Choosing between the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, if premium performance is key for tasks like engineering or graphic design, the ASUS with its more powerful processor and graphics is the better choice. However, if you are budget-conscious, prefer a balance between everyday tasks, and can compromise on higher-end performance, the Dell Inspiron is considerably more affordable and offers good value for daily computing needs. While the ASUS also boasts a better battery capacity, which means longer use between charges, it is heavier, making the Dell more portable for those who travel frequently. Both run the same operating system, ensuring a similar user experience from a software perspective. 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 engineering and design
Good overall build quality
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Vivobook S 15.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.3/10
6.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 have screens with adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, but they may lack the crispness and vibrancy found on higher-end models. For engineering and design, where accurate color representation is crucial, these laptops provide fair performance as they cover a range of the color spectrum, but professionals may find them lacking in the wider color gamuts needed for precision work. In gaming and 3D tasks, the lower refresh rates of both models can result in less smooth visuals, and while their resolutions and panel types are serviceable, more demanding users will notice the difference compared to screens tailored for these uses.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 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
7.0/10
6.2/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$908
$722
$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 3530 costs $722.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is tailored for general use with a strong CPU and ample RAM, supporting multitasking, while its larger battery and commendable screen quality contribute to a balanced mobile experience. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, though slightly lighter for enhanced portability, packs a swift display alongside quality storage, RAM, and a capable CPU, but its smaller battery might limit use away from power outlets.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.3/10
3.7/10
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
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is equipped with AMD Ryzen Vega 8 graphics and has a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz which is adequate but not optimal for fast-paced games or demanding 3D tasks, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 comes with Intel Iris Xe graphics and offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, providing smoother visuals which can benefit gaming and some 3D applications. However, the GPU in both laptops is integrated rather than dedicated, which would limit their performance in graphically intensive gaming and 3D modeling compared to systems with specialized gaming graphics cards.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook S 15 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Vega 8 GPU offers robust performance for engineering and design tasks, while its larger storage caters to extensive software needs. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, although more portable and with a quieter operating noise, has an Intel i5 CPU and Iris Xe graphics which may not match the ASUS in handling demanding applications but is still suitable for many engineering and design scenarios.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 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 3530 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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook S 15 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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