The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is a lightweight and portable laptop with a fanless design, ensuring silent operation, ideal for general use and basic tasks. It runs on macOS and is well-suited for those integrated into the Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 offers a larger screen and more power for engineering tasks, video editing, and lighter gaming, thanks to its AMD processor and Vega graphics, but it is heavier and less portable. The Dell model comes with Windows 11 and may be favorable for users who prefer or need a Windows environment. The MacBook Air may be a better option for those prioritizing portability and battery life, while the Dell Inspiron is more suitable for demanding applications at the cost of additional weight and size. 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 5635
Very good for general use
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a high-resolution Retina display, which provides sharp images and vibrant colors, making it excellent for general use and engineering tasks where color representation is key; however, its screen has a standard refresh rate, which is less ideal for 3D work where smoother motion is preferred. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 offers a decent visual experience with fair resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and can support engineering software, but its color range may not be as wide as that of the MacBook Air; its standard refresh rate and typical panel type are not optimal for gaming and 3D endeavors that benefit from rapid on-screen action. For users prioritizing general use and engineering, the MacBook Air provides higher screen quality, but those interested in 3D applications might find both laptops lacking due to the screens' refresh rates.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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 5635 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$735
$200
$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 5635 costs $735.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5635 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air is notably lighter and has a higher-quality screen than the Dell Inspiron 16, making it more portable and favorable for visual tasks, but the Dell Inspiron 16 offers more storage and RAM, enhancing its multitasking capabilities and overall performance for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.3/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is equipped only with its integrated 7-core GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, which limits its 3D rendering capabilities and isn't ideal for fast-paced gaming. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, while also using an integrated GPU, the Vega 8, offers a larger screen and the flexibility of Windows 11, which supports a broader range of games, though its standard refresh rate may not be optimal for high-level gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) with its high-resolution IPS screen, and efficient Apple M1 chip is suitable for design due to its good screen color accuracy and silent operation, however, it has less processing power compared to powerhouse chips designed for engineering simulations. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, with its larger screen, more RAM, and advanced AMD Ryzen processor, offers superior multitasking and computational abilities which are essential for engineering tasks, though it is heavier and thus less portable than the MacBook Air.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both good for content creation.
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
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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 5635 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."
"Compared to the previous year’s Inspiron, Dell upgraded the screen aspect ratio on this generation, but also transitioned to a more minimalistic centered keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers. The 16-inch screen is huge plus and I really appreciate the extra real estate without sacrificing the footprint much. This year’s model is a little larger than last, though, as the former model was already very small for a 15 incher."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5635
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.