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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If performance for intensive engineering tasks is a priority and you don't mind less portability, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 with its high-resolution screen and powerful processor stands out, at a higher price. However, if you prefer something more affordable, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" offers good general use capabilities at a budget-friendly price, but with a smaller screen and less powerful hardware, making it less suitable for demanding software applications. The Dell also offers silent operation, which can be a significant advantage if you need to work in quiet environments. Every choice involves compromises, so weigh the importance of performance, screen size, budget constraints, and the need for quiet operation carefully. 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
- Very good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0
6.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" in general use primarily because it features a more powerful CPU, more RAM, a larger high-resolution screen, and better heat management while still maintaining silent operation. Despite the Dell's higher capabilities, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers greater portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life which may be more appealing to those prioritizing ease of carrying and use on-the-go.
Engineering and Design
7.3
6.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is favored for engineering and design because it offers a stronger CPU and more RAM, facilitating complex computing tasks, along with a higher resolution and larger screen which are beneficial for detailed design work. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" provides less computing power and a smaller, lower resolution display, making it less suited for intensive engineering applications, although it does offer better portability due to its lighter weight and compact form factor.
Content Creation
7.9
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for content creation, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is somewhat better.
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
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
6.6
6.4
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, a laptop screen's clarity and comfort are crucial, and both Dell Inspiron and Lenovo IdeaPad offer screens with adequate resolution and brightness, ensuring a pleasant viewing experience for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. In engineering and design, colors need to be accurate, and while both laptops provide acceptable displays, they do not cover professional-grade color spaces fully, which might not be ideal for high-end visual work. For gaming and 3D applications, fast responses are key; unfortunately, neither laptop excels as they lack high refresh rates, leading to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenes.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$700
$390
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a price of $700 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $390.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is equipped with a somewhat more capable integrated Vega 8 GPU, which would generally provide better gaming and 3D performance compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" which has a Vega 7 GPU; both laptops have the same screen refresh rate of 60Hz which is decent for gaming but not ideal for high-frame-rate experiences. The quality of the CPU and screen is important for gaming and 3D applications as well, and while both laptops likely have adequate CPU performance and screen quality for casual gaming, their integrated GPUs and standard refresh rates limit their capabilities for more intensive tasks.
Build Quality
7.0
6.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5635 to have good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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 5635 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5635 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $390 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.72'' | 12.8'' x 8.5'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 12.76" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.92" | 8.49" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 45 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 265 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
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 5635
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Dig into reviews and images
UltrabookReview
Derek Sullivan | January 2023
"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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | February 2023
"The low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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.
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