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Updated January 10, 2024·
Comparing the Acer Aspire 1 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, if you prioritize a lower price and satisfactory performance for general use with a battery life of around 6 hours, the Acer could work for you, but it has limited storage and memory, and a lower-quality display. Alternatively, if you're willing to invest more for a significant boost in performance suitable for more demanding tasks like engineering and 3D work, and you prefer a touch screen with a higher-quality display, the Dell is a strong option with double the storage and memory, a more powerful processor, and slightly better battery life. 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 Acer Aspire 1
- The Acer Aspire 1 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3525.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
- Good for general use
- Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
5.8
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is considered poor for general use likely because it features a basic processor and lower RAM, making it less capable of handling multiple tasks or demanding applications, while also offering a lower-quality TN screen with less vibrant colors and narrower viewing angles. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offers a more powerful processor, double the RAM for smoother multitasking, and an IPS touchscreen with better color reproduction and viewing angles, making it better suited for a variety of general use cases.
Engineering and Design
5.5
6.4
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a lower-end CPU and GPU, along with less RAM, which limits its ability to handle the demanding tasks of engineering and design software; additionally, it has a lower quality TN screen, further reducing its suitability for precise visual work. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offers a more powerful CPU and GPU, double the RAM for multitasking, and a higher quality IPS screen which would render more accurate colors and better viewing angles, making it more suitable for engineering and design purposes.
Content Creation
5.9
7.1
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
6.1
6.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and Acer Aspire 1 are both only fair for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
5.2
6.3
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If your primary concern is general usage, like browsing the web and streaming videos, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525's adequate resolution and brightness will offer a more comfortable experience compared to the Acer Aspire 1 with its lower quality display. For engineering and design tasks that depend on precise color representation, the Dell's fair screen can handle these demands better than the Aspire 1, although neither may fully satisfy professionals who need wide color gamuts. However, if gaming or working with 3D applications is crucial, neither laptop is ideal due to modest refresh rates and resolution, though the Dell's fair features might be marginally more acceptable.
Build Quality
5.5
6.2
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has only fair build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$244
$400
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 costs $400.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.6
6.0
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3525 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and Acer Aspire 1 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Dell Inspiron 15 3525 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$244 | $400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.71 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 1
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | May 2020
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | January 2023
"Dell's Inspiron 15 (3525) is a peppy-enough and affordable-enough home or remote work machine, but it's not very ambitious; it does little to go beyond the basics. More the concern: It’s readily overshadowed by a number of machines that outperform and outclass it. Even if the Inspiron can get the job done today, its competition has the mettle to keep doing the job tomorrow in a way the Inspiron simply can’t promise. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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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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