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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is often significantly less expensive than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious shoppers who still want solid general use and engineering capabilities. Its larger, standard aspect ratio screen may be better for multitasking and productivity, although with a lower refresh rate, it's not as suited for fast motion like gaming, but it's quite portable despite its size. The Surface Laptop Studio costs more but offers a high-refresh-rate, higher-resolution touchscreen which, combined with a dedicated graphics card, gives it an edge in 3D work, machine learning, and gaming, making it ideal for users needing performance in graphic-intensive applications. Its unique 3:2 aspect ratio and smaller screen size may appeal to those who prioritize portability and note-taking or drawing with a touchscreen, while its build quality and additional features like facial recognition add to its premium feel. 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
- The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
8.0
16.0in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron's screen provides enough clarity and brightness for typical tasks like browsing and office work, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers a higher resolution and brighter display, enhancing the viewing experience. When considering engineering and design, the Surface stands out with superior color accuracy and broader color gamuts, essential for precision work, which the Inspiron lacks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop's display meets the ideal with high refresh rates, making them less suitable for fast-paced or highly detailed visual content.
Build Quality
7.0
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
$800
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has a price of $800 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 offers balanced performance for everyday tasks thanks to a capable CPU and enough RAM, paired with a decent screen, while being light enough for easy portability and featuring a long battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its high-quality screen and flexible form factor, stands out in portability and battery performance, matching well with the versatile needs of general users who also appreciate a comfortable keyboard and clear speakers.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625, with an integrated AMD GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, offers modest gaming and 3D capabilities, ideally suited for more casual gaming as its graphics performance isn't top-tier and the refresh rate is standard for non-gaming laptops.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.3
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is suited for engineering and design due to its competent CPU and integrated graphics, suitable for less demanding tasks, along with a 16-inch IPS screen that provides ample workspace and decent color coverage. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, on the other hand, offers a more powerful CPU and a dedicated GPU, perfect for more intensive engineering applications, with a higher-resolution and higher-brightness display that enhances visual design work, as well as being versatile with a flexible hinge for tablet use, though it's heavier and might be less convenient for frequent travel.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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 Studio 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.4in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5625 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$800 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.68'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.12 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.92" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 265 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 Studio
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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