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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you need a laptop with higher storage capacity and more RAM, which enhances performance for intensive engineering tasks, you should consider the Dell Inspiron 16 5625. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is lighter and more portable, making it a better option if you often carry your laptop around. Both laptops have touchscreen displays with different aspect ratios that may affect your viewing experience—Dell's screen is wider, while Microsoft's has a taller display. The Dell's larger screen size could also be more comfortable for multitasking and productivity. Keep in mind, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 generally costs less than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625. Additionally, Dell offers Windows 11 Pro, potentially a better fit for business environments, while Microsoft provides Windows 11 Home, suitable for general use. 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 Inspiron 16 5625
- Good for engineering and design
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3's screen delivers sharp images and vivid colors owing to its higher resolution and brighter panel than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, enhancing the viewing experience for everyday tasks. When it comes to engineering and design work, the Surface Laptop Go 3 offers better color coverage, crucial for accuracy in visual projects. However, neither laptop is ideal for 3D work and gaming due to their lower refresh rates, which lead to less smooth visual experiences in fast-paced scenarios.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is favored for general use due to its higher RAM and more powerful CPU, which are very important for performance, as well as a larger screen with a higher quality display, all contributing to a better user experience despite its lower portability and heavier build compared to the more compact and light Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which is rated fair because it offers less RAM and a slower CPU, crucial for multitasking and speed, although both share similar battery life which holds significant weight in everyday usage.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both regarded as fair for gaming and 3D because of their integrated graphics—the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U Vega 8 in the Dell—which provide moderate gaming performance. While both have similar 60Hz screen refresh rates, their CPUs and various aspects of screen quality, including resolution and color reproduction, also contribute to their gaming capability, albeit at a level not meant for intense gaming scenarios.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.8
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5625 to be good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is better suited for engineering and design because it offers a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and double the RAM of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, enhancing performance for demanding tasks, and it includes a discrete GPU, which is crucial for compute-intensive design applications. While the Surface Laptop Go 3 is lighter and highly portable, making it a good fit for people on the move, its Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics may not sustain intensive workloads as effectively, and the smaller screen size can be limiting for detailed engineering and design work.
Content Creation
7.6
7.3
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Software Development
7.5
7.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has 8 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Cost
$800
$788
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has a price of $800 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $788.
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How the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5625 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$800 | $788 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.68'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.12 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.92" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 265 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 16 5625
See more
Dig into reviews and images
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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.
By the numbers
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About the laptop team
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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.
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