Dell Inspiron 16 (5640) vs HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
Dell's Inspiron 16 targets budget-conscious users with solid fundamentals, pairing a 16-inch 1920x1200 display, Intel Core 7 150U processor, and 16GB DDR5 RAM at an accessible $799 price point. Battery life reaches 9 hours, supported by a 54Wh cell and practical ports including SD card and dual Thunderbolt connectivity. HP's Spectre x360 16 commands premium positioning at $1,650, delivering a stunning 2880x1800 OLED touchscreen with 120Hz refresh, significantly superior Core Ultra 7 155H performance (16 cores vs 10), larger 83Wh battery for 12-hour endurance, and convertible 2-in-1 functionality. Build quality favors HP with CNC aluminum construction versus the Inspiron's plastic base. Storage doubles on the Spectre (1TB vs 512GB). For everyday productivity and content consumption, Dell offers remarkable value; professionals and creators needing color-accurate displays, extreme performance, and versatile form factor will find HP's premium engineering justified. Choose Dell for budget-friendly computing; select HP for convertible capability and display excellence.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Dell Inspiron 16 (5640) | HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.90 kg | 2.19 kg |
| Material | Aluminum lid with plastic base | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 357.9 x 252.0 x 19.0 mm | 357 x 248 x 19.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | 2 | 1 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 2 |
| SD card | ||
| Thunderbolt ports | 1 | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours mixed use | Up to 12 hours |
| Capacity | 54 Wh | 83 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.0 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | WVA anti-glare LED | OLED touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 250 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 1 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 10-core (2P+8E) | 16 cores |
| Chipset | Intel Core 7 150U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Dell Inspiron 16 (5640)
Pros
- Affordable 16-inch productivity laptop
- Generous port selection including HDMI and USB-A
- Comfortable keyboard with numpad
- 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD in base config
- Upgradeable storage and memory
Cons
- Dim 250-nit display unsuitable for bright rooms
- Plastic base feels less premium
- Mediocre battery life around 9 hours
- Low-power Core 7 150U trails H-class chips
- No discrete GPU option
HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
Pros
- Gorgeous 2.8K OLED display with 120Hz refresh
- Premium gem-cut aluminum design with 360-degree hinge
- Excellent 9 MP webcam with auto-framing
- Includes Thunderbolt 4 plus HDMI and full-size USB-A
Cons
- Heavy at over 2.1 kg for a convertible
- Battery life modest given the 83 Wh capacity
- Premium price for the configuration
- Limited discrete GPU options for creative pros
Related Comparisons
Explore more in laptops, see all Dell products or all HP products. View full details for the Dell Inspiron 16 (5640) or the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024).

