If price is a concern and you need a laptop with ample storage and good performance for general use, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 will be cost-effective. However, if you can invest more for a laptop with better battery life and significantly superior build and audio quality, the Dell XPS 15 is the better option. The XPS 15 also has a slight edge in portability and is better suited for more intensive tasks, such as engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning, due to a more powerful main processor and graphics unit. Neither is optimal for intensive gaming, but the XPS 15 does support some gaming-specific features like hardware ray tracing and DLSS. 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 5635
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.1/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, with its ample memory, dedicated AMD graphics, and a higher-resolution screen, suits design tasks well, while the Dell XPS 15's powerful Intel CPU and discrete Intel Arc GPU make it equally capable for engineering uses, albeit with a lower-resolution screen. The Inspiron is slightly less portable and has a screen that's not as color-accurate as the XPS, which has a better keyboard, speaker quality, and manages heat and operating noise more efficiently.
Screen Quality
6.6/10
7.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 offers adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but its display isn't as sharp or vibrant as the Dell XPS 15, which boasts a higher resolution and brighter panel for clearer and more vivid images. In engineering and design, the XPS 15 pulls ahead with wider color coverage, producing more accurate colors critical for professional work, while the Inspiron 16 lags with more limited color representation. However, both the Inspiron 16 and the XPS 15 aren't ideal for gaming or 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, making them less smooth compared to laptops specifically tailored for these tasks.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has 8 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 has 10 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
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$735
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a price of $735 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
The Dell XPS 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 with a solid processor and ample RAM delivers fine performance for everyday tasks, and its high-resolution screen offers good visual quality; however, its larger size may hinder portability slightly more than the Dell XPS 15, which also offers great processing power and memory for general use, benefits from a high-quality screen and superior battery life, all in a more compact and lighter frame that enhances its portability.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell XPS 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 is considered better for gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it has a dedicated Intel Arc A370M graphics card which outperforms the integrated AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Vega 8 graphics in the Dell Inspiron 16 5635, providing better rendering capabilities required for such activities. While both laptops have comparable screen refresh rates, the screen quality of the XPS 15 is also superior, with higher brightness and wider color coverage, contributing to a more immersive gaming and 3D experience.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
7.7/10
8.1/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is good.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
"Compared to the previous year’s Inspiron, Dell upgraded the screen aspect ratio on this generation, but also transitioned to a more minimalistic centered keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers. The 16-inch screen is huge plus and I really appreciate the extra real estate without sacrificing the footprint much. This year’s model is a little larger than last, though, as the former model was already very small for a 15 incher."
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 or the Dell XPS 15
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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