If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option for general use, the ASUS Vivobook 17's lower price might be appealing with its larger 17.3-inch display which is good for multitasking and enjoying media, though this also makes it less portable. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while somewhat more expensive, offers better performance with a more powerful CPU and graphics chip, making it suitable for more demanding tasks such as light gaming or productivity software. The Dell also comes with a higher storage capacity and RAM, enhancing its multitasking capabilities and overall speed. Both laptops feature similar screens in terms of resolution and type, but the Dell has a higher refresh rate which is better for smooth visuals. Battery life will be a consideration; the ASUS has a substantially larger battery, which may translate to longer use between charges, though actual battery life can vary with usage. If portability is a concern, the Dell's smaller screen size and lighter weight make it more portable than the ASUS. 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
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3530.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
Good for software development
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.9/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is favored for engineering and design due to a stronger CPU (Intel i5 vs Intel i3), more RAM, and a more capable integrated GPU in comparison to the ASUS Vivobook 17, which may limit performance with a less powerful CPU and GPU, and less RAM for demanding tasks. Additionally, the Dell model offers better screen color accuracy, which is essential for design work, but the ASUS has a slightly larger screen that might benefit those valuing screen real estate over color precision and performance.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
263.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you're considering screen quality for general use, both the ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offer sufficient resolution and brightness, but their panel types may not provide the best viewing angles or color accuracy. For engineering and design, the same screens may fall short in displaying the full range of colors, since professionals in these fields often require a wider color gamut than these laptops provide. When it comes to 3D applications, the lower refresh rate means these laptops are not ideal for smooth rendering or gaming, which could detract from the immersive experience and precision needed in this area.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Vivobook 17 both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$429
$722
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a price of $429 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $722.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 17, with a larger screen but less RAM and a lower-tier CPU than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, may not perform as smoothly for multitasking and demanding applications, which contributes to it being considered fair for general use. The Dell Inspiron, in contrast, offers better performance due to a higher-tier CPU and more RAM, as well as greater portability and battery life, making it good for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
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 3530 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.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Vivobook 17 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
7.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3530 to be good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has 6 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.
Build Quality
6.5/10
6.2/10
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 17 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 17 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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