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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, consider the following tradeoffs: the ASUS model generally costs more and offers better performance for 3D, machine learning, and gaming due to its superior graphics card and processor. It also has a higher RAM capacity, which is excellent for intensive tasks. The Dell Inspiron is less expensive and lighter, making it more portable, but it has less storage, lower RAM, and a less powerful processor, which is fine for general use but not for performance-heavy tasks. The ASUS has a longer battery life than the Dell, contributing to its suitability for prolonged use without charging. Both have a similar screen size and type but expect better color range and sharpness from the ASUS if you’re into photo editing or high-definition content. The Dell Inspiron, with its more modest specs, is more suitable for day-to-day tasks like browsing and office applications, while the ASUS is well-suited for gaming and professional applications requiring strong graphics performance. 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 TUF Dash 15
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the ASUS TUF Dash 15.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
6.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
272.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is rated better for general use than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 largely because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, which allows for smoother multitasking and better handling of more demanding tasks. Additionally, the ASUS has a significantly greater battery capacity, leading to longer battery life, and it boasts superior screen color accuracy, making it more suitable for users who value visual quality, although both have similar port quality and similar display specifications in terms of type and resolution. The better performance and longer battery life of the ASUS make it more versatile for various tasks, despite being somewhat less portable and heavier than the Dell.
Gaming and AI
7.4
6.0
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is superior for gaming and 3D tasks due to its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, which are crucial for smooth gameplay and rendering. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is limited by its Intel i3-1215U Integrated UHD Graphics and a lower refresh rate of 120 Hz, which provide less graphic processing power and can result in less fluid visuals.
Engineering and Design
7.8
6.3
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers robust performance suitable for engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU, double the RAM, and a significantly more powerful GPU compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which has a more basic CPU, less RAM, and integrated graphics, making it less ideal for such demanding tasks. While both have good quality IPS screens, the ASUS also has a higher refresh rate, contributing to smoother visuals, which can be especially beneficial in design work, although the Dell Inspiron is slightly lighter, making it a bit more portable.
Content Creation
7.6
7.0
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is somewhat better.
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
7.4
6.7
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 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
7.0
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
272.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering the ASUS TUF Dash 15 for general use, its higher resolution and brightness offer a clear, vivid display, while the Dell Inspiron's adequate resolution and lower brightness make it less vibrant but still serviceable. For engineering and design tasks, the ASUS's wider color gamuts provide more accurate color representation, crucial for detailed work, whereas the Dell's narrower color gamuts may not display colors as precisely. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the ASUS falls short due to its lower refresh rate, leading to potential motion blur, while the Dell, despite sharing the same issue, doesn't set itself apart either.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 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
7.4
6.2
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 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
$1,150
$335
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a price of $1,150 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $335.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and ASUS TUF Dash 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS TUF Dash 15 | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,150 | $335 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 9.9'' x 0.81'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 3.65 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12650H | Intel i3-1215U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 272 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS TUF Dash 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | January 2023
"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 TUF Dash 15 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.
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Why trust us
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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