If you prioritize a laptop that is lightweight, has long battery life, and extremely quiet operation, the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is an excellent choice, especially if you don't mind spending more and prefer MacOS for general use. However, if you require a laptop with a larger screen, more storage, and additional ports for peripherals, and you don't mind a heavier device with shorter battery life, the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 offers these features at a lower price point, making it well-suited for engineering tasks, and it runs on Windows 11 Home. 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 Apple MacBook Air (2022)
Very good for software development
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5620
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2022).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 are both good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is favored for engineering and design due to its Apple M2 chip which offers strong CPU and GPU performance, complemented by a high-resolution, color-accurate screen, while maintaining silent operation due to its fanless design. The Dell Inspiron 16 5620, on the other hand, provides more RAM and storage, which is advantageous for complex projects, and it also features a screen suited for productivity tasks, though it may be less portable and noisier under load.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.2/10
13.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering a MacBook Air for general use, its high-resolution screen and brightness ensure crisp, clear images and easy visibility in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design work, its expansive color gamut reproduces vivid and accurate colors that are essential for detail-oriented tasks. However, its lower refresh rate limits the MacBook Air's ability to smoothly render 3D animations and models, making it less suitable for 3D tasks, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620, with fair screen quality across the board, provides an acceptable experience for general and engineering use but lacks the higher refresh rate needed for fluid gameplay and 3D rendering.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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
Excellent
Good
13.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$500
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 costs $500.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 are both good for general use.
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.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.2/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has an efficient GPU that is suitable for running less demanding 3D applications, however, it operates on macOS which limits game compatibility as many popular titles don't support this operating system. The Dell Inspiron 16 5620, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, also offers fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks, but compared to dedicated gaming laptops, it may fall short due to its moderate GPU capabilities and the screen's standard refresh rate which isn't ideal for fast-paced gaming.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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."
"If the world is exciting enough right now, you can do far worse than a solid performer that you know will get the job done. Our review model is as powerful as you'd want an office machine to be unless you're performing specialist tasks and the price point is pretty attractive (unless work will let you have a MacBook Air instead)."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5620
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
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.