance
- Premium build
- Large, comfortable screen
Cons
- Expensive
- Only USB-C ports
- Heavy for the class
- Divisive capacitive function row
Score Breakdown
Each sub-score is weighted to produce the overall score. How scoring works.
Use-Case Scores
How this laptop performs for specific needs. Each score weights our test categories differently.
School6.6
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits school use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Business7.6
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits business use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Gaming7.0
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits gaming use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Multimedia9.2
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits multimedia use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Workstation8.8
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits workstation use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Programming8.0
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits programming use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Travel6.2
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits travel use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Battery6.6
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits battery use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Value6.4
Measures how well the XPS 16 9640 suits value use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Design, Build & Portability
The XPS 16 9640 uses a aluminium / carbon fibre chassis, weighs 2.1 kg, and measures 358 x 240 x 19 mm. It earned a build score of 8.8 and a portability score of 6.4 in our testing.
Creators who want a colour-accurate big-screen Windows laptop.
Display
The 16.3-inch OLED panel runs at 3840 x 2400 (16:10) and 90Hz. We measured 408 nits of brightness, 100% sRGB and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and a colour accuracy of Delta E 0.9.
It has a touchscreen. See full display measurements →
Keyboard, Touchpad, Webcam & Speakers
The keyboard scored 7.8 in our typing tests. The webcam, speakers, and microphone feed the multimedia score of 9.2, which matters most for video calls and media.
Ports & Connectivity
Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4, microSD, 3.5mm audio. Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4. Connectivity earned a score of 6.0.
Performance, Gaming & Creative Work
With the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (60W), the XPS 16 9640 scored 8.6 for performance. It posted a Geekbench multi-core score of 13,400, a Cinebench multi-core score of 14,200, and averaged 78 FPS across our 1080p gaming suite. Our 4K video export test finished in 4.6 minutes.
SSD read/write speeds measured 6,700 / 5,100 MB/s.
Battery Life & Charging
In our fixed-brightness tests, the XPS 16 9640 lasted 9 hours of web browsing and 11 hours of video playback, earning a battery score of 6.6. It charged to 80% in about 56 minutes.
Thermals & Noise
Under sustained load we measured 46 dB of fan noise (25 dB at idle), a CPU temperature of 92°C, and a keyboard surface temperature of 44°C. Thermals and noise scored 7.4.
Software, Configuration & Upgradeability
It runs Windows 11. RAM (32GB LPDDR5x) is soldered and not upgradeable, so size up at purchase. Storage (1000GB PCIe 4.0 SSD) is user-replaceable.
Canadian Pricing & Availability
The XPS 16 9640 carries an MSRP of $3,499 and currently sells for around $3,199 in Canada. It makes the most sense when discounted.
Compared to Similar Laptops
| Laptop | Overall | Battery (web) | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell XPS 16 9640 | 7.8 | 9 h | 2.1 kg | $3,199 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | 8.4 | 11.8 h | 1.09 kg | $2,199 |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) | 8.5 | 18.4 h | 1.51 kg | $1,649 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) | 8.1 | 8.6 h | 1.5 kg | $2,699 |
Final Verdict
The XPS 16 9640 is a striking creator laptop with a superb 4K OLED display and strong performance. It is a strong choice for video and photo work, but it is expensive, port-limited, and battery life is only average.
Buy it if: Creators who want a colour-accurate big-screen Windows laptop. Skip it if: Buyers who need ports, portability, or value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dell XPS 16 9640 worth it?
The XPS 16 9640 is a striking creator laptop with a superb 4K OLED display and strong performance. It is a strong choice for video and photo work, but it is expensive, port-limited, and battery life is only average.
Who should buy the XPS 16 9640?
Creators who want a colour-accurate big-screen Windows laptop.
What is the battery life of the XPS 16 9640?
In our web browsing test at a fixed brightness, it lasted 9 hours; video playback lasted 11 hours.
How much does the XPS 16 9640 cost in Canada?
It currently starts around $3,199 in Canada, down from an MSRP of $3,499.
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