Here, we have a convertible laptop, specifically a 16-inch model that won’t break the bank but still doesn’t skimp on features. And it’s the Dell Inspiron 16 7635 2-in-1 2023 convertible laptop, currently priced at $650 it’s quite impressive in terms of price-to-performance ratio. Inspiron 16 is powered by an AMD Ryzen processor and boasts a 16-inch display with full HD Plus resolution. The best part is that it’s budget-friendly. This is the Full Inspiron 16 7635 2-in-1 for 2023 Review.
Dell Inspiron 16 Specs and Price
| DISPLAY | 16.0″ FHD+ 1920 x 1200 60Hz, WVA Touch, 300nit, ComfortView Plus |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U 6-Core/1-thread |
| Graphics | Radeon Graphics |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR4x, 4266 MT/s Integrated |
| Storage | 512GB M.2. PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Battery | 64Wh 4 Cell integrated |
| Connectivity | MEdiaTek Wi-Fi 6E MT7922, 2×2, 802.11ax, MU MMD. Bluetooth wireless card. |
The pricing for the Dell Inspiron 16 starts at $649.99, which I must say is an excellent price considering the value you get. It comes equipped with a Ryzen 5750 CPU, but you can also opt for the Ryzen 7. We get 16 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of SSD storage for that same price of $649.99 It’s truly a fantastic deal.
Read Also: Dell XPS 15 9530 (2023) Review
Design and Build Quality
Inside the box, you’ll find your power cord and a 65-watt USB Type-C power adapter. Additionally, there’s some documentation, including warranty information and the Dell Inspiron 16 itself.
When you first hold the unit, the standout feature is that beautiful Deep River blue color. It’s a really nice finish, and this laptop boasts an all-metal design with a solid build quality. Considering the price point of $649.99, I wasn’t expecting a super-premium build, but it definitely offers good build quality for its price. There’s minimal flex or give in the chassis.
In terms of size and weight, the laptop alone weighs about 2.025 kilograms or 4.464 pounds. When you add the power cord and charger, the total weight goes up to 2.316 kilograms or 5.105 pounds. Dell also sent over the 14-inch 2-in-1 model for comparison, and both laptops are powered by the same processor. One noticeable difference is the color; the 14-inch comes in silver, while the 16-inch boasts the Deep River blue. Both colors look great, and the silver option may show fewer fingerprints, although it’s not a significant concern with the blue color.
Ports and Connections
On the left side of the laptop, you’ll find an HDMI 1.4 port, followed by a USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port. Additionally there are two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports that support power delivery and display port functionality. Over to the right side there’s a full-size SD card reader, A USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 3.5-millimeter microphone/headphone combo jack. All in all Dell Inspiron 16 laptop offers a really good selection of ports making it well-equipped for various connectivity needs.
User Upgradeability on the Dell Inspiron 16
Dell has made it quite straightforward to access the internals of this laptop. There are nine Phillips head screws, with the first three on the top being captive, while the rest are removable. After removing the screws, you can easily pop off the bottom plate using a tool.
Once you’re inside, you’ll notice a single fan for cooling, and we’ll discuss thermal performance later in this review. There’s also a 64-watt hour battery unfortunately the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard and isn’t user-upgradable but my review unit comes with 16 gigabytes of LP DDR4x RAM running in dual-channel mode at 4266 MHz. The SSD on the other hand is user-replaceable, It’s a 2230 form factor SSD, and the 512 gigabyte SSD included in my review unit demonstrates typical speeds for this form factor.
Regarding wireless connectivity the laptop features a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth combo card. The good news is that it’s slotted in and not soldered meaning you have the option to replace it in the future if needed. Both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are working seamlessly and there have been no reported issues. Interestingly, Dell opted for MediaTek instead of Intel or another brand for this component, but it appears to be performing well.
Display Picture Quality and Color Gamut
Inspiron 16 7635 is a 16-inch panel with a Full HD Plus resolution of 1920 by 1200, offering a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display has a 60Hz refresh rate and utilizes a WVA panel with touch capabilities. According to Dell, it has a peak brightness of 300 nits, although my measurements indicate it’s around 278 nits. While it would have been preferable to have it above 300 or even 400 nits, considering the price point of around $650, it’s a reasonable compromise.
In terms of color gamut coverage, it covers 100% sRGB, 73% Adobe RGB, 73% of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut, and 67% of NTSC. This makes it a decent choice for various tasks but not an ideal one for professional content creators who require precise color accuracy, especially for tasks like photo editing and color grading. However, it does offer a good color accuracy with a Delta E score of 1.91.
The display is also enjoyable for media consumption, offering a great experience for streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and the like. However, do note that due to the 16:10 aspect ratio, when watching content designed for the more common 16:9 aspect ratio, you’ll see black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, This is a minor inconvenience worth mentioning.
The Modes and Pen Support
Being a two-in-one convertible, the Dell Inspiron 16 offers multiple modes of use. There’s the tent mode which is perfect for following recipes in the kitchen or enjoying media content on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube It performs well in this mode. The stand mode or presentation mode is great for delivering PowerPoint presentations and similar activities during group meetings.
You can also switch it into tablet mode, although it’s worth noting that a 16-inch convertible laptop can be relatively heavy for a tablet, making it more practical for use on a table or desk. It does support a stylus, although they didn’t provide one in this review. However, it works well for tasks like taking notes, sketching, creating diagrams, and more. The touch layer is responsive and works seamlessly, making navigation through the operating system easy, including pinch-to-zoom gestures and other touch interactions. Overall, it provides a versatile and responsive touch experience.
Speakers Audio Quality
In terms of audio, the Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is equipped with two top-firing speakers and two downward-firing speakers. Considering its price point of $650, you might not expect outstanding sound quality, but the audio performance is surprisingly good. The speakers deliver nice volume, clear mids, and even some noticeable bass, making for a well-rounded audio experience that is certainly above par for a laptop in this price range.
FHD Webcam and Fingerprint Reader
The Inspiron 16 7635 2-in-1 for 2023 features a full HD camera capable of shooting 1080p video at 30 frames per second. It’s equipped with a physical shutter switch, allowing you to turn off the camera for enhanced security and privacy. However, it’s worth noting that this camera does not support Windows Hello for facial recognition.
On the plus side, the laptop has a fingerprint scanner located on the keyboard, which also serves as the power button. This fingerprint scanner has proven to be efficient and user-friendly during setup and subsequent use.
Hinges, Keyboard and Touchpad
For those wondering about the laptop’s usability, it’s important to note that you can’t quite open the Dell Inspiron 16 7635 with just one finger, Typically 2-in-1 laptops struggle with this due to the 360-degree hinge design. However, the screen wobble is minimal, even when typing, which is a positive aspect, especially considering the price point. Many 2-in-1 convertibles experience more pronounced screen wobble.
As for the keyboard, it’s not my absolute favorite, but it’s definitely a good usable keyboard. It’s well-suited for tasks involving long documents, typing emails, and similar activities. The keyboard features a multi-stage backlight which proves handy when working in a dark or dimly lit environment. It offers a practical solution for various lighting conditions.
The laptop also includes a spacious Precision touchpad that performs well. It supports scrolling and various gestures, and overall, it works smoothly. While it’s a traditional-style touchpad and not haptic, it provides a satisfactory user experience, which is certainly appreciated at this price point.
Performance, Benchmarks and Gaming
| PCMARK 10 | 5,936 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | 1,885 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | 6,718 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 3,071 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 1,341 CB | 110.22 FPS |
| CINEBENCH R23 | 1,405 Single-Core | 7,939 Multi-Core |
| DMARK FIRE STRIKE | 3,601 |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 1,391 |
In terms of performance, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, a six-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture (not Zen 4). This CPU provides decent performance for everyday tasks such as Microsoft Office, email, and web browsing. It demonstrates good single-core and multi-core performance, though it’s not groundbreaking. Considering its price point, it offers satisfactory performance for typical use.
| Games | LOW | MEDIUM | HIGH | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE WITCHER 3 | 79 FPS | 75 FPS | 24 FPS | 15 FPS |
| GTA V | 89 FPS | 78 FPS | 24 FPS | 9 FPS |
| DOTA 2 REBORN | 109 FPS | 91 FPS | 55 FPS | 52 FPS |
| Cyberpunk2077 | 20 FPS | 15 FPS | 10 FPS | 8 FPS |
However, when it comes to gaming, it’s important to note that this laptop relies on integrated Radeon graphics, not a discrete GPU. While integrated graphics can handle less demanding games quite well, for more graphics-intensive titles like Cyberpunk 2077, you may encounter challenges. Playable frame rates can be achieved by lowering settings, but it’s not the best choice for demanding gaming experiences. Ultimately gaming performance will depend on the specific title and the settings you choose to use.
Thermals, Surface Temps and Fan Noise
During the Time Spy stress test to assess thermal performance under heavy load, the Dell Inspiron 16 7635 achieved a score of 94.1 percent. This indicates that it detected some degree of thermal throttling, but it’s relatively minor. To put it in perspective, a score of 97 or higher would signify passing without any throttling. So, there’s only a slight thermal throttling issue, which is generally good news.
In terms of surface temperatures, the laptop manages to remain relatively cool even under heavy load, as shown in the measurements. The underside and the area around the heating vent on the back maintain temperatures below 43 degrees Celsius. This is a positive aspect, as it helps ensure comfortable use, especially during prolonged periods of heavy work or gaming.
Regarding fan noise, it reaches around 48 decibels under heavy load when in the ultra-performance mode. However, when switched to the balanced mode, the fan noise is not too distracting. This balance between performance and noise levels is a practical feature for users who value a quieter computing experience during less demanding tasks.
Battery Life on the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1
| Laptop | PCMARK 10 Modern Office | PCMARK 10 Video Playback |
|---|---|---|
| Dell Inspiron 16 7635 2-in-1 64Wh | 14 hours 39 minutes | 14 hours 57 minutes |
| Dell Inspiron 16 7620 2-in-1 87Wh | 14 hours 35 minutes | 14 hours 44 minutes |
The Inspiron 16 7635 is equipped with a 4-cell, 64-watt-hour battery, which is notably smaller than the 87-watt-hour battery found in the Dell Inspiron 16 7620 2-in-1. Despite the reduction in battery size, it still managed to deliver impressive battery life.
On the PC Mark 10 Modern Office battery test Inspiron 16 achieved a runtime of 14 hours and 39 minutes which is very similar to what its Intel counterpart achieved the previous year. This result is highly commendable, especially considering the smaller battery capacity.
Furthermore on the video playback test the laptop ran for nearly 15 hours, outlasting last year’s model by a few minutes. These battery results are indeed remarkable making this convertible laptop an excellent choice for users seeking long battery life, and it certainly excels in this regard.
Final Thought
To sum it all up, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 2023 offers a lot to like, and it provides excellent value for your money. It boasts a great price-to-performance ratio, a decent display considering the price, an abundance of ports, and remarkable battery life. These are all strong points that make it a compelling choice.
However, there are some aspects to be aware of. The non-upgradable RAM may be a drawback for some users. Additionally, while the display is good, it could have been brighter, ideally surpassing 400 nits. It’s also important to note that it features the Zen 3 architecture, not Zen 4, and its Intel counterpart has a larger battery. Despite this, the laptop manages to deliver impressive battery life, which is a noteworthy feat.
Overall, if you’re in the market for a budget-friendly convertible laptop that offers a well-rounded package and excels in areas like battery life and price-to-performance ratio, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is worth considering.
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Design8
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Hardware8
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Ports9
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Display8
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Touchpad8
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Keyboard8
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Audio9
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Webcam8
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Performance8
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Thermals / Fan Noise9
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Battery8
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10Price
