Dell XPS 16 (9640) vs Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300)
The Verdict
The Dell XPS 16 (9640) and Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300) sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300) is the cheaper of the two at $1,499 versus $1,899, a difference of about $400. The Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300) is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Dell XPS 16 (9640) stands out for premium cnc aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard, while Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300) is praised for fully modular: user-upgradable cpu, gpu, ram, storage, ports. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Dell XPS 16 (9640) if…
- →Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- →Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- →Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
Buy the Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300) if…
- →Fully modular: user-upgradable CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, ports
- →RTX 5070 GPU module available ($700, 100W TGP)
- →165Hz 2560x1600 G-SYNC display
Pros & Cons
Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Pros
- Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
- Large 99.5 Wh battery
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- No USB-A, HDMI, or SD card slot
- Capacitive touch function row is divisive
- Invisible haptic trackpad takes adjustment
- Heavy and runs hot under load
- Mediocre battery life with discrete GPU
Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300)
Pros
- Fully modular: user-upgradable CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, ports
- RTX 5070 GPU module available ($700, 100W TGP)
- 165Hz 2560x1600 G-SYNC display
- 240W USB-C charging
- Official Linux support
Cons
- 2.1 kg is heavy for a 16-inch laptop
- Base price $1499 before GPU module
- Modular design adds thickness (17.95mm)
- Battery life average for the class
Full Specifications
| Spec | Dell XPS 16 (9640) | Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 / Linux (officially supported) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.13 kg | 2.1 kg |
| Material | CNC aluminum and carbon fiber | CNC aluminum, modular expansion bays |
| Dimensions | 358.1 x 240.1 x 18.7 mm | 17.95 mm thick |
| Ports | ||
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 0 |
| USB-A ports | — | 0 |
| USB-C ports | — | 6 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 13 hours mixed use | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 99.5 Wh | 85 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.3 inches | 16.0 inches |
| Type | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch | IPS, G-SYNC |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 165Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | — |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | Up to 4 TB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x | Up to 64 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) | 12 cores / 24 threads |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12-core) |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Dell products or all Framework products. View full details for the Dell XPS 16 (9640) or the Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen AI 300).