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Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) Laptop Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2
Review updated May 28, 2024 at 09:35 am
Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) Picture
8.0
School
6.2
Gaming
7.5
Multimedia
7.8
Workstation
8.1
Business

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) is a Windows convertible laptop. This 7635 model isn't a direct replacement for the Dell Inspiron 16 7620 but rather an alternate model with AMD CPUs. It's available with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U or Ryzen 7 7730U CPU, whereas the Intel-based 7630 model (successor to the 7620 from 2022) is available with an Intel Core i5-1335U or i7-1360P. Memory and storage max out at 16GB and 1TB, respectively. It has a 16-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS display, a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy cover, and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. You can configure the laptop with a 64Wh or 86Wh battery. Ports include two USB-As, two USB-Cs (no Thunderbolt 4 or USB4), an HDMI 1.4, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack.

See our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.

Our Verdict

8.0 School

The Dell Inspiron 16 is great for school use. It feels well-built and is fairly easy to carry around. Its 16-inch display gives you plenty of room for multitasking, and you also get a comfortable keyboard and a large touchpad. Its AMD Ryzen CPU can handle light productivity tasks and some more demanding workloads; however, its integrated GPU performs poorly, so it isn't ideal for students needing high graphical processing power. The battery lasts around ten hours of light use and charges quickly over USB-C. The display gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings but not outdoors in broad daylight.

Pros
  • Fairly portable for a 16-inch laptop.
  • 10-hour battery life.
  • Plenty of screen real estate for split-screen multitasking.
  • Comfortable keyboard, large touchpad.
  • Wide port selection for peripherals and external display.
Cons
  • Integrated GPU isn't suitable for demanding tasks.
  • USB-C doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.
6.2 Gaming

The Dell Inspiron 16 is mediocre for gaming. Its low-power CPU and integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to handle demanding AAA titles. You can play some lighter, older games, but you'll have to play at a lower resolution and with low graphical settings to get smooth gameplay. Also, its 60Hz display has a slow response time and doesn't support VRR to reduce screen tearing.

Pros
  • Doesn't get hot or loud under load.
  • Wide port selection for peripherals and external display.
  • User-replaceable SSD.
Cons
  • Integrated GPU isn't suitable for demanding tasks.
  • CPU throttles under load.
  • 60Hz display with slow response time.
  • Soldered RAM.
7.5 Multimedia

The Dell Inspiron 16 is good for media consumption. It's fairly easy to carry around, and its battery lasts over ten hours of video playback. Its 16-inch screen looks sharp and colorful, and since it's a 2-in-1, you can set it up in tent mode when watching a video or use it as a tablet. The downside is that the display doesn't get very bright and struggles with direct reflections, so it isn't suited for sunny environments or outdoors in broad daylight. It also has a low contrast ratio, making blacks look gray in dim settings. As for the speakers, while they get very loud and fire upwards, they sound slightly unnatural, with very little bass.

Pros
  • Fairly portable for a 16-inch laptop.
  • 10-hour battery life.
  • Up-firing speakers get very loud.
Cons
  • Speakers sound slightly unnatural.
  • Blacks look gray in dim settings.
7.8 Workstation

The Dell Inspiron 16 is good for use as a workstation. Its CPU can handle some moderately demanding tasks, and it's pleasant to work on, as it has a good keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load. However, its integrated GPU performs poorly and isn't suitable for GPU-intensive workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. Also, you can only get up to 16GB of soldered RAM, and its USB-C ports don't support Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.

Pros
  • Comfortable keyboard, large touchpad.
  • Doesn't get hot or loud under load.
  • Wide port selection for peripherals and external display.
  • User-replaceable SSD.
Cons
  • Integrated GPU isn't suitable for demanding tasks.
  • CPU throttles under load.
  • USB-C doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.
  • Soldered RAM.
8.1 Business

The Dell Inspiron 16 is great for business use. It feels very well-built and is relatively easy to carry around for a 16-inch laptop. It has a large display for multitasking, a comfortable keyboard, and a large touchpad. Its AMD Ryzen CPU can easily handle general productivity tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and video playback. Plus, its battery lasts over ten hours of light use. The webcam captures a detailed but underexposed image, and unfortunately, the USB-C ports don't support Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.

Pros
  • Fairly portable for a 16-inch laptop.
  • 10-hour battery life.
  • Plenty of screen real estate for split-screen multitasking.
  • Comfortable keyboard, large touchpad.
  • Wide port selection for peripherals and external display.
Cons
  • USB-C doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.
  • Static background noise during video calls.
  • 8.0 School
  • 6.2 Gaming
  • 7.5 Multimedia
  • 7.8 Workstation
  • 8.1 Business
  1. Updated May 28, 2024: We've updated the review for conciseness and readability.
  2. Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
  3. Updated Nov 03, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
  4. Updated Aug 25, 2023: Added mention of the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) as an alternative with a sharper screen in the Screen Specs section.
  5. Updated Jul 26, 2023: Added mention of the HP ENVY x360 15 (2023) as an alternative with a better webcam in the Webcam and Microphone section.
  6. Updated Jun 08, 2023: Review published.
  7. Updated Jun 01, 2023: Early access published.
  8. Updated May 23, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated May 16, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated May 01, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (7635) with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U CPU, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. The CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; the options are available in the table below. Our review applies only to the 7635 model.

Screen
  • 16" IPS 1920 x 1200 60Hz Touchscreen
CPU
  • AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (6 cores/12 threads, up to 4.5GHz, 19MB cache)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (8 cores/16 threads, up to 4.5GHz, 20MB cache)
GPU
  • AMD Radeon Graphics (integrated)
Memory
  • 8GB LP-DDR4X 4266MHz
  • 16GB LP-DDR4X 4266MHz
Storage
  • 512GB M.2 2230 PCIe Gen. 4 NVMe SSD
  • 1TB M.2 2230 PCIe Gen. 4 NVMe SSD
Color
  • Dark River Blue

See our unit's label here.

Compared To Other Laptops

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is a great general productivity laptop and among the best in its class. It stands out for its sturdy build, long battery life, and excellent thermal and noise handling. However, its lack of Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 support is disappointing, as there are cheaper laptops that support these standards.

See our recommendations for the best business laptops, the best Windows laptops, and the best budget and cheap laptops.

HP ENVY x360 15 (2023)

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) and the HP ENVY x360 15 (2023) are both very good Windows convertible laptops that provide a similar user experience. The Dell feels sturdier but isn't quite as portable since it's a larger device. The HP comes out ahead in a few areas; it has a better 1400p webcam, a more comfortable keyboard, and nicer, brighter display options, including an OLED panel with full DCI P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. The Dell has longer battery life, although both last long enough to get you through a typical workday.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023)

The Leonov Yoga 7i 16 (2023) and the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) are both great convertible laptops designed for general productivity. The Lenovo is slightly better overall, as it has a sharper and brighter display, a better keyboard, Thunderbolt 4 support, and longer battery life. On the other hand, the Dell's touchpad feels more responsive, and its CPU doesn't throttle as much under load. If you like to draw or take handwritten notes, only the Lenovo has stylus support, though depending on the model, you may need to buy the stylus separately.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (2021)

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (2021) and the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) are both productivity-focused 2-in-1 convertibles. The Dell is better overall; it has a sturdier build, a larger and brighter display, a larger touchpad, a better webcam, and a wider port selection. It also performs better, as it's available with newer, faster AMD Ryzen 7030 series CPUs. The Lenovo has longer battery life, though both laptops can comfortably last through a typical workday of light use.

ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023)

For most uses, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) is better than the ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023). The Inspiron 16 has a sturdier full-aluminum chassis, and it's a more versatile device since you can use it as a tablet. It has a more colorful display with full sRGB coverage, a better 1080p webcam, and a wider port selection with a second USB-C port. Also, unlike the Vivobook, the Inspiron 16's USB-C ports support video output. The Inspiron 16 has longer battery life; it lasts over ten hours of light use, whereas the Vivobook lasts only around eight.

ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024)

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) are both general productivity-oriented laptops that meet different needs. The Dell is a 16-inch 2-in-1 convertible. The main advantage is that you can use it as a tablet for taking notes (although it doesn't come with a stylus) or in tent mode for watching content. The Dell also has superior battery life, so you don't need to worry about charging it during the workday if you are doing light productivity tasks. The ASUS is a 14-inch ultraportable with a traditional clamshell form factor. It's more portable and has a sharper color-accurate 2.8k OLED display, making it suitable for color correction work.

ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023)

The ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023) and the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) are similar overall. The main difference is the display. The ASUS has a 2.8k OLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, whereas the Dell is limited to an FHD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The ASUS' screen also gets brighter to combat glare. The Dell's screen is bigger, giving you more room for multitasking, but it also makes the device less portable and harder to use as a tablet. As for ports, the Dell has more, but unlike the ASUS, its USB-Cs don't support Thunderbolt 4 since it's an AMD system.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 (2021)

For most uses, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 (2021). The Inspiron 16 has a sturdier build and a longer battery life, and it's more versatile, as its 2-in-1 form factor lets you set up the laptop in tent mode for media consumption or use it as a tablet. It has a better keyboard and touchpad and is available with newer, faster CPUs. The Inspiron 16 also has a wider port selection, and unlike the IdeaPad 3, its USB-C ports support charging and video output.

ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED K513 (2021)

For most uses, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) is better than the ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED K513 (2021). The Inspiron 16 has a sturdier build, and it provides a better user experience with a more comfortable keyboard, a larger touchpad, and a better 1080p webcam. It also has a wider port selection, and unlike the VivoBook, its USB-C ports support charging and video output. The Dell Inspiron 16 is available with newer, faster CPUs, and its battery lasts over ten hours of light use, whereas the VivoBook lasts only around six. The only advantage the VivoBook has over the Inspiron 16 is its OLED display. Its near-infinite contrast ratio and full Adobe RGB and DCI P3 coverage make it a better option for media consumption and color-critical tasks like photo editing and graphic design.

ASUS Vivobook S 16 Flip TP3604 (2023)

The ASUS Vivobook S 16 Flip TP3604 (2023) and the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) are both Windows convertible laptops that provide a similar user experience. The Dell has a sturdier build and longer battery life; however, the ASUS is available with more powerful H-series CPUs and a nicer 3.2k OLED display.

Acer Aspire 3 15 (2023)

For most uses, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (2023) is much better than the Acer Aspire 3 15 (2023). The Inspiron 16 has a sturdier build and a longer battery life and is available with much faster CPUs. It also provides a better user experience overall with a brighter and more colorful display, a more comfortable keyboard, and a more responsive touchpad. The Inspiron 16 has a wider port selection, as it sports a second USB-C port, and its 1080p webcam captures a significantly sharper image on video calls.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Form Factor
2 in 1

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is only available in the Dark River Blue color. See the bottom of the laptop here.

9.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is outstanding. Its aluminum chassis feels very sturdy, with no gaps or obvious flaws in the construction. There's only a small amount of flex on the keyboard deck and almost none on the lid or the display. The finish is fairly scratch-resistant but easily picks up fingerprints and smudges. The feet feel solid and stick firmly to the bottom of the laptop.

7.5
Design
Hinge
Range
360°
Stability
Good
One Finger Lift
No

The hinge is good. Since this is a 2-in-1 convertible, you can flip the screen around and use it as a tablet. It feels smooth when opening and closing the lid and is very stable, exhibiting almost no wobble. Unfortunately, you can't open the laptop with one hand as the hinge has too much resistance, and the base is too light.

7.4
Design
Portability
Size
16"
Thickness
0.7" (1.9 cm)
Width
14.0" (35.6 cm)
Depth
9.9" (25.2 cm)
Volume
104.0 in³ (1,704.5 cm³)
Weight
4.4 lbs (2.0 kg)
Charger Size
10.4 in³ (171.0 cm³)
Charger Weight
1.1 lbs (0.5 kg)

The Dell Inspiron 16 is relatively thin and light, but ultimately, it's still a 16-inch laptop, so it might not fit in some smaller bags. The power adapter is compact and lightweight.

6.3
Design
Serviceability
Ease Of Access
7.5
RAM Slots
0
Storage Slots
1
Replaceable Battery
Yes
Replaceable Wireless Adapter
Yes

The internals are easy to access; you only need to remove nine Philips screws and undo the clips holding the bottom panel. The clips are pretty snug, so having a prying tool is best. Unfortunately, the memory isn't replaceable, and there's only one storage slot.

You can see the user's manual here.

Design
In The Box

  • Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 laptop
  • 65W USB-C power adapter and cord
  • Documentation

Display
Display
Screen Specs
Resolution
1920 x 1200
Aspect Ratio
16:10
Pixel Density
142 PPI
Panel Type
IPS
Touch Screen
Yes
Screen-To-Body Ratio
86%

The FHD+ resolution looks decently sharp on a 16-inch display. You can see individual pixels if you're close to the screen, but this isn't a problem at normal viewing distances. There's enough room to work comfortably with two windows placed side by side, though you may still need to scroll a little to the left or right to see all the content on some web pages. Its 16:10 aspect ratio is slightly taller than a standard 16:9 screen, which is great for productivity, as the increased vertical space lets you see more information when reading a document or website, reducing the need to scroll. If you want a 16-inch 2-in-1 laptop with a sharper screen, check out the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023).

5.9
Display
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No

The Dell Inspiron 16 is only available with a 60Hz display. Its slow response time causes noticeable ghosting, which isn't a problem for general productivity but is not ideal for viewing fast-moving content or gaming.

7.1
Display
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,172 : 1

The display's contrast ratio is decent and within the typical range for most IPS panels; however, it's still relatively low compared to other display technologies like VA and OLED. This level of contrast makes blacks look gray in dim settings.

6.9
Display
Brightness
Maximum Brightness
293 cd/m²
Minimum Brightness
17 cd/m²

The Dell Inspiron 16's display gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings but not in sunny environments or outdoors in broad daylight. It gets very dim at the lowest brightness setting, which is great for dark room viewing as it causes less eye strain.

6.9
Display
Reflections
Screen Finish
Glossy
Total Reflections
5.11%
Indirect Reflections
1.31%
Calculated Direct Reflections
3.8%

The display's reflection handling is okay. Its glossy finish doesn't do much to reduce the intensity of bright reflections, so it's best to avoid having light sources directly behind you, as the reflections are visible, even with the screen at maximum brightness. On the upside, it doesn't cause a halo effect in other areas of the screen like matte finishes typically do.

6.7
Display
Black Uniformity
Uniformity (Std. Dev.)
1.512%
6.8
Display
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
27°
Color Washout From Right
25°
Color Shift From Left
52°
Color Shift From Right
46°
Brightness Loss From Left
31°
Brightness Loss From Right
30°
Black Level Raise From Left
60°
Black Level Raise From Right
60°
Gamma Shift From Left
28°
Gamma Shift From Right
29°

The display's horizontal viewing angle is okay. The image dims and washes out relatively quickly as you move to the side, so you need to be more or less directly in front of the screen to see an accurate image.

7.1
Display
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
27°
Color Washout From Above
28°
Color Shift From Below
44°
Color Shift From Above
45°
Brightness Loss From Below
28°
Brightness Loss From Above
30°
Black Level Raise From Below
45°
Black Level Raise From Above
45°
Gamma Shift From Below
35°
Gamma Shift From Above
36°

The vertical viewing angle is decent. Like the horizontal viewing angle, the image looks dimmer and more washed out from above or below. You need to look at the screen more or less straight on if you need perfect accuracy, which can be challenging in tight spaces with very little room to tilt the screen, like on a bus or airplane.

4.5
Display
Out-Of-The-Box Color Accuracy
Avg. White Balance dE
6.07
Avg. Gamma
2.26
Avg. Color dE
4.57
Avg. Color Temperature
5,734.2 K

The Dell Inspiron 16's display accuracy is poor out of the box. The white balance is off, as there's a noticeable yellowish tint, in part due to the warm color temperature. Most colors are inaccurate, fine for general productivity and media consumption, but not ideal for color-critical work like photo editing. The gamma roughly follows the sRGB curve; most scenes look too dark, particularly very dark and very bright scenes.

8.6
Display
Color Gamut
sRGB xy
99.07%
sRGB uv
96.82%
Adobe RGB xy
81.24%
Adobe RGB uv
89.24%
DCI P3 xy
82%
DCI P3 uv
83.93%
Rec. 2020 xy
59.16%
Rec. 2020 uv
62.33%

The display's color gamut is excellent. It has full sRGB coverage, which is great for general use, as most content is in that color space. It has excellent DCI P3 and Adobe RGB coverage but not enough for professional photo editing or for producing HDR content.

10
Display
Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
Flicker Frequency
No Flicker
Flicker Active Below
0%
Interface
7.8
Interface
Keyboard
Typing Quality
7.5
Numpad
No
Backlighting
Adjustable
Operating Force
64 gf
Actuation Force
31 gf
Pre-Travel
1.01 mm
Total Travel
1.47 mm

The Dell Inspiron 16 laptop has a good keyboard. The layout feels spacious and is easy to get used to. The keys have a lot of travel and don't require much force to actuate; however, they feel slightly mushy, and key stability isn't uniform across the keyboard. Typing noise is low and isn't bothersome in quiet settings. You can adjust between two backlight brightness levels (Low or High) or turn it off completely using the F6 hotkey.

8.8
Interface
Touchpad
Tracking Quality
8.5
Size
19.4 in² (125.0 cm²)
Material
Glass
Dedicated Buttons
No

The touchpad is excellent. It's large and feels smooth. It tracks all movements and gestures well, and there are no issues with palm rejection or actions like dragging and dropping. You can only click in the bottom half of the touchpad, though, and the click mechanism feels a tad mushy.

8.2
Interface
Speakers
Max Volume
82 dB SPL
Standard Error @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
6.3 dB
Slope @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
1.3
Bass Extension (Low-Frequency Ext.)
236 Hz
Treble Extension (High-Frequency Ext.)
20 kHz
Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Vol.
2.5 dB

The Dell Inspiron 16's up-firing speakers get very loud with minimal compression artifacts at max volume. They deliver speech and vocals clearly; however, they're a tad sibilant, and some instruments sound unnatural. There's some bass, but not enough for a good music-listening or movie-watching experience.

7.9
Interface
Webcam & Microphone
Video Quality
7.5
Resolution
1080p
Position
Top Center
Privacy Cover
Yes
Face Unlock
No

The webcam's video quality is good. The image looks detailed, but the exposure is too low, and there's an unnatural hue. As for the audio, while voices sound clear, the microphone's gain is too high, and there's some static noise in the background. There's a physical privacy cover; closing it also disables the webcam at the software level. If you want a 2-in-1 convertible with a better webcam, check out the HP ENVY x360 15 (2023).

Connectivity
8.5
Connectivity
Ports
USB-A Ports
2
USB-C Ports
2
Thunderbolt
No
USB-C Charging
Yes
USB-C Display Out
Yes
HDMI
1.4
DisplayPort
No
3.5mm Jack
Combo mic/headphone
Card Reader
SD UHS 1
Ethernet
No
Proprietary Port
No
Security Lock
No

The port selection is outstanding. The USB-A ports support USB 3.2 Gen. 1 data transfer speed (up to 5Gbps). The USB-Cs support USB 3.2 Gen. 2 data transfer speed (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort 1.4, and Power Delivery. The latter allows for fast charging of the laptop and other PD-compatible devices connected to the port. The HDMI port's maximum output is 1080p at 60Hz; you need to use the USB-C port to output at a higher resolution.

Connectivity
Wireless Communication
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth
5.2

The wireless adapter is a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E MT7922. You can also get the laptop with a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 wireless adapter. Wi-Fi 6E gives access to the 6GHz band, providing faster speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference than previous Wi-Fi standards. However, you need a router that supports Wi-Fi 6E to benefit from these features.

Configuration
Configuration
CPU
Brand
AMD
Model
Ryzen 5 7530U
Core Count
6
Thread Count
12

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is available with the following CPUs:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (6 cores/12 threads, up to 4.5GHz, 19MB cache)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (8 cores/16 threads, up to 4.5GHz, 20MB cache)

Both CPUs are designed for light to moderately demanding productivity tasks, like text processing, web browsing, spreadsheets, and video playback. The Ryzen 5 7530U and Ryzen 7 7730U are refreshed versions of the older Ryzen 5 5625U and the Ryzen 7 5825U, respectively, but with faster clock speeds. The Ryzen 7 7730U has more cores and threads, making it a better option for heavy multitaskers or more intensive applications.

Configuration
GPU
Brand
AMD
Model
Radeon Graphics
Dedicated/Integrated
Integrated
VRAM Size
N/A

The Dell Inspiron 16 laptop is only available with AMD Radeon graphics. This integrated GPU can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or gaming. The Ryzen 7's GPU is faster than the Ryzen 5's, but the performance difference is small and isn't noticeable.

Configuration
RAM
Capacity
16 GB
Modules
2
Type
LP-DDR4X
Speed
4,266 MHz

You can configure this laptop with 8GB or 16GB of RAM. The memory modules aren't user-replaceable.

Configuration
Storage
Advertised Capacity
512 GB
Usable Capacity
451 GB
Drive 1
KIOXIA KBG50ZNS512G
Drive 1 Type SSD
Drive 2
No 2nd Drive
Drive 2 Type No 2nd Drive

You can configure this laptop with 512GB or 1TB of storage. The SSD is user-replaceable; the slot supports an M.2 2230 or 2280 SSD. The KIOXIA SSD is a PCIe Gen. 4 drive, but the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U and Ryzen 7 7730U only support PCIe Gen. 3, so even if you replace it with a faster PCIe Gen. 4 SSD, it'll operate at PCIe Gen. 3 speeds.

Performance
8.4
Performance
Geekbench 5 (Synthetics)
CPU Single-Thread
1,419 points
CPU Multi-Thread
6,520 points
GPU Compute
14,598 points

The Dell Inspiron 16's overall score in Geekbench 5 is great. The AMD Ryzen 5 7530U performs well in single- and multi-threaded workloads, making it suitable for light to moderately demanding workloads. If you're a heavy multitasker or use more intensive programs, it's best to upgrade to the AMD Ryzen 7730U, as it has more cores and threads to ensure a smoother experience. As for GPU computing tasks, the CPU's integrated Radeon GPU performs poorly. If your workload needs a lot of GPU processing power, a laptop with a discrete GPU or an Apple MacBook Pro with an Apple ARM-based SoC is best.

9.2
Performance
Cinebench R23 (CPU Rendering)
Single-Thread
1,448 points
Multi-Thread
7,900 points

You can use the Dell Inspiron 16 for 3D graphics rendering and other related workloads but know that you may experience some slowdowns and stutters in extremely complex work. If you want the smoothest experience and the fastest render times, it's best to get a laptop with a better cooling system and a more powerful H-series CPU, like the Intel Core i9-12900HX in the MSI Raider GE67 HX (2022).

8.2
Performance
Blender (3D Rendering)
CPU Render Time
3.7 min
GPU Render Time
N/A
GPU Render Time (Optix)
N/A

The Dell Inspiron 16 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U CPU performs well in Blender; however, it isn't as fast as rendering with a discrete GPU. Even an entry-level GPU, like an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, can render images much faster.

4.5
Performance
Basemark GPU (Game Scene)
Overall Score
12,887

The Dell Inspiron 16 performs poorly in the Basemark GPU benchmark. The AMD Ryzen processor's integrated GPU can't handle graphically demanding games. You can play some lighter puzzle-like or older titles, but you'll have to play at a lower resolution or with low settings to get playable frame rates.

9.0
Performance
Storage Drive Performance
Sequential Write Speed
781.0 MB/s
Sequential Read Speed
2,794.3 MB/s
Random Write Speed
62.4 MB/s
Random Read Speed
44.9 MB/s

The storage drive performance is outstanding. It's on the slower side for a PCIe Gen. 4 SSD since it's operating at PCIe Gen. 3 speeds, but it's still plenty fast for a general productivity laptop. The system boots up, launches apps, and transfers files quickly. The 1TB SSD is likely faster, as larger capacity drives typically perform better.

8.6
Performance
Battery
Capacity
64 Wh
Battery Life (Web Browsing)
10.3 hrs
Battery Life (Video Playback)
10.0 hrs
Battery Life (Gaming)
2.3 hrs
Charge Time
1.7 hrs

This laptop is also available with an 86Wh battery, which will give you a few more hours of light use.

1.8
Performance
Borderlands 3
Avg. FPS
11 fps
1% Low
7 fps
0.1% Low
4 fps
1% Low Delta
52 ms
0.1% Low Delta
149 ms
Avg. FPS On Very Low
31 fps

Borderlands 3 isn't playable at 1080p. The game is too choppy, even with the lowest graphical settings. The AMD Ryzen CPU's integrated graphics can't handle this and other similarly demanding games.

5.0
Performance
Civilization VI
Avg. FPS
25 fps
1% Low
17 fps
0.1% Low
16 fps
1% Low Delta
18 ms
0.1% Low Delta
21 ms
Avg. FPS On Minimum
88 fps
Avg. Turn Time
7.68 s

Civilization VI and other similar strategy games are playable on the Dell Inspiron 16 laptop, but you need to play with low graphical settings to get smooth gameplay. The average turn time is decent and within the expected range for a low-power ultraportable CPU like the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U. Upgrading to the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U won't improve the turn time significantly.

6.6
Performance
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Avg. FPS
73 fps
1% Low
38 fps
0.1% Low
28 fps
1% Low Delta
13 ms
0.1% Low Delta
22 ms
Avg. FPS On Low
108 fps

The performance in CS:GO is okay. The average frame rate is good; however, there are frequent stutters due to frame drops, which isn't ideal for an FPS game. The gameplay is smoother with low settings, but occasional stutters still exist.

3.0
Performance
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Avg. FPS
18 fps
1% Low
12 fps
0.1% Low
7 fps
1% Low Delta
23 ms
0.1% Low Delta
94 ms
Avg. FPS On Lowest
29 fps

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is unplayable at 1080p with high graphical settings, as the average frame rate is too low. You can get close to 30 fps with low settings, but the game will still feel choppy, which isn't great in a game that requires some aiming. You can expect the same performance in other similar AAA titles.

8.5
Performance
Thermals And Noise
Keyboard Temp While Idle
29 °C (84 °F)
Keyboard Temp Under Load
40 °C (104 °F)
Fan Noise While Idle
25.0 dBA
Fan Noise Under Load
39.0 dBA
Power & Fan Control App
Yes

The keyboard is cool when idle and only gets mildly warm under load. The fan is very quiet at full speed and easily gets drowned out by ambient noise.

8.1
Performance
Performance Over Time
CPU Temp (Cinebench)
70 °C
CPU Perf. Loss (Cinebench)
11% loss
GPU Temp (Heaven)
55 °C
GPU Perf. Loss (Heaven)
1% loss
Additional Features And Software
Additional Features And Software
Software
Operating System
Windows 11
Additional Software
Yes

The Dell Inspiron 16 has many pre-installed applications, including:

  • Alexa: Amazon's digital assistant.
  • AMD Bug Report Tool: Lets you report system issues to AMD.
  • AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition: Lets you tweak the performance and power settings, check for updates, change the display's color profile, create hotkeys, monitor system status, and view system information.
  • Dell Digital Delivery: Lets you purchase and download software applications from Dell.
  • Dell Update: Helps keep the firmware and drivers up to date.
  • MyDell: Contains additional information about the laptop and lets you access power profiles to improve performance.
  • SmartByte: Optimizes network performance.
  • Solitaire and casual games: Solitaire, FreeCell, Spider, Mahjong, Sudoku, and other casual games.
  • Spotify: App for the music streaming service.

Additional Features And Software
Extra Features
RGB Illumination
No
Touch Pen
No
Secondary Display
No
Biometrics
Fingerprint Sensor

There's a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. You can use it to log into Windows, authorize Windows Store purchases, and auto-fill saved passwords on supported websites.