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| The Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 16S undercuts many 16-inch workstations on weight. |
Dell has officially started selling its new Pro Precision 5 Series 16S laptop, and it’s turning heads for all the right reasons – and one very notable wrong one. Joined by its smaller sibling, the 14S, which is rolling out globally alongside it, the 16-inch workstation weighs in at just 1.91 kg (4.21 lbs). That’s noticeably lighter than Apple’s current MacBook Pro 16, which tips the scales at 2.1 kg. In fact, Dell’s latest engineering marvel makes Apple’s heavyweight champ look positively portly.
But before you rush to place an order, there’s a catch: this sleek, mobile powerhouse comes without any dedicated graphics. Yes, you read that correctly. A Precision workstation aimed at professionals… with no discrete GPU. So what’s going on? And is this still the right machine for you? Let’s break it all down.
Lighter Than a MacBook Pro 16 – No Small Feat
Let’s start with what Dell is doing exceptionally well. The Pro Precision 5 Series 16S (full name: Dell Pro Precision PW516260) is a genuine breakthrough in mobile workstation portability. Historically, “workstation” and “lightweight” have been mutually exclusive. You either hauled around a 2.5 kg brick with a vapor chamber cooler and a power brick the size of a paperback, or you sacrificed performance for mobility.
Dell seems to have cracked that code. At 1.91 kg, the 16S is around 200 grams lighter than the MacBook Pro 16 – and that’s before you even consider Dell’s optional smaller power adapter. For context, the current MacBook Pro 16 with Apple’s M5 Pro chip (available on Amazon for $2,526 at the time of writing) has long been the gold standard for powerful, portable laptops. Dell just raised the bar.
Curious how Apple’s M5 Pro performs inside that 2.1 kg chassis? Check out our latest review of the MacBook Pro 16 (2026) with M5 Pro here.
But Dell’s weight advantage isn’t magic – it comes with a deliberate, and for some, deal-breaking trade-off.
The Elephant in the Room: No Dedicated Graphics
Here’s where things get interesting. The Pro Precision 5 Series 16S lacks any dedicated GPU – no NVIDIA RTX Ada, no AMD Radeon Pro, no Intel Arc discrete option. Instead, Dell has fully committed to integrated graphics. Depending on the processor you choose, you’ll get either:
- Intel Core Ultra X9 388H vPro with integrated Arc B390 graphics, or
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 470 with integrated Radeon 890M.
Now, to be fair, both the Arc B390 and Radeon 890M are no slouches as far as iGPUs go. The Radeon 890M, in particular, has shown impressive performance in early benchmarks, rivaling entry-level discrete mobile GPUs from just a couple of years ago. But let’s be real: this is not a machine for 3D rendering, CAD with large assemblies, machine learning training, or heavy video effects work.
What it is for: software development, data science, financial modeling, AI inferencing (thanks to the NPUs), multi-tasking across dozens of Chrome tabs, 4K video playback, and light to moderate photo editing. Think of it as a developer or analyst workstation rather than a creative pro’s rendering rig.
What You Do Get: User-Upgradeable LPCAMM2 RAM, Cellular, and PCIe Gen 5
Dell didn’t skimp everywhere. In fact, the 16S includes several forward-thinking features that even premium consumer laptops lack.
Click here to view the Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 16S on Dell’s official website for full configuration options and pricing.
First, memory: When you opt for Intel variants, you can configure the 16S with up to 64 GB of user-replaceable LPCAMM2 RAM. LPCAMM2 is the new modular memory standard that promises better performance than soldered LPDDR while still being physically replaceable – a huge win for longevity and IT fleet maintenance. (AMD configurations use different memory, but Dell hasn’t fully detailed whether they also support LPCAMM2.)
Second, connectivity: The 16S can be ordered with 4G or 5G cellular capabilities. For field engineers, consultants, or anyone who works away from reliable Wi-Fi, this is a killer feature that most laptops (including the MacBook Pro) still don’t offer.
Third, storage: PCIe Gen 5 SSD support is available. That means blistering read/write speeds – think 10,000+ MB/s – which makes a tangible difference when loading massive datasets or virtual machines.
Battery options include a 57 Wh or 70 Wh pack. Considering the efficient integrated graphics and modern processors, the larger battery should easily get you through a full workday.
The Display Trade-Off: Great Brightness, Disappointing Refresh Rate
If you were hoping for a high-refresh-rate OLED or mini-LED panel, temper your expectations. At launch, the Pro Precision 5 Series 16S is limited to 1200p or 1600p IPS displays. The good news: many configurations hit 500 nits peak brightness in SDR mode and cover 100% of the sRGB color space. That’s more than adequate for office work, coding, and even some color-critical tasks.
The bad news: all current panels are locked at 60 Hz. On a premium workstation priced north of $2,000, that feels like a miss. Scrolling through long documents or moving windows between virtual desktops won’t feel as fluid as on a 120 Hz or 90 Hz laptop. However, Dell has confirmed that a 120 Hz panel option should become available eventually – presumably later this year. If high refresh is important to you, it might be worth waiting.
Pricing and Availability: AMD Offers Better Value
Let’s talk money. The Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 16S is not a budget machine, but it undercuts the MacBook Pro 16 on price while offering more RAM upgradability and cellular options.
United States:
Intel configurations start at $2,415
AMD configurations start at $2,201AMD configurations start at $2,201
United Kingdom:
AMD models: £1,658
Intel models: roughly £100 more (~£1,758)Intel models: roughly £100 more (~£1,758)
Eurozone:
Starting price from €1,986
Intel options cost about €100 extraIntel options cost about €100 extra
So AMD is consistently the more affordable choice – and given that the Radeon 890M integrated graphics generally outperform Intel’s Arc B390 in gaming and GPU compute, the AMD version might be the smarter buy for most users.
Intel options cost about €100 extra
So AMD is consistently the more affordable choice – and given that the Radeon 890M integrated graphics generally outperform Intel’s Arc B390 in gaming and GPU compute, the AMD version might be the smarter buy for most users.
The smaller Pro Precision 5 Series 14S is also available globally, though Dell hasn’t published detailed pricing yet. Expect it to come in slightly under the 16S.
Who Is This Laptop For?
After spending time with the specs and positioning, it’s clear Dell is targeting a very specific professional: the mobile-first, CPU-bound power user who needs lots of RAM, fast storage, cellular connectivity, and portability – but doesn’t need a discrete GPU.
Think:
- Software engineers compiling large codebases
- Data scientists running notebooks and moderate inference
- Financial analysts with enormous Excel models
- IT professionals managing remote infrastructure
- Field engineers who need rugged-ish reliability and LTE/5G
Creative professionals, video editors, 3D artists, and gamers should look elsewhere – or wait for the inevitable Precision 7 Series with discrete graphics.
Final Verdict: A Niche Champ, Not a MacBook Killer
The Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 16S is a triumph of engineering in terms of weight-to-performance ratio. At 1.91 kg, it genuinely puts the MacBook Pro 16 to shame in portability while offering user-replaceable RAM, PCIe Gen 5 storage, and cellular connectivity – none of which Apple provides.
But the lack of discrete graphics and the 60 Hz screen will be deal-breakers for many. If your workflow doesn’t require a dGPU, however, this could be your dream machine: light, powerful, expandable, and connected anywhere.
You can configure yours now directly from Dell. For those still considering Apple’s offering, the MacBook Pro 16 with M5 Pro is available on Amazon for $2,526. But if you value upgradability and cellular over a high-refresh screen and GPU grunt, Dell’s new Precision is a breath of fresh – and surprisingly light – air.
Have you used a modern integrated-GPU workstation? Would you trade dedicated graphics for a lighter laptop? Let us know in the comments below.
Source : Dell Germany (1) (2), Dell UK (1) (2) & Dell US (1) (2)
