If you need a laptop for gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning tasks, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 stands out for its high-end graphics, robust processor, and larger screen, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 offers better battery life and is more portable due to its lighter weight, making it suitable for general use and everyday tasks at a more affordable price. However, it has less storage, a less powerful processor, and integrated graphics, which aren't suited for high-performance activities. 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 Dell Alienware X17 R2
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5620
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers superior performance for general use with its high-end CPU and ample RAM, paired with an excellent screen quality that enhances the user experience, but its larger size and heavier weight sacrifice portability and lead to shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5620, while less powerful in terms of CPU and RAM, provides a balance between reasonable performance and better portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it a good choice for general use where top-tier performance is not critical.
Gaming and AI
8.9/10
6.2/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
480Hz
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 X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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
7.0/10
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels in engineering and design tasks with its high-end CPU, substantial RAM, top-tier dedicated GPU, and quality screen, which translate to powerful performance and excellent visual representation, however, its less portable and heavier design may not appeal to those frequently on the move. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 offers a balance with a capable but lower-tier CPU, adequate RAM, and an integrated GPU, along with a high-resolution screen for sharp images, packed in a more portable frame, making it a practical choice for less intensive engineering applications where mobility is a significant consideration.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.6/10
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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
8.5/10
6.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize having a clear and vibrant display during everyday tasks, the Alienware X17 R2 offers a higher resolution and brightness, enhancing your viewing experience for documents, web browsing, or video streaming. For professionals in engineering and design, the same Alienware model provides a wider color range, which ensures that graphics and projects appear with greater accuracy and richer detail. However, if gaming or working with 3D applications is a primary concern, the lower refresh rate on the Alienware may lead to less fluid motion and responsiveness compared to other laptops designed with higher refresh rates specifically for such purposes.
Battery
2.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 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
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good 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
$2,000
$500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a price of $2,000 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 costs $500.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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 Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 compare to other laptops
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
"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 Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5620
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 is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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