Dell Pro Max 16/18 Plus (2025 model) pre-release discussion

[Aaron44126]

Starting a new thread with the "proper name", since Dell has made an announcement.

 

 

Spec sheets.

 

18: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/workstations/technical-support/dell-pro-max-18-plus-laptop-spec-sheet.pdf

16: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/workstations/technical-support/dell-pro-max-16-plus-laptop-spec-sheet.pdf

 

More soon, as I drudge it up.

 

[Edit] Disappointed that the specs are presented in "paragraph form" rather than as an actual list!

 

55W Intel Core Ultra CPU (no specific model given)

NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell GPU (24GB VRAM)

Memory support up to 256GB (CAMM) or 96GB (SODIMM)

It says 16TB storage which would be 4×4TB, assuming it really still has 4 NVMe slots, you could probably install 4×8TB yourself.

(16" model only has 12TB of storage listed on the spec sheet.)

The 18" display only supports up to QHD resolution and says nothing about refresh rate, so assuming 60 Hz. 500 nits. It doesn't say what type of panel it is, either, so I think it would be fair to assume that it is not OLED.

16" supports up to UHD and 120 Hz (tandem OLED).

2.5 gigabit Ethernet (finally)

Wi-Fi 7

Bluetooth 5.4

280W USB-C power adapter (...first time Dell has bumped up the power adapter in like 15 years? It's been 240W for a looong time.)

96Whr battery

6.9 lbs (18")

 

[Edit 2] Caught wind of this from Neowin.

https://www.neowin.net/news/dell-pro-max-plus-is-its-most-powerful-laptop-to-help-you-get-cloud-ai-performance-at-home/

 

They are noting that the systems will include (an option for) a "Qualcomm AI 100 Inference Card", allowing large LLMs to be run locally (without relying solely on the CPU/GPU).

 

This thing looks to take up some notable physical space. Maybe it fits in place of the GPU? Can't have both a discrete GPU and NPU?

 

There are renders of both sides of the system, confirming the port layout. Basically what we already knew from the leaks before.

 

Left side, front-to-back: SmartCard, SD card, USB-C ×2, HDMI, Ethernet

Right side, front-to-back: 3.5mm audio, USB-C, USB-A ×2, lock port

(No barrel connector in sight. USB-C power only.)

The spec sheet says that Thunderbolt 5 is supported, but it is not clear if that is on every one of the USB-C ports.

 

Availability: "Later in the year". No price yet.

 

[Edit 3]

Other articles.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-s-new-Pro-Max-Plus-workstations-get-serious-AI-muscle-with-Qualcomm-NPU.1019429.0.html

https://www.pcmag.com/news/dell-ditches-the-gpu-for-an-ai-chip-in-this-bold-new-workstation-laptop

[ceasar2k6]

Sucks that it only has 2 USB-A since I have wireless headset/mouse occupying both and 3rd would be nice for usb flash drive swappage, for example. Also sucks that no back power connector as they had for a long time, which I always preferred as well.

 

 

[SACbomber]

Briefly used a Precision 7560 before. Hope the new "Precisions" have better thermal/power options other than selecting "Cool" or "Ultimate performance" in the BIOS. 280 W power adapter doesn't bode well for total system performance, however. A few gaming laptops have the CPU + GPU alone pulling that number.

[iieeann]

Hmm... Looks interesting, but i don't think is a worthy upgrade from 7780 yet.  280W power is a good upgrade, i will need to replace my 14 units of 240W bricks if i buy this 😔...

 

New TB5 dock station should be coming along. 

[addabis]

Good to know. This frees me to explore other manufacturers, because my WD19DC docks and power bricks are now likely throw-aways.

 

Is there any 3rd party manufacturer selling CAMM modules (that Pro Max Plus will have)? I know that Crucial "offers" LPCAMM2 64 GB, but does it have a chance to be compatible? I'd expect yes.

[Aaron44126]

I think CAMM and LPCAMM are not going to be cross-compatible. Similar to DDR5 vs. LPDDR5 — though LPDDR5 was never "swappable", offered in soldered-on-the-board form only, and the CAMM version "fixes" that.

 

With a quick search, I can't find CAMM2 modules for sale individually, but I think we'll start seeing them pretty soon. I just saw an article about them showing up on desktop motherboards.

https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/will-2025-be-the-year-that-camm2-memory-finally-makes-a-proper-entrance-rambus-and-team-group-believe-it-is/

[addabis]

6 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

I think CAMM and LPCAMM are not going to be cross-compatible. Similar to DDR5 vs. LPDDR5 — though LPDDR5 was never "swappable", offered in soldered-on-the-board form only, and the CAMM version "fixes" that.

 

With a quick search, I can't find CAMM2 modules for sale individually, but I think we'll start seeing them pretty soon. I just saw an article about them showing up on desktop motherboards.

https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/will-2025-be-the-year-that-camm2-memory-finally-makes-a-proper-entrance-rambus-and-team-group-believe-it-is/

 

Ah, that completely eluded me - I thought CAMM2 is a single form-factor.

 

Hopefully it does come. I'm not really willing to pay $1500 or so for a 128 GB module (even though it's probably going down with the new gen) while the new HP Fury G1i will support 4x48 GB SODIMMs, which I can user-upgrade to for less than $400 total.

[TunaDog]

On 5/19/2025 at 10:18 AM, Aaron44126 said:

 

[Edit 2] Caught wind of this from Neowin.

https://www.neowin.net/news/dell-pro-max-plus-is-its-most-powerful-laptop-to-help-you-get-cloud-ai-performance-at-home/

 

They are noting that the systems will include (an option for) a "Qualcomm AI 100 Inference Card", allowing large LLMs to be run locally (without relying solely on the CPU/GPU).

 

This thing looks to take up some notable physical space. Maybe it fits in place of the GPU? Can't have both a discrete GPU and NPU?

 

[snip]

 

[Edit 3]

Other articles.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-s-new-Pro-Max-Plus-workstations-get-serious-AI-muscle-with-Qualcomm-NPU.1019429.0.html

https://www.pcmag.com/news/dell-ditches-the-gpu-for-an-ai-chip-in-this-bold-new-workstation-laptop

 

The article you linked to at notebookcheck says 

 

Quote

The Qualcomm-based Pro Max Plus will ditch discrete graphics in favor of a dual AI-100 NPU configuration, featuring 32 AI cores and 64GB LPDDR4x memory for running large language models locally. Dell is clearly targeting this toward engineers and researchers working on high-security AI models and chatbot development, where data sensitivity rules out cloud processing.

 

[David55]

Any speculation on or indication of pricing? For the specs (such as 18", Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia 5080 or 5090) I may get the Alienware 18 Area 51 even though I do not game. No ISV certifications and although power and cooling is prioritized over reliability and durability, the 18 Area 51 is the cheapest laptop with similar specs along with what I have found to be Dell build quality. If a similarly equipped Pro Max 18 Plus (such as an RTX Pro 4000) could have similar pricing, I would wait for it. Any comment on the possible pricing or the comparison with the 18 Area 51?

 

On a different note, I wonder whether the easy-access bottom door will provide access just to one of the SSDs or will be an easily removable bottom cover with latches instead of so many screws and clips.

 

In case you are interested, here are the only real reviews of any kind so far on the Alienware 18 Area 51:

Unboxing and first impressions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2ZFnXQ02bw

And the review with a bit more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuFQ4LN--II