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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is a great option if you want higher performance for tasks like engineering with a larger screen and higher resolution, but it is heavier and has shorter battery life. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is more affordable, very portable with longer battery life, and has a touchscreen, which makes it suitable for general use, but it has less power and a smaller storage capacity, which may not be ideal for more demanding tasks. Consider your primary needs; if portability and cost are your main concerns, the Lenovo might be the better choice, while if you need a machine for more intensive tasks and a better display, go for the Dell. 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 Slim 3
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher-resolution screen compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, making it a stronger choice for various general-use tasks. However, the IdeaPad Slim 3 boasts a longer battery life and slightly better portability due to its lower weight, though with a less capable CPU and lower screen quality, it might be better suited for less demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3
6.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 Slim 3 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 excels in engineering and design tasks due to its superior CPU and higher RAM, which are very important for such intensive tasks, and it also has a better GPU and screen quality, ensuring smoother graphics and clearer detail. While the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers greater portability and quieter operation, its less powerful CPU, lower amount of RAM, and less capable GPU, as well as a lower quality screen, make it less suited for demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.9
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 Slim 3 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
3.6/10
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 Slim 3 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
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 have screens that provide adequate clarity, brightness, and color for activities like browsing and watching videos, but they might not stand out in terms of sharpness or vibrancy due to less emphasis on high-resolution panels. In engineering and design, both laptops offer fair color reproduction for basic tasks, but professionals may find the color accuracy lacking when compared to screens focusing on wider color gamuts necessary for precision work. For gaming and 3D rendering, the slower refresh rates of both models' displays lead to less fluid motion and responsiveness, while the resolution and panel quality are only moderately suitable, not meeting the demands of high-end gaming visuals.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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.
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 Slim 3 costs $390.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
5.9
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5635 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 integrated graphics and a higher screen resolution that provides a sharper display, although it has a standard refresh rate which may limit smoothness in fast-paced games.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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 Slim 3 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5635 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $390 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.72'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.52 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.92" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | AMD Ryzen 3 7330U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 47 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
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 | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 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 | 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 | No | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
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 Slim 3
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 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.
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