XMG is updating its two 16-inch laptops, the APEX 16 and PRO 16 VE, for 2026: The M26 model replaces the previous RTX 5070 Ti or the older RTX 5070 with 8 GB of VRAM with the latest RTX 5070 refresh featuring 12 GB of VRAM. In addition, the cooling system now features an extra fan, and there are more ventilation slots in the lower half of the chassis. Both laptops start at 2,399 euros and are available for order now at bestware.com, as XMG announced in a recent press release. Until September 21, there’s an additional 5 percent discount for early birds.
In short:
- The APEX 16 (M26) and PRO 16 VE (M26) now feature an RTX 5070 with 12 GB of VRAM and 115 watts of graphics power, replacing the previous RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 with 8 GB, respectively.
- A third fan provides additional cooling for the RAM, and new ventilation slots have been added to the bottom panel.
- Both models cost 2,399 euros in their base configurations; the MAX and Ti variants with higher graphics performance will remain available in the lineup.
- Through September 21, bestware.com is offering a 5 percent early-bird discount on both 16-inch laptops.
XMG APEX 16 (M26): Ryzen processor and RTX 5070 with 12 GB VRAM
The APEX series traces its origins back to the XMG Apex 15, the brand’s first laptop with an AMD processor. With the current APEX 16 (M26), the processor options remain unchanged: Customers can choose between the Ryzen 9 9955HX from the Fire Range generation and the older Ryzen 9 8945HX from the Dragon Range Refresh series, both with 16 cores and 32 threads. The graphics card is new. Instead of the RTX 5070 Ti from the APEX 16 MAX (M25), XMG now uses the RTX 5070 Refresh with 12 GB of VRAM and up to 115 watts of graphics power, including Dynamic Boost. Those who want the more powerful Ti graphics card can still opt for the MAX model, which remains unchanged in the lineup.
There’s now only one display option: a 300 Hz IPS panel with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, 500 nits of brightness, and full sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage. The Mini-LED display, which remains available for the APEX 16 MAX, is no longer offered on the standard APEX 16.
The cooling system, adapted to the lower graphics power of 115 watts instead of 140 watts, includes a third fan that specifically cools the RAM, along with corresponding additional ventilation slots in the bottom shell. As a result, the weight—2.35 kg including the 99.8-Wh battery—is slightly lower than that of the MAX model, while the case dimensions of 356.7 x 253.8 x 26 mm remain the same.
Depending on the processor, the APEX 16 supports up to 96 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM with the Ryzen 9 9955HX or DDR5-5200 RAM with the Ryzen 9 8945HX. The primary of the two M.2 slots is connected via PCI Express 5.0; both are equipped with a heat shield and a thermal pad.
On the back, the laptop features an HDMI 2.1 port, the power connector, a DP40-compatible Mini DisplayPort 2.1, and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port with DisplayPort 1.4a functionality, and optional 140- or 100-watt Power Delivery. On the sides, there is another USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port with 100-watt Power Delivery, three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD Express card reader, and a combined audio jack. For video calls, there’s a Full HD webcam with a physical cover, and the device connects to Wi-Fi via Wi-Fi 6E. Up to four external monitors can be connected in addition to the internal display: Mini DisplayPort and HDMI run directly through the NVIDIA GPU, while the USB-C outputs use NVIDIA Optimus to run through the power-efficient integrated graphics.
XMG has carried over the keyboard and touchpad unchanged from the APEX 16 MAX. The 123 x 77.5 mm touchpad has a glass-like surface, while the keyboard features N-key rollover, per-key RGB backlighting, a full numeric keypad, and an Fn-Lock function.
XMG PRO 16 VE (M26): Intel Core i9 and Increased System Performance
The “Value Edition” PRO 16 VE (M26) comes with the RTX 5070 featuring 12 GB of VRAM and 115 watts of graphics power; the processor remains an Intel Core i9-14900HX with 24 cores (8 P-cores and 16 E-cores) and 32 threads. The faster RTX 5070 Ti and the slower RTX 5060 remain available in the previous version, the M25; remaining stock of the older RTX 5070 with only 8 GB of VRAM is currently being sold off.
The display is the same as that of the APEX 16: a 300-Hz IPS panel with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, 500 nits of brightness, and full sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage.
For the PRO 16 VE as well, XMG has enhanced the cooling system with a third fan for the RAM and heat pipes, as well as a modified bottom shell featuring additional vents. This pays off under simultaneous CPU and GPU loads: sustained system power increases from 180 to 195 watts compared to the previous model. The 16-inch chassis weighs 2.35 kg, including the 99.8-Wh battery, and measures 356.7 x 252.5 x 26.5 mm.
Both M.2 slots, supporting up to 16 TB of storage, are connected via PCI Express 4.0; two SO-DIMM sockets accommodate up to 128 GB (2 x 64 GB) of DDR5 RAM at 5200 or 5600 MT/s, depending on the module selected. Here, too, heat shields and thermal pads help keep temperatures low.
The connectivity features match those of the APEX 16, with one exception: The Intel system uses Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6E. The touchpad and keyboard are functionally identical to those of the APEX 16; only the design of the top case differs slightly in appearance.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
| XMG APEX 16 (M26) | XMG PRO 16 VE (M26) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX or 8945HX (16C/32T) | Intel Core i9-14900HX (8P+16E, 32T) |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 12 GB VRAM, up to 115 W | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 12 GB VRAM, up to 115 W |
| Display | 16″, 2,560 x 1,600, 300 Hz, IPS, 500 nits | 16″, 2,560 x 1,600, 300 Hz, IPS, 500 nits |
| RAM | up to 96 GB DDR5-5600/5200 | up to 128 GB DDR5-5600/5200 (2x SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 2x M.2, primarily PCIe 5.0 | 2x M.2, PCIe 4.0, up to 16 TB |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Battery | 99.8 Wh | 99.8 Wh |
| Weight | 2.35 kg | 2.35 kg |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 356.7 x 253.8 x 26 mm | 356.7 x 252.5 x 26.5 mm |
| Price (starting at) | 2,399 euros | 2,399 euros |
Prices, Availability, and Early-Bird Discount
The base configuration of the fully customizable XMG APEX 16 (M26) combines an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX with the RTX 5070 (12 GB), 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) of DDR5-5200 RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and a 300 Hz 1600p IPS display for 2,399 euros, including 19 percent VAT. An upgrade to the Ryzen 9 9955HX costs an additional 125 euros.
The XMG PRO 16 VE (M26) starts at 2,399 euros with an Intel Core i9-14900HX, RTX 5070 (12 GB), 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and the same display—also priced at 2,399 euros.
Both 16-inch laptops are available for order and delivery immediately. Through September 21, bestware.com, the online store of Schenker Technologies, is offering a 5 percent discount on orders for both models. Further details can be found on the XMG product pages for the APEX 16 (M26) and the PRO 16 VE (M26).
Analysis: Who Should Make the Upgrade?
For buyers, the main change with the M26 refresh is the graphics card. If you already own an APEX 16 MAX or a PRO 16 VE with an RTX 5070 Ti, you’re not missing out on anything: These models will remain available alongside the new ones and offer more graphics performance. On the other hand, anyone looking for a new 16-inch laptop with an RTX 5070 and 12 GB of VRAM now has two options—the APEX 16 and PRO 16 VE (M26)—both featuring a redesigned cooling system at the same starting price as before.
