The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the ASUS TUF Gaming A16.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.3/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
6.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-performance AMD Ryzen CPU and AMD RX GPU, which excel in computational and graphical tasks respectively, along with a superior screen with better resolution, color coverage, and higher contrast, benefiting visual-intensive work; it also has a durable build but is heavier, affecting portability. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 features an Intel processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics, which provide decent performance for less demanding engineering applications, and it is lighter and thinner, making it more portable, but it falls short on screen quality and gaming capabilities compared to the ASUS.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 likely offers a high-resolution display with sufficient brightness and quality panel type for sharp and vivid image quality, making it good for general use and suitable for detail-oriented tasks in engineering and design, with an emphasis on accurate color reproduction. However, its lower refresh rate would be a drawback for gaming and 3D applications where motion clarity and fluidity are crucial. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while also having a fair resolution and brightness for general tasks and engineering, may lack the superior color gamut and the high refresh rate necessary for high-end gaming or 3D work, reflecting its compromise on screen performance to possibly meet a lower price point.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.2/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
$838
$650
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $838 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $650.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with a high-performance AMD Ryzen CPU and more RAM, offers a smoother experience for demanding tasks and multitasking, complemented by a quality screen that enhances visual content. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is lighter and more compact, facilitating portability, but it compensates with a less robust Intel i5 CPU and lower battery life, making it well-suited for less intensive, on-the-go use.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for content creation.
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
7.3/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for software development.
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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 compare to other laptops
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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.
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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
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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.
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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.