The ASUS ROG Flow X16 offers a high performance for demanding tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning, with a more powerful processor and graphics card, more RAM, and a larger screen with a higher resolution and refresh rate. It's also touch-enabled and has a versatile 2-in-1 design but comes with a higher price and slightly lower battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is more budget-friendly and has a longer battery life but delivers lower performance with a basic processor and integrated graphics suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and office applications; its screen is also smaller with a lower resolution and lacks touch capability. If you require high performance and are willing to invest more, the ASUS is a preferable choice. However, for casual use and if you're on a tight budget, the Dell Inspiron might suffice. 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 ASUS ROG Flow X16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is favored for general use due to its superior CPU performance, higher RAM, and better screen quality hosting a higher resolution and touch capability, alongside the flexibility of a 2-in-1 design; though it is heavier and has a slightly lower battery life than the Dell. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, despite having longer battery life and lighter weight for added portability, offers modest performance with a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a standard resolution screen without touch support, which makes it a fair choice for general use tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.0/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is better for gaming and 3D applications thanks to its higher-performance Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a screen with a higher refresh rate of 165Hz, which will offer smoother visuals, especially in fast-paced games. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its less powerful Intel i3-1215U UHD Graphics and a lower screen refresh rate of 120Hz, provides adequate but not optimal performance for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
6.3/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 excels in engineering and design due to its high-performance AMD Ryzen 9 processor, abundant RAM, advanced Nvidia RTX GPU, and superior screen quality including high brightness and color coverage. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers only an entry-level Intel i3 processor, less RAM, and integrated graphics, leading to fair performance, and its screen, while decent, falls short in resolution, brightness, and color accuracy compared to the ASUS.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.0/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is good.
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
6.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 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
8.5/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 likely boasts a high-resolution display with excellent color accuracy which benefits engineering and design tasks, but its lower refresh rate impacts gaming performance, where fast screen updates are crucial. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with adequate screen resolution and brightness can handle everyday tasks and some design work, but it may not support wider color gamuts necessary for professional color work and may also lag in gaming due to a less responsive screen. For any laptop, a balance between a vivid, sharp display for productivity and a high refresh rate for fluid motion in gaming needs to be considered based on personal or professional priorities.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has very 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
$1,300
$346
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $346.
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
"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 ASUS ROG Flow X16 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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