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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 offers a better value if you're looking for a laptop on a tighter budget, with a larger screen size and solid performance for everyday tasks and some professional work such as graphic design or light video editing. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs more but provides a versatile 2-in-1 design with a more powerful graphics card, making it suitable for more intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming. It also has a high refresh rate screen which is better for smooth visuals in gaming and video playback, but at the expense of shorter battery life compared to the Dell. Consider the Dell if you prioritize a lower price and longer battery life over versatility and graphical power, or the Surface Laptop Studio if the higher cost is justified by the need for a flexible design and more robust graphics processing. 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
- Very good for content creation
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 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 5630 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 with its higher storage capacity and silent operation is well-suited for a range of general uses without the distraction of noise, and its large, quality screen along with good battery life makes it very reliable for everyday tasks. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers a flexible display hinge for tablet use, has a more powerful GPU for creative tasks, and its higher screen resolution and quality speakers make it good for media consumption, although it sacrifices some portability and has less storage.
Content Creation
8.1
7.4
8.2/10
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 5630 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
8.2/10
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 5630 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
8.0
16.0in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for software development, and content creation, 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 offers clarity and visibility with its resolution and brightness, but the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio goes a step further, providing a higher resolution and brightness which enhances the overall experience. In engineering and design, both laptops provide wide color gamuts ensuring accurate color representation; however, the Surface Laptop Studio may offer a bit more precision, important for professional design work. Gaming and 3D applications, on the other hand, suffer on both due to lower refresh rates, which can hinder the smoothness and responsiveness crucial in these areas.
Build Quality
7.0
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$849
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a price of $849 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.6
3.8/10
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 5630 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is equipped with an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card, which generally offers less power for gaming and 3D applications than dedicated GPUs like the Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti found in the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio; additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio boasts a higher screen refresh rate conducive to smoother visuals during gaming and 3D rendering, while the Inspiron has a standard refresh rate which is less optimal for these activities.
Engineering and Design
7.7
7.3
8.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell Inspiron 16 5630 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5630 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$849 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.67'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.28 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.91" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1360P | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 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 | 300 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 | Yes | 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 | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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 5630 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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