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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 could be appealing, but you would compromise on storage space, memory, and processor power compared to the ASUS Vivobook 16; this might limit performance in demanding tasks such as engineering software or 3D rendering. The ASUS Vivobook has a larger screen and higher resolution offering a better display experience and more power suitable for intensive tasks, but it comes at a higher cost. The Dell, while less powerful, is lighter and could offer slightly better portability. Neither laptop is ideal for intensive gaming, but both can handle general usage well. If portability and budget are your top concerns, consider the Dell, but for better performance and a larger screen, the ASUS is the superior 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 16
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Vivobook 16.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
6.9
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
295.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 16 is better suited for general use due to its higher RAM and more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, which offer faster multitasking and performance, alongside a larger, higher resolution screen that improves visuals for various tasks. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, while lighter and hence more portable, comes with less RAM and a lower-tier Intel i3 CPU, which may slow down performance during intensive tasks, and a smaller screen with lower resolution that may affect the quality of displayed content.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 16 is preferred for engineering and design due to its superior CPU and GPU, more RAM, and higher quality screen, which are very important for such tasks. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, while somewhat lighter for better portability, has a less powerful CPU and GPU, less RAM, and a lower quality screen, making it less suitable for demanding engineering applications.
Content Creation
7.5
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Vivobook 16 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
7.3
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16 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
6.4
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
295.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for software development, and content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize a clear and vivid display for activities like browsing the web, editing documents, or watching videos, both the ASUS Vivobook 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 will suffice with their fair screen qualities. For tasks like engineering and design where color accuracy is crucial, these laptops offer fair screen quality but may not cover the professional color ranges comprehensively. However, for gaming and 3D work where smooth motion is key, neither of these laptops excel due to their lower refresh rates and fair resolution.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has 8 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
7.0
6.2
The ASUS Vivobook 16 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
$669
$335
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has a price of $669 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $335.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520, both come with graphics processing units (GPUs) that handle gaming and 3D tasks adequately, but their screen refresh rates aren't high enough for top-tier gaming experiences. The CPUs in both laptops are competent for general use and some gaming, and while their screens are decent, they don't match the quality seen in high-end gaming laptops.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and ASUS Vivobook 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 16 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook 16 | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$669 | $335 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.8'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.14 lbs | 3.65 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.12" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.82" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | 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 | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 42 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 295 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Vivobook 16
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, Yannick Khong | May 2023
"The ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is a budget Windows laptop. It's available with various AMD Ryzen 5000 and 7000 U-series CPUs and integrated graphics. You can only get 8GB of RAM; however, there's an empty SO-DIMM slot if you want to upgrade it. It has an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, a 720p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. Ports include three USB-As, one USB-C, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C supports charging but no video output."
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 Vivobook 16 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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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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