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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 depends on your priorities. The MacBook Air is more expensive but offers a lighter build, longer battery life, and higher display resolution, making it ideal for those who value portability and screen quality. It runs macOS, which can be preferable for users invested in the Apple ecosystem. The Dell Inspiron, on the other hand, provides more storage and memory, a touchscreen, and runs Windows, which may be necessary for certain applications or preferences. It also has a larger screen, but it's heavier and has a lower battery life, better suited for users who need more power and don't mind less mobility. 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 15 (2023)
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- 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 5625
- The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 are both good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) offers a high-performance M2 chip with integrated graphics suitable for engineering and design, along with a high-resolution, color-accurate screen which is essential for detailed design work. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has a potent AMD Ryzen 7 CPU with Vega 8 graphics and double the RAM, providing ample power and multitasking capability for engineering tasks, plus the added benefit of a larger and user-upgradeable storage, but with a less color-rich and lower-resolution display compared to the MacBook.
Software Development
8.1
7.5
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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
7.8
6.2
15.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air 15 boasts a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for general use and professionals in engineering and design who require precise color representation. However, its lower refresh rate limits its effectiveness for 3D applications where smoother on-screen motion is essential. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 offers a display that's adequate for everyday tasks and some technical work, but it falls short in both professional color range and the high refresh rate needed for optimal 3D rendering and gaming experiences.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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
15.3in
SIZE
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.0
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$800
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 costs $800.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.7
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) suits general use with its high-resolution screen, lightweight design for portability, and Apple M2 processor that ensures smooth performance coupled with a fanless operation for silence, but it has lower RAM and storage compared to the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, which offers a generous amount of both and a touch-enabled screen for interactivity, at the cost of being slightly heavier and having a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.2
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1864
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 15 (2023) and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Content Creation
8.0
7.6
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | Dell Inspiron 16 5625 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $800 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.68'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 4.12 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 14.05" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 265 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
Dell Inspiron 16 5625
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Ultrabook Review
Derek Sullivan | January 2023
"I think there is fair value in the Inspiron 16 this year. Very little has changed with the laptop and my opinion hasn’t really changed either. In other words, I like it. Overall, I think the pros far outweigh the cons of this laptop and the price is certainly justifiable. I found this to be a great typer and I could potentially work all day on this machine, provided I don’t need a graphics card."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
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.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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