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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is a budget-friendly option that is typically less expensive than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530. However, the Dell provides a larger screen, more system memory, which can be advantageous for multitasking and performance-demanding tasks. The Acer might be more suitable if you prioritize a lower price and portability, as it's lighter than the Dell. Conversely, if better multitasking capabilities and a larger display are important to you, and you don’t mind a slightly heavier device and a higher cost, then the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 could be the better choice. The Acer gains an edge with silent operation due to its fanless design. 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 3 14
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 3 14.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.1
6.9
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a fair CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality, which can handle engineering and design tasks but may not excel in highly demanding scenarios. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better CPU and double the RAM, along with superior GPU performance and screen quality, making it more suitable for intensive engineering and design work, though it is slightly less portable and noisier under load.
Screen Quality
6.1
6.6
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
When using a laptop for general tasks like web browsing or document editing, both the Acer Aspire 3 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offer screens that are adequate in clarity and light output but won't stand out for sharpness or vibrancy. For engineering and design work where color accuracy is crucial, their displays fall short as they likely don't cover the professional color spaces thoroughly, which can lead to less precise color representation. Gamers and those into 3D applications may find these laptops less suitable as their screens don't refresh as quickly as desired for smooth motion, and while the resolution and panel quality are important, they don't compensate for the slower refresh rates.
Battery
9.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 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.
Cost
$434
$699
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $434 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $699.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 3 14, with its silent, fan-less operation and longer battery life, is fair for general use, handling basic tasks efficiently but may fall short during more demanding work due to less RAM compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3530.
Gaming and AI
5.9
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3530 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is equipped with an AMD Radeon 610M GPU and has a standard screen refresh rate making it moderately suitable for gaming and 3D applications, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 benefits from the Intel Iris Xe graphics and a higher screen refresh rate which generally provides smoother visuals in gaming and supports more competitive play. Despite these factors, both machines have modest CPUs and screen quality that only somewhat meet the needs of demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.2
7.3
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for content creation.
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
7.1
7.2
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 3 14 to have very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.2
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | Dell Inspiron 15 3530 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$434 | $699 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.64 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel i5-1335U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 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 | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 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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