The XPS 16 now weighs just 3.65 pounds (or 3.85 if you opt for the heavier LCD display), which is almost a full pound lighter than its predecessor (4.56 pounds). That's a massive drop and it makes this system closer in heft to a 15-inch MacBook Air (3.3 pounds) than a 16-inch MacBook Pro (4.7 pounds), despite the latter being XPS's usual rival.
Its new design makes it incredibly thin and light. And Intel's Panther Lake chips give it a ton of power, even when it comes to games. After reviving the XPS brand from last year's ignominious rebranding, it's as if Dell was laser-focused on fixing all the issues we've had with the XPS 14 so far.
Laptop cooling pads have been around for decades, and the idea has always been simple: provide extra air to blow through a laptop that's otherwise restricted by its own cooling system. In theory, more air means lower temperatures-and, ultimately, better performance. This is the whole idea of the power modes that exist in Windows, which ramp up the RPMs (rotations per minute) of the fans to add more air to both improve performance.
Business laptops are typically dull computers foisted on employees en masse. But higher-end enterprise workstation notebooks sometimes get an interesting enough blend of power and features to appeal to enthusiasts. HP's ZBook Ultra G1a is a nice example. It's easy to see it as another gray boring-book for spendy business types, until you notice a few key specs: an AMD Strix Halo APU, lots of RAM, an OLED display, and an adequate amount of speedy ports (Thunderbolt 4, even - a rarity on AMD laptops).
I've grown accustomed to being impressed by Geekom products. You might not know the name, but it has produced some pretty impressive small form factor desktops, many of which I've reviewed. Also: I converted this Windows 11 mini PC into a Linux workstation - and didn't regret it Now, the company has hopped into the laptop market, and I'm glad it did.
The 2.9-pound Prestige 14 Flip AI+ looks a little bit like everything: there's MacBook resemblance to be sure (what laptop on the market hasn't taken inspiration from Cupertino?) but you might also mistake it for a Lenovo Yoga, with the rounded edges and dual hinge design. The Flip 14 AI+ is the 2-in-1 convertible model, with a touchscreen OLED display and space for a stylus built into the bottom of the chassis that snaps firmly (!) in place.