Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Review (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Arc Graphics)

From using Dell‘s Dimension series CPU in childhood to using Dell’s other series of laptops and CPU in different stages of life, Dell always remained a good and memorable part of life to many of its users. Currently, the company provides different lineups in XPS series, Latitude series, G-series, Alienware and many more, each serving various consumers (from the business segment to the gaming segment).

The laptop we are going to review is the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640. At the end of last year, the company updated its Inspiron series with the latest Intel Core Ultra CPUs, so why not review this model? We also reviewed the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440, powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and comes with a 14-inch display, as indicated by its naming. The naming of Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 also represents the notebook display size, i.e., 16 inches. Before starting the review, we expect the same kind of output as we saw in the Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 case because only the display size and dimensions are different; otherwise, most of the internal components are the same.

The variant of Inspiron 16 Plus we are reviewing is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and comes with the integrated Intel Arc GPU. In addition to this, the laptop features a 16-inch WVA display (as mentioned before), 32GB LPDDR5x RAM, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and a 64WHr battery. Let’s review this laptop and determine how different it is from the Inspiron 14 Plus model.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Specifications

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Body Design and Appearance

In terms of appearance, you would find no significant difference between both models, Inspiron 14 Plus and Inspiron 16 Plus, except for the body’s size. The notebook has the following dimensions: 356.8*250.6*16.7mm and weighs 1.90kg. The model with NVIDIA GPU has higher dimensions. Dell’s Inspiron series mainly targets the business segment, so we decided to review the variant without discrete graphics memory.

The laptop comes in only one color, i.e., Ice Blue, just like we have seen in Inspiron 14 Plus. This ice-blue color is a mixture of silver and blue. In terms of design, the laptop provides a high-end feel visually and has a simple, classic design. On the display shell, we have the same Dell logo that the company has used in its Inspiron series for a long time.

The entire laptop is made up of aluminum alloy, and the surface has a matte finish, which feels relatively smooth on the touch, also maintaining the high-end feel of the metal body of the notebook. The advantage of using the matte finish is that it is also fingerprint resistant, and as you know, the summer is just about to come, so the user wouldn’t be required to worry about the surface’s fingerprints.

When it comes to portability, the laptop offers a comfortable grip and feel when handling it. Its rounded corners and slightly curved keyboard edges are designed to fit snugly in your hand, providing an exceptional tactile experience.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Display

Before discussing the display in-depth, it is worth mentioning that this model comes in two display options: one with 2.5K and the second with Full-HD+ resolution. The model we are reviewing has a 2.5K resolution display, a 16-inch anti-glare WVA (Wide-Viewing angle) display with an aspect ratio of 16:10, and supports 120Hz refresh rate and 300nits brightness.

As per the official claim, the display covers 100% sRGB color gamut and is also certified by DolbyVision. In actual usage, the display feels very clear, and with the 16:10 aspect ratio, it can satisfy both work and entertainment, making it relatively comprehensive.

Furthermore, the screen features Dell ComfortView Plus, a triple eye-protection technology incorporating hardware-level anti-blue light, DC dimming, and anti-glare properties. The hardware-level anti-blue light function safeguards your eyes without compromising the natural color balance of the display. Additionally, it has obtained the TÜV Rheinland hardware-level anti-blue light certification, underscoring its effectiveness in eye protection.

We also did the display’s benchmark testing using Spyder X, including its color gamut testing, brightness testing, and color accuracy testing. In color gamut testing, we found that the display covers 99.6% sRGB, 69.9% AdobeRGB, and 75.1% DCI-P3 color gamut. In brightness testing, the peak brightness was 325nits (25nits higher than the official claim), and in the color accuracy test, the measured average Delta E value was 1.27, while the highest value was 2.25. The overall results of the display test are pretty impressive.

In the top bezel, we have an integrated widescreen Full-HD (1080p) webcam with a digital dual microphone array and temporal noise reduction. For further protection, the officials have also provided a webcam shutter that allows you to block the camera view when it is not in use.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Keyboard and TouchPad

The keyboard surface feels quite large, but still, the manufacturer didn’t add the NumericPad in this keyboard, which is considered beneficial in business-segment notebooks. The notebook features the Ice-Blue colored English International AI Backlit-Supported keyboard, which echoes the notebook’s color.

In general, there’s ample space on both the left and right sides of the keyboard. During our usage, we observed that typing felt comfortable overall. While the key travel isn’t extensive, keys rebound nicely to the touch without requiring excessive force. The keypress noise is relatively minimal. Additionally, the keyboard boasts white backlighting, and the characters on the keycaps are translucent, enhancing practicality.

Also Read: MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V Review

Under the keyboard, we have a small-sized touchpad. The touchpad surface uses Mylar material, a polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The tactile experience of sliding fingers and clicking the buttons was satisfying. Furthermore, the touch response is notably swift. When combined with gesture operations, the overall experience is excellent.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Ports

The term “port” matters a lot in business segment notebooks. In the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640, we have a total of seven ports. Starting from the left side, we have the charging port, an HDMI 1.4 port, a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A port, and a Thunderbolt 4.0 port (which supports DP and PD Charging). On the left side, we have a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an SD Card slot.

Dell has provided all the ports an office user would require daily. However, if you still think it isn’t enough, you can use a Thunderbolt 4 USB dock, which supports high-speed file transfers. It is worth mentioning that the specifications of ports are different in both integrated GPU and discrete GPU variants. The one with Discrete Graphics Memory has a MicroSD card slot and HDMI 2.1 port. Moreover, that variant has heat ventilation ports on both sides.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Battery and Charging

In terms of battery, the laptop comes with a 4-cell 64WHr battery module, the same one used in Inspiron 14 Plus. Strangely, Dell has provided a 4-cell 90WHr battery cell option.

In addition to this, the company has also provided a 90W AC Adaptor for charging. As per the official claim, this charger can charge 80% of the battery in just 60 minutes. If you are low on battery during work, you can charge more than half of the battery during the lunch break. In other regions, Dell is shipping chargers with different wattages.

We used the PCMark 10 Modern Office test to test the battery’s timing. Before testing, the power mode was switched to energy efficient, and the screen brightness was at 46% (150nits). On these settings, we got a battery life of 13 hours and 12 minutes, which seems pretty enough to use a laptop without plugging the charger during office hours.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: RAM and SSD

In terms of memory, Dell has provided two options for this laptop: one with DDR5 RAM support and the other with LPDDR5x RAM support. Suppose you are buying NVIDIA GPU equipped variant (for gaming purposes). In that case, we recommend you to go with DDR5 RAM variant, because it would allow you to upgrade memory capacity in future (up to 64 Gigs). In contrast, in the LPDDR5x RAM variant, the RAM is soldered on the motherboard and there is no option for upgrading RAM.

The model under review comes with 32GB Dual-Channel (2x 16GB RAM modules) LPDDR5x RAM, boasting a frequency of 6400MHz. It’s important to note that this RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, meaning it cannot be upgraded. However, for those with lower memory requirements, the company offers a 16GB LPDDR5x RAM option as an alternative.

To test the RAM, we used the AIDA64 Cache and Memory Benchmark test. On completion of the test, we got the following results: 71,852MB/s Read Speed, 73,112MB/s Write Speed, and 80,332MB/s Copy Speed, while the latency rate was 157.6ns. The entire benchmark results are pretty similar to Inspiron 14 Plus’ RAM benchmark results.

Regarding storage, the company has provided two SSD slots in its Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 model. The model we are reviewing is equipped with a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD. The same model is also available in a 2TB storage option. Here, the advantage of having two SSD slots is that you would only be required to buy another SSD to upgrade the RAM capacity instead of replacing the current SSD.

For doing the SSD’s benchmark, we used the CrystalDiskMark application and got the following results: 6,157.01MB/s Sequential Read, 4,787.99MB/s Sequential Write, 88.99MB/s Random 4K Read and 263.11MB/s Random 4K Write Speed. The benchmark scores are even higher than Inspiron 14 Plus.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: CPU and its Benchmark

Dell upgraded its Inspiron lineup with Intel Ultra Core series chipsets at the end of 2023. The Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 global variant is available in two CPU options: Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9. Our model is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU.

Regarding specifications, this CPU is based on Intel 4 Process technology and consists of 16 cores and 22 threads. In addition, the CPU also features a 24MB L3 Intel Smart Cache for faster processing. If we talk more about cores, these 16 cores include 6x P-Cores, 8x E-Cores, and 2x LP E-Cores. The new Core Ultra series CPUs use the Low Power E-Cores, which operate at a significantly lower frequency (700MHz base and 2.5GHz Max) and reduce CPU power consumption. Following is the benchmark result of the CPU:

Cinebench R23: 1,779pts on Single-Core and 16,396pts on Multi-Core

We also compared this benchmark result with other Intel Core Ultra 7 powered business-segment laptops.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Integrated GPU and its Benchmark

The Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 is also available in NVIDIA’s GPU options. However, we decided to review the variant with integrated Intel Arc GPU because the primary purpose of this laptop is to serve consumers in the business segment, and the discrete graphics memory isn’t their requirement.

In terms of specifications, the Intel Arc GPU has 8 Xe cores. The maximum operating frequency is 2250MHz. The GPU also supports AV1 codec and multiple artificial intelligence software frameworks. Following are the benchmark results of GPU:

3DMark Time Spy: 3,855 Total Score including 3,471 GPU Score

3DMark Fire Strike: 8,626 Total Score including 9,402 GPU Score

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640: Heat Dissipation and Stress Testing

A notebook with a mobile GPU would have more power release, requiring a better heat dissipation system. This is why Dell has provided heat ventilation ports in the NVIDIA GPUs equipped variant of Inspiron 16 Plus while not in the integrated GPU variant. The expected power release in the Intel Arc GPU variant is lower than the NVIDIA RTX GPU variant, so there is less area for heat ventilation in this notebook. Inside the notebook is a single cooling fan and dual heat pipe.

Also Read: MSI Crosshair 16 HX D14V Review

For stress testing on the CPU, we used the AIDA64 FPU Test. After 5 minutes of testing, the CPU’s power consumption was at 55W while the temperature was at 68°C. While testing, the CPU’s peak power consumption was 80W with a temperature of 93°C.

Summary:

The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and integrated Intel Arc GPU, offers a robust set of features tailored for business users. Its design echoes simplicity and elegance, with an aluminum alloy body finished in Ice Blue. The 16-inch WVA display, available in 2.5K resolution, provides vivid visuals with excellent color accuracy and eye protection features like Dell ComfortView Plus. Typing on the Ice-Blue backlit keyboard feels comfortable, with ample space and minimal keypress noise. The touchpad is responsive and supports smooth gesture operations. Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 4, USB ports, HDMI, and an SD card slot, catering to various business needs.

Battery life is impressive, lasting over 13 hours on moderate usage, and the 64WHr battery coupled with a 90W AC adapter ensures quick charging capability. Memory options include LPDDR5x RAM soldered onto the motherboard, with configurations up to 32GB. The dual SSD slots allow for easy storage expansion, with speeds surpassing 6GB/s in sequential read.

Performance-wise, the Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU delivers robust processing power, as demonstrated in benchmarks like Cinebench R23. The integrated Intel Arc GPU provides decent graphics performance that is suitable for business tasks and light entertainment. Heat dissipation is managed efficiently with a single cooling fan and dual heat pipes, ensuring optimal performance under stress. Overall, the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 offers a compelling package for professionals seeking a balance of performance, portability, and reliability in their computing devices. The variant we have reviewed is priced at $1,199. If you want more robust performance, opt for the RTX GPU equipped variant, which would cost more.