If you prioritize portability and tend to use your laptop on the go, the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is lighter and more compact than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, making it easier to carry around. However, if you need a larger screen and don't mind a heavier laptop, the Dell Inspiron offers a bigger display for more comfortable viewing and multitasking. Both laptops are budget-friendly and offer decent performance for everyday tasks, but they may struggle with intensive gaming or heavy engineering software. Battery life can vary, so consider the battery life if you're often away from power outlets. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
Good for general use
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers a versatile 2-in-1 design and is slightly more portable, but the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a more powerful processor and additional storage along with a larger screen, possibly compromising on portability and battery life. Both laptops have adequate RAM for general use and similar IPS display quality, but considerations such as the Acer's better battery life and fanless operation versus the Dell's superior computing power and storage should guide your decision based on your needs.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 have similar screen quality.
For general use, both the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offer screens with adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for daily tasks like web browsing and document editing. In engineering and design, where precise color representation is necessary, neither laptop provides wide color gamuts needed for accurate visual work. For gaming and 3D applications, both fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smooth visuals desired by enthusiasts and professionals in those fields.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has 8 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.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3525 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers fair performance in gaming and 3D applications due to its Intel UHD Graphics Xe, which provides entry-level integrated graphics suitable for less demanding tasks, coupled with a screen having a standard refresh rate; it's also designed to be fanless for silent operation, which could limit its ability to handle intensive loads.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
6.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3525 to be only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are fair for engineering and design use due to their modest CPU and GPU capabilities, which limit performance on resource-intensive tasks such as complex simulations or graphic design software. While both have adequate RAM and quality IPS displays for general tasks, the Acer's higher resolution and screen aspect ratio might be slightly more advantageous for design work, but the larger screen size of the Dell may be preferable for engineering software with detailed interfaces, trading off with a slightly lower resolution.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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
6.9/10
6.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair 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
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 to have very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$418
$400
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a price of $418 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 costs $400.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 compare to other laptops
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | November 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and its compact design makes it easy to carry around. The battery lasts around seven hours of light use, so you only have to plug it in for a short time to get through a typical school day. The overall user experience is so-so; the display looks sharp but dim, and the touchpad is fairly responsive, albeit small."
"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 3 Spin 14 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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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