Dell Pro Max 18 Plus vs MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW
75.3Performancespec-basedchip50.9
97.1Graphics85
38.4Displayspec-based80
94.7Batteryspec-based86.7
20Portabilityspec-based29
6 spec wins — Dell Pro Max 18 Plus3 spec wins — MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW
InnoReviews verdict
This one is close to a dead heat: Dell Pro Max 18 Plus scores 65.2 against 65.1 for MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW. Pick by the categories that matter to you — Dell Pro Max 18 Plus edges ahead in graphics, or by price.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus
- Stronger graphics score: 97 vs 85
- 700% higher RAM: 128 GB vs 16 GB
- 100% higher storage: 2,048 GB vs 1,024 GB
- 81% higher 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU): 21,744 vs 12,021
- 40% higher charging: 280 W vs 200 W
Reasons to pick the MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 240 Hz vs 120 Hz
- 23% lower weight: 2.5 kg vs 3.25 kg
- 12% lower thickness: 27.9 mm vs 31.7 mm
Display
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 18 ″+13% | 16 ″ |
| Panel type | IPS (anti-glare, non-touch) | IPS-level |
| Resolution | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 240 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | — |
Performance
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell Laptop (24GB GDDR7, 175W) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR7) |
| RAM | 128 GB+700% | 16 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5-6400 (CAMM2) | DDR5 (2 slots, up to 96GB) |
| Storage | 2,048 GB+100% | 1,024 GB |
| Storage type | PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD (2x 1TB, RAID 0) | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,024Top 20% | — |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 20,887Top 6% | — |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU) | 21,744+81%Top 19% | 12,021Bottom 31% |
Battery
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 96 Wh+7% | 90 Wh |
| Charging | 280 W+40% | 200 W |
Design
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3.25 kg | 2.5 kg+23% |
| Thickness | 31.7 mm | 27.9 mm+12% |
| Material | Magnesium alloy (90% recycled magnesium top and bottom covers) | — |
Connectivity
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C, 80Gbps, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, 40Gbps, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (one with PowerShare), HDMI 2.1, RJ45 2.5GbE, SD card reader, headset jack, optional smart card reader | 1x USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, PD 3.0, Thunderbolt 4 compatible), 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Webcam | 8MP HDR RGB+IR (1080p FHD HDR on base configurations) | 720p IR HD |
| Biometrics | Optional fingerprint reader (Windows Hello); optional 8MP RGB+IR camera | — |
Software
| Spec | Dell Pro Max 18 Plus | MSI Pulse A16 AI+ C3XW |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
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