Dell 16 Plus DB16250 vs Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: Dell 16 Plus DB16250

Dell 16 Plus DB16250 takes 11 weighted points vs 3.3, winning on CPU Benchmark, Storage, Refresh Rate. Read our comprehensive Dell 16 Plus DB16250 review or see the full Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS review. The winner also sits in a more competitive value tier — a clear-cut call.

Winner

Dell 16 Plus DB16250

Intel Core Ultra 9 288V · Integrated (Intel iGPU)

Under $1500
4.1 (26)
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VS

Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS

Intel Ultra 7 165U vPro · Integrated (Intel iGPU)

Under $2000
4.5 (86)
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Use-Case Scores

Category16 Plus DB16250Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS
Gaming3.7/103/10
Productivity5.7/105.8/10
Programming6/105.6/10
Engineering / 3D4.6/104.1/10
Student5.6/105.9/10
Travel / Portability6.3/107.1/10
AI Workloads4.5/104/10
Value for Money6/104.5/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

Spec16 Plus DB16250Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS
CPUIntel Core Ultra 9 288VIntel Ultra 7 165U vPro
PassMark Score19,87616,974
CPU Cores4P+4E2P+10E
GPUIntegrated (Intel iGPU)Integrated (Intel iGPU)
G3DMark Score——
RAM32 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)No (soldered)
Storage2 TBSSD1 TBSSD
Display16″ IPS14″ IPS
Resolution2560x16001920x1200
Refresh Rate120 Hz60 Hz
Pixel Density189 PPI162 PPI
TouchscreenNoYes
Weight3.42 lbs2.4 lbs
Thickness0.67″0.59″
Amazon Rating4.1 ★ (26)4.5 ★ (86)
Value Score6/104.5/10

CPU Comparison

The Dell 16 Plus DB16250's Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is ~17% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (19,876 vs 16,974). Noticeable in sustained workloads, less so in everyday browsing. Read more in our in-depth 16 Plus DB16250 benchmark breakdown and Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS performance review.

GPU & Gaming

Neither carries a dedicated GPU — both fine for esports at low settings, neither for modern AAA gaming. For dedicated gaming silicon, check our best gaming laptops guide.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 5.7/10 vs 5.8/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but both share a similar power class, so expect comparable endurance.

Display

16 Plus DB16250: 16″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 120 Hz. Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS: 14″ IPS 1920x1200 @ 60 Hz. The Dell 16 Plus DB16250's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

16 Plus DB16250: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 2 TBSSD. Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD.

Build & Portability

3.42 lbs / 0.67″ vs 2.4 lbs / 0.59″. The Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS is 1.0 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 6.3 vs 7.1.

Value

Value scores land 6/10 vs 4.5/10. The Dell 16 Plus DB16250 extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the Dell 16 Plus DB16250 — it wins the weighted spec battle and costs less. You can read the detailed Dell 16 Plus DB16250 review or compare alternative models in our laptop comparison tool.

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Also Consider

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