If performance for intensive tasks and premium build quality are priorities for you, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 may justify its higher cost; however, it would also be less portable due to its size and possibly weight. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" might offer a larger screen and may be more budget-friendly, but it could compromise on performance and build quality. Consider the Lenovo for everyday uses like web browsing and office work, where high performance is not critical. For demanding tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, investing in the Dell could provide a smoother and faster experience. Keep in mind that higher performance often leads to shorter battery life, so if you need longer usage times away from an outlet, the Lenovo might be more suitable. 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 5630
Very good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 16 5630.
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 excels in general use due to its higher performance CPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality with better resolution and color accuracy, which are very important factors, but is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17".
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
6.6/10
8.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the amount of RAM, and its integrated graphics, which together with a higher resolution screen offers stronger performance and clearer image quality. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a less powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor with less RAM and a lower screen resolution, which makes it less capable for demanding engineering work though it still maintains a large screen for ample workspace.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.4/10
8.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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.
Software Development
7.9/10
7.2/10
8.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for software development, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron and Lenovo IdeaPad both offer screens with resolutions and brightness levels that are sufficient for daily tasks and professional engineering or design work, where clear visual detail is required. Their displays cover a wide range of colors, which is crucial for tasks that demand color accuracy like graphic design or video editing, making them suitable for such creative work. However, neither laptop is ideal for gaming or 3D work, as their screens lack high refresh rates that provide smoother visuals and more immersive experiences, important in fast-paced gaming or 3D rendering.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$849
$784
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a price of $849 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both considered fair for gaming and 3D due to their integrated GPUs, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, and their standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz, which is adequate for casual gaming but not ideal for high-frame-rate experiences. Both laptops offer decent CPU performance and IPS screens with good color accuracy, but they lack the higher refresh rates and GPU power needed for more demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Battery
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5630 to have good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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