If you prioritize gaming or intensive tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning, the Acer Nitro 5 17 may be worth the extra cost as it boasts a more powerful graphics card. It's also larger with a 17.3-inch screen which can be good for immersive experiences but less portable due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 offers a more modern operating system and a sleeker, lighter design which is easier to transport, making it suitable for general use and productivity on the go. However, it might not handle high-end gaming or resource-heavy applications as well as the Acer. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Nitro 5 17
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Good portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is only fair.
The Acer Nitro 5 17, with its Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card and high screen refresh rate, excels in delivering a superior gaming and 3D experience, making it a go-to for enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630, sporting an Intel i7 Iris Xe GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, provides an adequate experience that is suitable for more casual gaming and 3D applications.
Screen Quality
8.2/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, you want a clear and bright display, which both laptops provide, but their modest resolution and panel types might not be quite as crisp or vibrant for more specialized tasks. In engineering and design, accurate color representation is crucial, and while both are good, they may not cover the full range of professional color gamuts that top-tier screens do. Gamers and 3D professionals seek fluid motion, and here, the lower refresh rates of both laptops mean that while fine for casual games, they won't deliver the smoothness desired for fast-paced gaming or advanced 3D work.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5630 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 features a powerful Ryzen CPU and a high-performance RTX GPU, making it suitable for general use with some gaming potential, yet its larger size and shorter battery life impact its portability compared to the Dell Inspiron 16 5630. The Dell Inspiron 16, with its efficient Intel CPU and lightweight design, provides very good general-use performance paired with better portability and longer battery life, though it doesn't support as intensive gaming due to its integrated graphics.
Engineering and Design
8.0/10
7.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Nitro 5 17 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5630 to be very good for content creation, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.0/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Dell Inspiron 16 5630 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$849
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a price of $830 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 costs $849.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Nitro 5 17 is a solid mid-range gamer. The Nitro 5 does not belong to the top group of RTX 3070 notebooks: Compared with the RTX 3070 notebooks tested so far, the computer delivers below-average frame rates - this is due to the 100-watt TGP. The GPU performance can be increased a bit with a firmware update. The device scores with a high level of CPU performance. Throttling is not a concern. CPU and GPU can produce their performance constantly. The laptop heats up moderately under load. The noise development is on the usual class level."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 5 17 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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