Choosing between the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 depends on your preferences and needs. The MacBook Air is lighter and thinner, making it more portable, with a higher resolution display, and it boasts silent operation due to its fanless design. It's equipped with Apple's M2 chip, which offers solid performance for both general use and creative tasks, but its cost is notably higher. The Dell Inspiron has a larger screen and offers more storage and memory, potentially better for multitasking and data-intensive tasks. It runs on Windows, which could be a requirement for certain software, and it's generally more affordable than the MacBook Air, but heavier, which might be a downside for frequent travel. If your priority is premium build quality, lightweight design, and you use software optimized for macOS, the MacBook Air could be a great choice. However, if you're looking for value, need a Windows environment, or want more storage space without investing in external solutions, the Dell Inspiron 15 could be a more cost-effective option. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air (2022)
Very good for software development
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent 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 (2022).
Key differences
Software Development
8.0/10
7.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
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
7.6/10
6.0/10
13.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
486.0 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 offers a high-resolution display and bright panel which enhances the visual experience for everyday tasks, as well as strong color accuracy crucial for engineering and design, but its standard refresh rate may not suit high-speed 3D visuals. The Dell Inspiron 15, with its adequate resolution and brightness, meets basic requirements for general activities but may not impress users needing precise color detail for professional design work; its screen is also not optimized for the fast refresh rates desired in gaming and 3D applications. Overall, the MacBook Air excels in everyday and professional tasks that prioritize color and clarity, while the Dell is a more budget-friendly option with acceptable performance for general use but limited capabilities for specialized tasks.
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
Excellent
Good
13.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent 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 (2022) 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
$899
$580
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $899 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $580.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is excellent for general use due to its powerful Apple M2 processor, vibrant and high-resolution screen, combined with a thin design and long battery life, making it very portable. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with its higher storage capacity, abundant memory, and bigger screen, is also suitable for general use but compromises on portability and screen color quality compared to the MacBook Air.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.2/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1664
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 (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air, with its integrated GPU, is designed primarily for general use and doesn't excel in 3D tasks or high-end gaming, particularly as its MacOS limits the availability of popular games, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, also with an integrated GPU, offers fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks on Windows but may not handle the most demanding applications due to the shared limitations of an integrated GPU and standard screen refresh rates for both laptops.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) with its Apple M2 chip is known for robust performance and a sharp, color-accurate display, ideal for design tasks, intertwined with the added benefits of being lightweight and silent, enhancing portability and reducing distractions.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) 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 (2022) 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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Laptops evaluated
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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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.