Performance Overview
Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)
Detailed Specifications
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better screen for CAD and colour work?
Different philosophies. The Dell fits an 18-inch QHD+ (2560×1600) panel at 120 Hz, 500 nits and 100% DCI-P3 — the largest single canvas in the class, so timeline, viewport and reference all sit on one lid. The ThinkPad's stocked 16-inch WUXGA is smaller, but it can be optioned to a WQUXGA 800-nit or a 3.2K Tandem OLED touch panel, each X-Rite factory-calibrated, for colour-critical output.
Which one can hold more memory?
The ThinkPad P16, comfortably. It has four DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM slots reaching 192 GB non-ECC or 128 GB ECC, and stocked builds leave two slots free for a later upgrade. The Dell Pro Max uses two CSoDIMM slots to 96 GB (64 GB at launch) with no ECC; its 128 GB path runs through a separate CAMM2 subsystem that a Dell-certified technician must fit — not a customer swap.
Do they share the same NVIDIA graphics?
Yes. Both draw from NVIDIA's RTX PRO Blackwell workstation range, stocked at the RTX PRO 3000 (12 GB GDDR7) or RTX PRO 2000 (8 GB), and both scale to the RTX PRO 5000 with 24 GB to order. Lenovo specifies the 3000's memory as GDDR7 ECC. With a 280 W adapter and three-fan cooling in a larger chassis, the Dell has more power and thermal headroom for sustained GPU loads.
Which is more practical to carry between sites?
The ThinkPad. It starts at 2.54 kg against the Dell's 3.25 kg, is smaller (362 × 252 mm versus 402 × 280 mm) and charges from a lighter 180 W USB-C GaN adapter rather than the Dell's 280 W brick, with a slightly larger 99.9 Wh battery. The 18-inch Dell is a desk-replacement that travels occasionally; the 16-inch Lenovo is the one to move between site and studio daily.
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