When considering the Dell Inspiron and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, take into account that the Dell often provides value for money with decent performance for general use, making it suitable for everyday tasks at a lower cost. The ThinkPad, however, is known for its robust build quality, better keyboard, and often longer battery life, making it a reliable choice for business professionals and those who prioritize durability and typing comfort. If you need a laptop for more demanding tasks or prefer a more rugged device, the higher investment in the ThinkPad could be justified, whereas for budget-conscious users, the Dell may suffice. 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 speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both very good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 offers a balance of performance and screen quality, with enough CPU power and RAM to handle everyday tasks smoothly and a screen that's easy on the eyes for prolonged use. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while maintaining similar performance, shines with its renowned keyboard quality, durability, and typically longer battery life for users who need to work on the go without frequent charging.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU, handles demanding engineering software and visual tasks on a high-quality screen, but may be heavier and louder under load. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers similar CPU and RAM capabilities with a slightly less powerful GPU, boasts a durable build with a comfortable keyboard, and is lighter for on-the-go use, making it a balance between performance and mobile convenience.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is 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.
Screen Quality
6.6/10
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14's screen boasts higher resolution and better brightness, making it well-suited for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption, compared to the Dell Inspiron 16 5635, which offers satisfactory visuals but doesn't stand out. Designers and engineers will find the ThinkPad T14's wider color gamut, covering more of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, essential for precision in color-critical work, an area where the Inspiron lags behind. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, however, both laptops fall short due to their mediocre refresh rates, although the T14's better resolution and panel type give it a slight edge for less demanding graphic tasks.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
$700
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a price of $700 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both offer GPUs that can handle games and 3D applications but don't expect top-notch gaming performance as their GPUs aren't top-tier. While both laptops have screens with decent quality, they may lack the higher refresh rates preferred by hardcore gamers, leading to less fluid visuals during fast-paced games.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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