The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is designed for high-end gaming and intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering due to its powerful processor and graphics card, but it comes at a higher price and has less portability with lower battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 offers better portability and longer battery life for general use, it's more affordable but not suited for demanding tasks due to its less powerful integrated graphics and processor. Consider the Alienware if performance for gaming or professional work is crucial, and the Inspiron if you prioritize cost, portability, and battery life for everyday computing. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1's superior CPU, a generous amount of RAM, and a high-quality screen justify its reputation for being very good for general use, but its bulk and weight compromise portability and its battery life is short. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, while still good for general use with a capable CPU and decent RAM, offers better battery life and is much more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size, but it doesn't match the Alienware in terms of raw performance or screen quality.
Gaming and AI
9.1/10
6.2/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is only fair.
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.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in engineering and design due to its high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and advanced GPU, which enable it to handle demanding applications with ease, although it has a lower portability due to its weight and size.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.6/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is 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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 likely offers a high resolution and brightness along with adequate panel type, which makes it suitable for general use and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design, but its lower refresh rate could detract from the immersive experience needed for gaming and 3D applications. The Dell Inspiron 16 5625, while providing a decent balance of resolution and brightness, may not have a panel type or color gamut that excels in the nuanced color requirements for engineering and design tasks, and similarly to the Alienware, its refresh rate might not meet the demands of high-frame-rate gaming. Ultimately, the Alienware's strengths lie in applications that prioritize visual detail over motion, whereas the Inspiron's moderate specs suggest it's designed for everyday tasks and users with less critical color and refresh rate needs.
Battery
4.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 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
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
8.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good 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
$2,600
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a price of $2,600 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 costs $1,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be 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.
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How the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 compare to other laptops
"Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive."
"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 Dell Alienware m18 R1 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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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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