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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 1 is significantly less expensive than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and is a good choice if you're on a tight budget and need a machine for basic tasks like browsing and document editing. It has a lower-end processor and less memory, which might slow you down if you're multitasking heavily or need more power for demanding applications. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a mid-range price and offers more robust performance with a faster processor and more memory, making it better suited for intensive tasks and perhaps some casual gaming. However, it's also more expensive, so you'll have to consider if the improved performance is worth the extra cost to you. The Dell has a better display and may provide a more enjoyable user experience overall, especially if you're spending long hours on your laptop. 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 3530.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
5.8
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1, with its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM, may struggle with multitasking and more demanding tasks, and its TN screen provides poorer viewing angles and color reproduction than the IPS display on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, which also sports a more capable Intel i5 processor and 16GB of RAM suitable for heavier use. The greater storage capacity and higher battery capacity of the Dell Inspiron further make it a more attractive option for those needing to store more data and work longer on the go, compared to the Acer Aspire 1's more modest specs.
Gaming and AI
5.6
6.3
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 falls short in gaming and 3D due to its basic Intel Celeron N4500 UHD Graphics and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is better suited with its Intel i5-1335U Iris Xe GPU and a higher 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother visuals and better performance. Additionally, the Dell has a superior contrast ratio and screen colors coverage, enhancing the overall visual experience for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.5
6.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is equipped with a lower-end Intel Celeron processor, 4 GB RAM, and basic UHD Graphics which are not adequate for demanding engineering and design software, and it features a lower-quality TN screen that does not reproduce colors as accurately. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a more capable Intel i5 processor, 16 GB RAM for multitasking, integrated Iris Xe Graphics for better visual performance, and an IPS display with higher color accuracy, all of which contribute to a better experience for engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
5.9
7.3
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
7.2
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
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
6.6
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers fair visuals with better resolution and brightness compared to the Acer Aspire 1, which falls short due to a lackluster display. For engineering and design tasks that demand accurate color representation, the Dell's screen provides a fair range of colors but isn't ideal, while the Acer lacks the necessary color gamut coverage, making it less suitable for these applications. In terms of 3D work and gaming, the higher refresh rate of the Dell provides a smoother experience, although still not optimal; the Acer trails again as it doesn't support high refresh rates, which are critical for these activities.
Build Quality
5.5
6.2
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
$722
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $722.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Acer Aspire 1 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Dell Inspiron 15 3530 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$244 | $722 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.64 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Intel i5-1335U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 16 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 | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 1080p | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
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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