If price is a major consideration, the Dell Inspiron 15 may be the more economical choice. However, if performance, particularly in tasks like video editing or design work, is important, the MacBook Air’s superior build quality and optimized software could justify its higher cost. The MacBook Air is also more portable due to its lighter weight and slimmer design, which may benefit those who frequently travel. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 typically offers more ports and an option for upgrading components, potentially extending its lifespan for users comfortable with customization. For extended use away from power outlets, the MacBook Air often has longer battery life. Ultimately, the best laptop will depend on balancing budget constraints with performance needs and preferred form factor. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2020).
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.0/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) boasts a high-resolution Retina display that provides sharp images and a wide color gamut, ensuring accurate colors for engineering and design tasks, but its typical 60Hz refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smoother motion graphics are key. Dell's Inspiron 15 3511 has a display that's adequate for everyday tasks and sufficient for most design work but may not cover the wider color gamuts professionals need, while also lacking the high refresh rates gamers and 3D designers look for. For both models, general users will find the screen quality satisfactory, but those involved in color-critical work or high-speed 3D rendering may need to look elsewhere.
Battery
15.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 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
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$580
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $580.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is favored for general use due to its long battery life and highly portable design, complimented by a sharp, vibrant screen and efficient CPU and RAM combination, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, while having a larger screen and more storage and memory, which is great for multitasking, is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable but still good for general use due to its capable processor and sufficient screen quality.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020), with its integrated Apple M1 graphics, has limitations in 3D performance and gaming due to a lower refresh rate and lack of compatibility with many popular games that do not run on macOS. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, while also featuring a modest integrated Iris Xe GPU from its Intel CPU and the same refresh rate limitation, runs on Windows which supports a broader range of games, though it won't handle intensive 3D or gaming as well as laptops with dedicated GPUs.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is well-regarded for engineering and design due to its Apple M1 chip that integrates a powerful CPU and GPU, coupled with a high-quality Retina display that offers excellent color fidelity, but with less RAM compared to some alternatives, it may be less suitable for extremely RAM-intensive tasks. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, on the other hand, offers a high amount of RAM, a capable Intel CPU and Iris Xe GPU, and a larger storage space, making it a good choice for complex engineering applications that demand more system memory, though its screen quality does not match that of the MacBook Air.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
7.7/10
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
"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 Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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
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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