Dell Precision 5690 Review 2025
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In September of last year, the Dell Precision 5680 impressed as the first mobile workstation we tested featuring Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace-series professional GPU. Now, the upgraded Dell Precision 5690 (starting at $2,289; tested configuration priced at $6,500.55) continues that legacy, pairing the powerful RTX 5000 Ada graphics with Intel’s latest AI-optimized Core Ultra processor.
Delivering elite performance across resource-intensive workloads—such as 3D modeling, animation, engineering simulations, and data science—the 5690 effortlessly earns another Editors’ Choice nod. While it doesn’t quite surpass the sheer brute strength of our previous high-end favorite, the HP ZBook Fury 16 G10, it makes up for it in portability and usability on the go. For professionals who need top-tier processing power in a sleeker, more mobile package for fieldwork or client presentations, the new Precision stands out as a smart and capable option.
Pros
- Stunning 4K OLED touch screen
Blazing performance for its size- Elegant build with snappy keyboard
Cons
- No USB-A ports or webcam shutter
- Not quite as fast or expandable as heavier rivals
- Mega expensive, as most mobile workstations are
Dell Precision 5690 Specs
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Workstation |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| RAM (as Tested) | 32 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Secondary Drive Type | SSD |
| Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 3840 by 2400 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | OLED |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada |
| Graphics Memory | 16 GB |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches |
| Weight | 4.46 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 17:11 |
Configurations and Design: Practically a Flagship
The older Precision 5680 remains on shelves, alongside the high-end Precision 7680—though both continue to rely on Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs. The 5690, by contrast, brings Intel’s next-gen Core Ultra processors into the mix, offering improved efficiency and AI-accelerated capabilities. That said, the 7680 still dominates in expandability, supporting up to 128GB of memory and housing up to three SSDs, while the 5690 maxes out at 64GB of RAM and two solid-state drives.
The entry-level version of the 5690, priced at $2,289, comes equipped with Intel’s Core Ultra 5 135H processor and 16GB of RAM. It includes vPro management features across all CPU choices, but the rest of the configuration is modest—a 256GB SSD and Intel Arc Pro integrated graphics instead of the five available discrete GPU upgrades. For a system marketed as a mobile powerhouse, this basic model feels more like a shadow of what the 5690 is capable of, and not one likely to impress demanding professionals.
Our review configuration, valued at $6,500.55—though typically sold at lower rates in enterprise bulk deals—represents the Precision 5690 in its fully equipped form. It features Intel’s high-end Core Ultra 9 185H processor, paired with 32GB of memory and a dual 512GB NVMe SSD setup configured in RAID 0 for accelerated storage performance. Dell swaps out the standard 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display for a stunning 3,840 x 2,400 OLED touchscreen, and under the hood, it packs Nvidia’s flagship RTX 5000 Ada GPU with 16GB of dedicated video memory for professional-grade visuals and rendering power.
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The Dell Precision 5690 carries forward its predecessor’s robust construction, combining a sleek aluminum frame with a palm rest crafted from polycarbonate reinforced by glass fiber. This tough exterior isn’t just for looks—it’s certified to meet MIL-STD 810H standards, meaning it’s built to withstand shocks, vibrations, and temperature extremes commonly encountered during professional travel. Physically, the laptop strikes a balance between power and portability, measuring just 0.87 inches thick, 13.9 inches wide, and 9.5 inches deep, with a carry weight of 4.46 pounds.
That makes it leaner and lighter than HP’s heavyweight contender, the ZBook Fury 16, which prioritizes expandability—supporting up to 128GB of memory and four SSDs—but comes in bulkier at 1.13 inches thick and 5.3 pounds. Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro lands squarely in the middle at 4.8 pounds, while the featherweight title in this group goes to HP’s ZBook Studio 16 G10, which undercuts them all at a mere 3.81 pounds.
The build quality of the Precision 5690 is rock-solid—there’s almost no noticeable flex whether you’re pressing down on the keyboard area or gripping the edges of the display. The screen is framed by sleek, narrow bezels, contributing to its modern aesthetic. However, one letdown is the lack of a physical privacy shutter on the top-mounted webcam. On the plus side, the camera supports facial recognition, and it’s complemented by a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button—offering users two convenient and secure Windows Hello login options that make password typing a thing of the past.
One notable drawback is Dell’s continued departure from legacy ports—the Precision 5690, much like the XPS lineup, omits the familiar USB Type-A entirely. In its place, users are left with a trio of USB-C options: a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side and a single USB-C 3.2 port flanking a security lock slot on the right. While this streamlined setup caters to modern accessories and faster data speeds, those still using traditional USB-A devices will need to rely on dongles or hubs to stay connected.
To help ease the loss of a native USB Type-A port, Dell includes a USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box—a small but practical concession. Fortunately, connecting an external display doesn’t require a separate DisplayPort dongle, thanks to a built-in HDMI port located on the left side. You’ll also find a headphone jack and a SmartCard reader in the mix. Rounding out the connectivity, the system comes equipped with Intel’s latest wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth support right out of the box.
Using the Dell Precision 5690: Ready to Get Serious
Dell equips the Precision 5690 with a 1080p webcam that, while slightly grainy, still delivers bright and fairly vivid visuals. It supports modern Windows Camera features like auto framing, simulated eye contact, and background blur—useful tools for keeping remote meetings polished. Dell’s own Optimizer software also lends a hand by filtering out ambient noise from both ends of the call, improving clarity during video conferences.
As for the keyboard, it’s backlit for low-light typing but lacks a numeric keypad. The top row includes dedicated Home and End buttons, but navigation is less intuitive for frequent editors—Page Up and Page Down require the Fn key combined with the up/down arrows. To make matters worse, those arrow keys are in a cramped configuration: the up and down arrows are squeezed into half-height keys stacked between larger left and right arrows, mimicking HP’s less ergonomic layout rather than the preferred inverted-T setup.
Despite the awkward arrow key layout, the typing experience on the Precision 5690 is excellent. The keys offer a soft, low-profile feel with just enough snap to keep things responsive and comfortable during long sessions. The oversized touchpad, while smooth and accurate, lacks physical buttons—a bit of a drawback for workstation users, especially those who rely on a middle-click in CAD or 3D modeling software. That said, Windows allows users to remap a three-finger tap to replicate the middle button, which helps.
Audio quality is impressive for a workstation. With quad speakers, including subwoofers mounted underneath, the system pumps out rich and detailed sound—clear vocals, crisp drums, and an unexpectedly strong bass presence make for a satisfying listening experience. The only caveats are some boominess and occasional echo at higher volumes. While it skips the usual software equalizers and playback presets found on many consumer laptops, I didn’t find myself missing them; the audio is well-tuned straight out of the box.
OLED displays are known for their brilliant colors and deep contrast, making them a perfect match for professional creative workloads—and Dell’s 4K touchscreen on the Precision 5690 doesn’t disappoint. Colors appear richly saturated, details are exceptionally crisp, and text is rendered with clean, smooth edges free from pixelation. White backgrounds appear bright and pure, never gray or dull, though the display’s tilt range is somewhat limited, which can slightly affect viewing angles.
While the brightness doesn’t hit the extreme levels of 500 or 600 nits seen on some high-end IPS panels, the screen does deliver on its promised 400 nits. Thanks to OLED’s inherent contrast and vibrancy, the visual experience remains striking, even without the extra luminance. In short, this display is well-suited for tasks where visual clarity and color accuracy matter most.
Dell’s PremierColor utility gives you extensive control over the display’s visual output, offering a variety of professional-grade presets like sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, and both SD and HD video modes. There’s also a low blue light setting for eye comfort. If you prefer to customize further, the software allows manual adjustments to brightness, contrast, black levels, color temperature, and gamma. You can even link specific color profiles to individual applications and save personalized presets for quick access.
Complementing this is Dell Optimizer, a smart system-tuning tool that lets you boost performance for key apps, balance power usage with fan noise, fine-tune your network settings, and enhance audio through features like intelligent volume adjustment and simulated 3D sound for headphones. Together, these tools provide a flexible environment tailored for both productivity and comfort.
