Choose the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 if you prefer a laptop with a higher resolution display for sharper images and potentially better battery efficiency due to its integrated AMD graphics, which should also make the laptop lighter and more portable. Opt for the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 if you prioritize stronger graphics performance for gaming or 3D work, thanks to its dedicated Nvidia graphics card, but be aware it may be heavier and may not have as long battery life when gaming or performing intensive tasks. Both options handle general use and engineering software well, but if intensive gaming or 3D tasks are common in your workflow, the Lenovo could serve you better despite the tradeoffs in portability and battery life during those activities. 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
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 excels in general use due to its lighter weight, smaller dimensions, and a screen with a better aspect ratio for productivity tasks, alongside a solid battery life and silent operation. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, while offering good general use capability with a high refresh rate display and hardware suited for gaming, it is heavier and bulkier, making it less portable, with a more game-oriented design that may not appeal to all users.
Screen Quality
6.6/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron's screen might not stand out due to limited brightness and lower resolution, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a better viewing experience with its sharper and brighter display, making it more favorable. When it comes to engineering and design, the Lenovo stands apart with its wider color range, offering deeper and more accurate colors necessary for precision work, unlike the Dell which falls short in color reproduction. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops don't excel, as their screens have lower refresh rates, which means they lack the smooth visuals demanded by high-speed gaming or immersive 3D experiences.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$700
$549
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a price of $700 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $549.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, with its higher RAM and integrated AMD Vega graphics, offers solid performance and vibrant display for design tasks, while its more compact and lighter build eases portability for engineers on the move. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 boasts a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a faster screen refresh rate, making it more suited for graphics-intensive engineering applications and offering a smoother visual experience, albeit with less RAM and lower overall screen resolution.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
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 Gaming 3 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
7.7/10
7.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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 5635 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.2/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 both have good 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 Gaming 3 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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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