The Apple MacBook Air (2020) with the M1 chip is lighter and more portable than the Dell Inspiron 16 5630, which means it's easier to carry around; however, the Dell has a larger screen and more storage capacity. The MacBook boasts a fanless, silent operation, but the Dell provides a Windows 11 Pro environment with a more powerful Intel processor, which could be preferable for certain software and multitasking needs. The Dell also has more RAM, making it better suited for heavier computing tasks. In terms of battery life, the MacBook is likely to offer a longer lasting experience compared to the Dell Inspiron. If your priority is a macOS experience and portability with reasonable performance, the MacBook Air is the better choice. On the other hand, if you require a Windows operating system with stronger processing capabilities, a larger screen, and you don't mind extra weight, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is a more appropriate option. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
395.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.8/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 for general use, AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a better screen for software development.
For general use, both the MacBook Air and Dell Inspiron offer displays that are sharp, clear, and bright, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing, writing, and video streaming. When it comes to engineering and design, they both cover a wide range of colors, ensuring that professionals and creatives can work with accurate color representation for their projects. However, for 3D applications and gaming that benefit from smoother motion, their displays may not meet expectations as they likely have lower refresh rates compared to specialized gaming laptops that prioritize smoother visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 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
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$849
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 costs $849.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) with its M1 GPU is fair for 3D applications, providing enough power for basic tasks, but it lacks hardware ray tracing and DLSS, and its MacOS limits game compatibility. The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 with its Intel Iris Xe graphics performs similarly in 3D tasks and gaming, but while it offers a Windows platform which supports more games, its integrated GPU might not handle the most demanding titles or provide the smoothest experience as more advanced dedicated GPUs would.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is well-suited for engineering and design work due to its high-resolution display, efficient Apple M1 chip with integrated graphics that can handle a variety of design software, and its lightweight build enhances portability, though its smaller screen and less RAM may limit multitasking in complex projects. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 offers a larger screen and more RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking and running demanding engineering applications, along with an Intel processor and integrated graphics that support a wide range of engineering software, but it is heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 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 Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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
7.7/10
7.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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