If you prioritize performance for activities like gaming, 3D modeling, or intensive engineering tasks and don't mind a higher price, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is a suitable choice as it has a more powerful processor and graphics, along with more memory and storage. However, it's less portable due to a slightly higher weight. On the other hand, for everyday use such as web browsing, office work, and media consumption, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is more budget-friendly with adequate performance and a lighter build for easier transport. Consider battery life as well; the ASUS has a larger battery, which could mean longer usage time between charges. 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 S 15
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 S 15.
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is considered good for general use partly due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor, double the RAM, and a substantially larger battery capacity, compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 which has a more modest Intel i3 processor, less RAM, and a smaller battery size.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 comes with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Vega graphics, making it more capable for demanding engineering and design tasks, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is equipped with a lower-tier Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, limiting its suitability for intensive processes.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Vivobook S 15 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
7.4/10
6.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 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
6.3/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 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.
When considering screen quality for general use, both the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 have fair screens as they offer adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but they may not be exceptional in terms of panel quality. For engineering and design work, the color accuracy and range are crucial; these laptops provide reasonable coverage of color spaces but might not satisfy professionals who require precise color representation. As for gaming and 3D applications, the refresh rates on these laptops are not high, which leads to less fluid visual experiences, although they can handle basic requirements.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 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
7.0/10
6.2/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 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
$908
$335
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $335.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are considered fair for gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to their integrated graphics; the ASUS features an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Vega 8 GPU and the Dell carries an Intel i3-1215U UHD Graphics GPU, which are decent but not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs. While the ASUS Vivobook has a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, the Dell Inspiron 15 offers a higher 120Hz refresh rate which can be better for smoother visuals in games, yet the performance in actual gaming will also depend on the capabilities of the CPUs and GPUs.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 compare to other laptops
"Internals make Asus VivoBook S15 laptop a compelling option. The Asus multimedia laptop may look rather below-average with its modest black chassis, lack of a dedicated GPU, limited RAM and meagre port selection without Thunderbolt support. But your impression of the device will start changing once you set your eyes on its high-contrast OLED capable of producing deep blacks and highly accurate colours. And your opinion will change completely when the VivoBook is switched on. The AMD CPU can effortlessly keep up with powerful rivals from Intel. The integrated Radeon graphics blows away Intel's iGPU when it comes to graphics workloads such as rendering and simpler games."
"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 S 15 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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