The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers top-notch performance with its high-end processor and graphics card, making it excellent for intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning. Its larger screen and higher resolution will be beneficial for detailed work, though it is heavier and less portable. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, being far less expensive, has a modest processor suitable for general use, and its lighter weight makes it more portable. However, it has a smaller screen and lower graphics capabilities, which might not suffice for demanding applications. Your choice should depend on the need for high performance and willingness to invest more, compared to a preference for price savings and portability for everyday tasks. 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 Strix G18
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers very good general use performance with a top-tier CPU, plenty of RAM, a high-quality screen, and is better suited for environments where portability and battery life are less of a concern, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers good performance with a capable CPU, adequate RAM, and a decent screen, while being more portable and having longer battery life, making it a good choice for those who value mobility. Both laptops have solid storage options and quality input devices, with the ASUS having a slight edge in keyboard and speaker quality, but the Dell Inspiron stands out with quieter operating noise and better heat management, which may be appreciated during extended use.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.3/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
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 Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers superior gaming and 3D performance due to its high-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU that provides advanced graphics processing capabilities and a high screen refresh rate of 240 Hz for smooth visuals, elements that are very important for these tasks. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU which is less powerful for demanding graphics tasks and a lower refresh rate of 120 Hz, indicating it may not handle gaming and 3D applications as effectively.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
6.9/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for engineering and design due to its significantly more powerful CPU and GPU, larger and higher-quality screen, and substantially better screen color coverage, which is crucial for detailed design work. However, the Dell is much more portable, quieter in operation, and still provides adequate performance for engineering tasks, albeit with less capability for demanding graphical applications.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
8.1/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
8.7/10
6.6/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18's screen excels in general use and engineering tasks due to its high resolution and brightness coupled with wide color coverage, ensuring sharp, vivid, and accurate visuals that are essential for these activities. However, its lower refresh rate impacts gaming and 3D work, where smoother motion offered by higher refresh rates is crucial for optimal performance. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with its fair screen attributes, offers a balanced visual experience for general and engineering uses, yet its shortcomings in color gamut and refresh rate become more apparent in gaming and 3D scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$722
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $722.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
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
101,595
Recommendations made
22,013
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.