Choosing between the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 mainly involves considering storage, memory, battery capacity, port selection, and size. The Acer model has less storage and memory but a higher battery capacity, presenting better longevity away from power outlets. For those requiring more storage and memory for multitasking or demanding applications, the Dell is preferable, although it may need to be plugged in more frequently due to its smaller battery. Both have similar screen properties and processors, ensuring comparable day-to-day performance, and both are of similar weight, offering equivalent portability. The Dell has more ports, which could be crucial for connecting multiple external devices. 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 5 15
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
Good for engineering and design
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a better screen for software development.
For general use, both the Acer Aspire 5 and the Dell Inspiron 15 offer screens that provide the necessary resolution and brightness, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, where precise color representation is critical, these laptops may fall short as their color gamut coverage might not be expansive enough to satisfy professional color work requirements. When it comes to 3D and gaming, the lower refresh rates of these models could lead to less fluid motion, and the moderate importance of resolution and panel type may not provide the immersive experience desired by enthusiasts.
Cost
$480
$560
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $560.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 offers solid general use with its mid-range CPU, adequate RAM for multitasking, a good quality IPS screen, reasonable battery life, and a balance between portability and screen size. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, sporting a similar CPU and screen, offers double the storage and more RAM which aids in heavier workloads, though it might fall slightly short in battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.2/10
2.4/10
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
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 both feature integrated Iris Xe graphics and have standard screen refresh rates, which allows them to handle gaming and 3D tasks to a fair extent; however, their performance in these areas may be limited when compared to laptops with dedicated gaming GPUs and higher refresh rate displays.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
7.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3511 to be good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its recent CPU, capable integrated GPU, and high-quality IPS screen, is well-suited for demanding engineering and design software, though its storage is less compared to Dell Inspiron 15 3511, which offers double the storage and RAM for more complex multitasking and larger projects.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Acer Aspire 5 15 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
7.3/10
7.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Acer Aspire 5 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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 5 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
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
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
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