The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a larger screen size, which is great for multitasking and entertainment, but it makes it less portable than the smaller Dell Inspiron 15. Performance-wise, both laptops have similar processors and RAM, providing adequate power for general use. For on-the-go usage, the Dell has a slight edge in portability and battery life. Neither laptop is ideal for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, as they both lack a dedicated graphics card. If price is a consideration, the Dell typically costs less, but the ASUS provides a slightly more expansive display which may be preferred for visual tasks or enjoying media. 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 17
Good for general use
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Vivobook 17.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
263.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you're seeking a laptop primarily for general tasks like browsing, office work, or media consumption, the ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have screens that are acceptably clear and bright, but they might not stand out for sharpness or color depth. For engineering and design work, where color accuracy is vital, these laptops offer adequate performance but won't deliver the precision of colors you'd find in higher-end models with better color gamuts. Gamers and those into 3D work will find the refresh rates on these machines limiting, with less fluid motion and responsiveness compared to laptops designed specifically for those purposes.
Cost
$429
$335
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a price of $429 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $335.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook 17 to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 provides a larger screen and slightly better heat management, but it is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which is more compact and offers a bit longer usage on a single charge. Both laptops have similar CPU and RAM, adequate for everyday tasks, and they come with the same storage capacity and IPS display type with fair screen qualities, ensuring a good general use experience regardless of the choice.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and ASUS Vivobook 17 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
6.3/10
6.3/10
6.2/10
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 3520 and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both fair for engineering and design due to their similar CPU power, adequate RAM, and modest integrated graphics, which may not handle highly intensive tasks smoothly but are sufficient for moderate workloads. The Vivobook offers a larger screen which is beneficial for multitasking and design work, however, the Inspiron is more portable and offers a higher screen contrast ratio, which can provide a better visual experience for detailed work.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.0/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
6.9/10
6.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has 6 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.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and ASUS Vivobook 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
6.2/10
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 17 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 compare to other laptops
"The ASUS Vivobook 17 is an affordable 17-inch laptop with passive cooling. On one hand, you get a really quiet and cool work device with a good system performance, many connections, good maintenance options, speakers acceptable for multimedia enjoyment, and a sharp and clear matte FHD IPS display with the Asus VivoBook 17 (F712JA). On the other hand, the USB-C port lacks Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the display, a higher brightness and better color space coverage."
"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 17 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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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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