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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X (2021) is a more expensive option compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 but offers better performance, especially for intensive tasks like engineering, gaming, or 3D/machine learning due to its stronger processor and dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics. It also has a longer battery life, is lighter, and includes features such as a backlit keyboard and hardware ray tracing. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is more affordable, and while it has a larger screen and higher screen refresh rate, its performance for demanding tasks is not as strong due to its Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics. It has shorter battery life and is slightly heavier, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. Choose the Acer if performance and portability are priorities, and the Dell if budget and screen size are bigger concerns. 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 Swift X (2021)
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
General Use
7.4
6.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Acer Swift X offers a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and dedicated Nvidia graphics which contribute to smoother performance in a variety of applications over the Dell Inspiron's Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics. Additionally, the Swift X's higher screen quality, increased portability due to its lighter weight, and longer battery life make it a better choice for general use compared to the Dell Inspiron 15.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.3
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2021) outshines the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for engineering and design because it incorporates a more powerful CPU and dedicated graphics (Nvidia RTX 3050), offering robust performance for compute-intensive tasks and rendering that are common in engineering applications. Additionally, the Acer has a higher-quality screen which is pivotal for design work, whereas the Dell's weaker integrated graphics and a less impressive screen limit its abilities in such demanding scenarios.
Software Development
7.3
6.7
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
6.9
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X offers a sharper display with higher resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and detailed work like engineering and design, where clarity and the ability to accurately represent colors is crucial. However, its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications and gaming, where fluid motion is essential. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520’s screen, while adequate for daily activities and non-critical design work, falls short for professionals in engineering and design due to less accurate color representation and for gamers due to its insufficient refresh rate.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
6.2
The Acer Swift X (2021) has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$580
$329
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $329.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X (2021) is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card which outperforms the Intel UHD Graphics found in the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, giving the Acer better capability for gaming and 3D tasks despite both having standard 60Hz and 120Hz screen refresh rates respectively. Although the Dell offers a higher refresh rate beneficial for smoother visuals in games, the superior GPU in the Acer may provide a more significant boost to gaming and 3D performance overall.
Content Creation
7.5
7.0
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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.
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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $329 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 3.65 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i3-1215U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 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 | 372 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | March 2022
"The Swift X is an Acer for entry-level gaming. With the entry-level graphics chip, our Acer not only beats every single current AMD and Intel iGPU, but also Intel's dGPU Iris Xe Max. However, despite being a GDDR6 version, the GTX does not match the expectations set by its own counterparts from our database. This may be a result of the single fan, which only produces moderate noise levels under load. The performance level of the thin and light 1.4 kg (~3.09 lbs) 14-inch laptop is impressive nonetheless."
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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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. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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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