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Updated January 10, 2024·
If performance is a primary concern and tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software are routine for you, the ASUS Vivobook 14 may be a slightly better fit due to its Intel processor and integrated graphics. However, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offers a larger screen with touch capability, which is a bonus for general use and productivity, and it has double the storage capacity. While both are budget-friendly and similarly priced, the Dell is a bit heavier and could be less ideal if portability is a high priority. The ASUS also has a slight edge in battery life, but the difference may not be substantial for everyday use. Both have a backlit keyboard and sufficient ports for connectivity, though only the Dell offers a numeric keypad. Consider what your daily usage looks like and prioritize features like performance, screen size, touch capability, and portability when making your choice. 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 Vivobook 14
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
- Good for general use
- Good for content creation
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.3
6.3
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 14 for software development.
When considering the ASUS Vivobook 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, the importance of a clear and bright display may not be fully met by these models, as both typically have moderate resolution and brightness, which can affect your viewing experience during everyday tasks such as browsing the internet or working with documents. For engineering and design, professionals often need accurate color reproduction, and while both laptops may offer fair screen quality, they may not cover the wider color gamuts such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB fully, leading to less precise color work. As for 3D applications, which require smooth motion, neither laptop prioritizes high refresh rates, making them less ideal for gaming or intensive 3D rendering where fluid movement and quick screen updates are critical.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
6.2
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$480
$400
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has a price of $480 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 costs $400.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.9
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3525 to be good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 14 offers good portability and a fair amount of RAM for multitasking, plus its Intel CPU performs well for general tasks, though it has less storage and a dimmer screen compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, which features a larger screen with touch capability and higher contrast, better for multimedia but at the expense of being heavier and having shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and ASUS Vivobook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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
6.3
6.4
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and ASUS Vivobook 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 14, with an Intel i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics, is suitable for engineering and design tasks but may struggle with more graphically-intensive applications, while its IPS screen provides decent color accuracy and brightness for design work. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 features an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with Vega 7 graphics which also performs adequately for engineering but might not handle advanced design software as smoothly; however, it has a slightly better contrast ratio and a larger screen which may be beneficial for detailed work, though this comes at the cost of decreased portability compared to the ASUS.
Content Creation
6.9
7.1
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3525 to be good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
6.8
6.9
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and ASUS Vivobook 14 are both only fair 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has 7 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook 14 | Dell Inspiron 15 3525 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$480 | $400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.8'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.71 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.79" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.42" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 42 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 14 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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