Dell XPS 16 Laptop Based on Intel Panther Lake Sets Endurance Records

I didn't expect a 16-inch clamshell to sip power like a tablet, yet the 2026 Dell XPS 16 does. Moving to Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors (Panther Lake family) seems to have unlocked battery behavior you normally see on ARM slates.

According to NotebookCheck tests, a build with the Core Ultra 5 325 and an IPS panel (1920x1200) idled at just 1.5 W at minimum brightness. Most rivals draw several times that under the same conditions, so the difference is noticeable — and a little surprising.

On a web-surfing loop over Wi‑Fi at 150 nits, the unit lasted 26 hrs 38 mins. For 16‑inch Windows machines that NotebookCheck has measured, this is the longest run to date. Part of the trick is the new LCD with VRR: when the screen is static (reading, say), the refresh rate can fall to 1 Hz, which cuts display power heavily.

Notably, Dell reached these figures with a slightly smaller cell — 70 Wh — not a bigger battery. That implies the savings come from the silicon and panel behavior rather than simply more capacity. Intel has been talking up Panther Lake’s lower draw; these results line up with that claim, though real usage will of course vary. In side-by-side scenarios the XPS 16 can match or even beat some MacBook Pro machines on M4/M5 chips. Dell itself says the laptop can "live" up to 31 hrs on a single charge — take that manufacturer figure with the usual grain of salt, but it's an attention-grabber nonetheless.