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Updated January 12, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 cater to different needs. The Zenbook is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, and it offers better screen quality with an OLED display, which is preferable if you value vivid colors and contrast for multimedia enjoyment. If you require more storage and memory for multitasking or demanding applications, the Inspiron could be a better choice as it typically comes with a larger hard drive and more RAM. However, the Inspiron is heavier and has a larger form factor, making it less convenient to carry around. Both machines should handle general use well, but for intensive engineering tasks or more graphics-heavy work, you'll appreciate the ASUS's more powerful AMD Ryzen processor with integrated Vega 8 graphics. In terms of battery life, the Zenbook also has a higher capacity battery, leading to longer usage times between charges. Despite being more expensive, the ASUS Zenbook 13 is exceptionally well-suited for someone who requires a combination of portability, strong performance, and high-quality display. The Dell Inspiron 15, while less portable and with a lower quality display, offers solid performance for its price, making it a good value choice, especially for those who need more storage and can forgo a premium screen. 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 Zenbook 13
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 13.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8
6.0
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its high resolution and bright display, offers clarity and comfort for general tasks and detailed work required in engineering and design, aided by its ability to display a wide range of colors accurately. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications where fluid movement and quick image changes are essential. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511's screen, while adequate for everyday tasks and some technical work, doesn't match the Zenbook in sharpness, brightness, or color accuracy, and similarly falls short for gaming due to a less capable refresh rate.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.2
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$580
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $580.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Vega 8 graphics, is decent for gaming and 3D tasks, but may fall short for high-end games due to its basic GPU and standard screen refresh rate. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 also caters to casual gaming and moderate 3D work supported by the Intel i5 Iris Xe graphics; however, similar to the ASUS, its gaming capability is limited by a standard refresh rate and an integrated GPU, which are adequate but not optimal for intense gaming sessions.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its OLED screen and powerful AMD Ryzen CPU paired with Vega graphics, delivers good visuals and decent processing and graphics capabilities which are sufficient for less demanding engineering and design tasks; however, its lower RAM capacity as compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, which boasts a generous amount of RAM and a capable Intel CPU with Iris Xe graphics, makes it less suitable for more intensive engineering applications that require handling larger datasets or more complex calculations. Additionally, while the ASUS is more portable due to its smaller size and weight, the Dell's larger IPS screen and better keyboard may provide a more comfortable user experience for prolonged engineering work.
Content Creation
7.6
7.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
7.3
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 13 | Dell Inspiron 15 3511 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$890 | $580 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.55 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.99" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 67 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 378 nits | 230 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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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