The ASUS ROG Flow Z13, with its higher price, offers better performance for intensive tasks with a more powerful processor and graphics card, alongside more storage and memory. It's also more portable due to its smaller size and weight. The display is superior with higher resolution, making it suitable for gaming and engineering applications. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is more budget-friendly, has a larger screen size, but comes with less storage, memory, and a less powerful processor and integrated graphics, which is more suited for general use and not ideal for high-performance tasks or gaming. 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 Z13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow Z13.
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
511.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use due to its superior CPU, double the RAM, and higher-quality screen, with better color coverage and resolution, enhancing the visual experience. Although both laptops have comparable battery life, the ASUS is more portable due to its smaller size and detachable keyboard, allowing it to double as a tablet, while offering more robust performance ideal for a range of demanding tasks, with tradeoffs including a higher price and potentially more operating noise given its powerful hardware.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.0/10
6.2/10
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
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has an Intel UHD Graphics and lower refresh rate and thus offers less graphic performance.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.3/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is superior for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU, substantial RAM, advanced GPU, and quality screen — critical for demanding engineering software and detailed graphical work. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its basic CPU, less RAM, integrated graphics, and lower screen quality, provides only adequate performance, making it suitable for less resource-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.0/10
9.5/10
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 Z13 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
8.0/10
6.7/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very 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
8.4/10
6.8/10
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13's higher resolution and brighter display make it more pleasant to view documents and websites, whereas the Dell Inspiron's display, while adequate, doesn't provide as sharp an image or vibrant colors. For engineering and design, the Flow Z13's wider color gamuts are critical for accurately rendering designs and images, offering a distinct advantage over the Inspiron's more limited color range. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Flow Z13's lower refresh rate can hinder the fluidity and responsiveness that gamers need, while the resolution and panel type become less impactful compared to speed.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 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
$1,575
$346
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a price of $1,575 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $346.
"The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet with powerful Alder Lake i9 CPU. The ROG Flow Z13 impresses with its good cooling. After our review, the impression is predominantly positive. Besides a very fast Alder Lake CPU and stable gaming performance, especially the cooling system is surprisingly effective and quiet. You can use the integrated speakers without any issues while gaming. The 1200p display in the 16:10 format also impresses with good color reproduction and high brightness. Since the battery runtimes aren't particularly long as it is, we wouldn't recommend the optional 4K panel."
"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 Z13 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,195
Recommendations made
22,143
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.