The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is a higher-end laptop with better performance for intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering software, thanks to its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425, which is lighter and offers longer battery life for general use and tasks that are less demanding on the system's resources. The Dell is also more affordable but won't handle high-performance tasks as well as the ASUS. If portability and price are your main concerns, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is a solid choice. But if performance for demanding applications is a priority, and you're willing to invest more, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 would be a better fit. 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 ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5425
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 excels in gaming and 3D tasks due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics and high screen refresh rate, which provide smooth visuals and enhanced gaming performance. The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, with its integrated AMD Vega graphics and standard refresh rate, offers a more modest gaming experience, suitable for less demanding games and graphics work.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.0/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 excels in engineering and design use due to its powerful Intel i9 processor, high-end Nvidia RTX GPU, and superior screen with a high refresh rate and excellent color coverage, providing smooth and precise visuals necessary for detailed work. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425, though more portable and with longer battery life, comes with a less powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and integrated Vega 8 graphics, and its screen, while adequate, doesn't match the ASUS's in terms of color accuracy or refresh rate, making it less optimal for intensive engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.5/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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.
Screen Quality
9.0/10
6.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16's screen excels for general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, along with a robust color coverage that ensures vibrant and accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for design work. However, its lower refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming laptops makes it less ideal for gaming where smooth motion is key. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 offers fair screen quality that can handle everyday tasks and some engineering needs, but its lower color gamut and screen specs fall short for professional design work and don't provide the high refresh rate needed for optimal gaming experiences.
Battery
4.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 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
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$479
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 costs $479.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its high-performance CPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality, is well-suited for general use where intensive processing and vibrant display are desired, but it is less portable and has a lower battery life than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 which offers great portability and longer battery life for typical tasks, although it has a less powerful CPU and screen with lower color coverage. Additionally, the M16's heat management and speaker quality are better, which enhances the user experience during prolonged use, whereas the Inspiron prioritizes quiet operation and affordability, with somewhat lower speaker and build quality.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.5/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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 ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"A slim chassis, an acceptable weight (1.6 kg) and a real-world battery life of almost 13 hours turn the Inspiron into a mobile companion. Good: The battery can not only be charged using Dell's proprietary power adapter, but also with a universal USB-C power adapter (min. 45 watts). Office and Internet applications are handled by the built-in combination of Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM just as easily as modest computer games. Heat and noise development are generally okay, but the laptop should work a bit quieter under full load."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the Dell Inspiron 14 5425
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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