The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is a more expensive option with high performance suitable for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming due to its powerful processor and graphics card. It offers a larger SSD, more RAM, and a higher resolution display with faster refresh rates, but it is heavier, reducing its portability. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is budget-friendly, lighter, and has longer battery life, making it more portable and adequate for general use or less demanding engineering tasks, but it has a less powerful processor and graphics card, which might not be suitable for high-performance needs. 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 Zephyrus M16
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is better equipped for general use as it features a top-tier CPU, abundant RAM, and a higher resolution screen providing exceptional image quality, but it's heavier and less portable compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520. The Dell Inspiron, while offering fair general use capabilities with a decent CPU and ample RAM, has a lower screen quality and shorter battery life, making it less suitable for long hours of use without charging, although it excels in portability due to its lighter weight.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 excels in gaming and 3D tasks due to its high-end Nvidia RTX GPU and a screen with a fast refresh rate, providing smooth visuals and allowing for more frames per second in fast-paced scenes. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's modest performance for these tasks stems from its lower-tier Intel UHD integrated graphics and a screen with a slower refresh rate, resulting in less fluid graphics and potentially more noticeable lag during intense gaming or 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
6.3/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is excellent for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU, ample RAM, powerful GPU, and high-quality display, which are essential for resource-intensive tasks. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair in this regard because it has a basic CPU, less RAM, integrated graphics, and a lower quality screen.
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 Zephyrus M16 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
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
9.0/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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 Zephyrus M16 likely has a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness, making it suitable for tasks that don't demand rapid screen refreshes, hence its very good screen quality for general use and engineering. However, its screen might have a lower refresh rate, which is less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is crucial. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, offering fair quality across the board, probably has a more modest display regarding color accuracy and resolution, which is adequate for general tasks and engineering but falls short for the high refresh rates desired in gaming and 3D contexts.
Battery
4.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
$2,059
$335
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $335.
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"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 Zephyrus M16 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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