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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing the ASUS Zenbook 13 could benefit you with its lighter weight and highly portable design, making it a great travel companion, along with an OLED display that gives you vivid colors and deep blacks for multimedia consumption. However, if budget is a primary concern and you're also looking for a laptop with a bigger screen, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is less expensive, includes a touchscreen, and offers a numeric keypad which might be important for data entry work. The tradeoff with the Dell is that it has a shorter battery life and is heavier, which could be a concern if you plan to carry it around frequently. The ASUS offers a slightly better performance, particularly for tasks that require good graphics processing, like photo editing or light gaming. 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 for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 13.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is equipped with a higher-end CPU and GPU compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, providing better performance for engineering and design applications, alongside an OLED screen which offers superior color accuracy and contrast that benefits visual work. However, the Dell Inspiron 15 has a larger screen and a number pad which might be preferred for certain engineering tasks, but its lower battery capacity and performance might be a tradeoff for users needing more portability and longer usage away from power outlets.
Screen Quality
7.8
6.3
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 13 offers a high-resolution, bright display with a color-accurate panel that enhances viewing and productivity, while the Dell Inspiron 15's screen provides adequate clarity and brightness but without the crispness of the ASUS. Engineering and design professionals value color accuracy for precision work, which the ASUS Zenbook's superior color gamuts support, enabling more accurate color representation compared to the Dell Inspiron. However, for 3D applications and gaming, the Zenbook's lower refresh rate may result in less fluid motion and responsiveness, making it less ideal, despite its resolution and panel type, than devices specifically tailored with higher refresh rates for these purposes.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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 3525 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 3525 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 costs $400.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 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 ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 offers superior performance with its higher-tier CPU and better visual experience due to its OLED screen, impacting its elevated rating for general use; it also boasts excellent portability and battery life, enhancing its overall user experience. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, while offering similar RAM and storage, is hampered by a less powerful CPU and lower-quality IPS screen, contributing to its fair general use designation and compensates with a larger screen size for those who prefer bigger displays despite its slightly reduced portability and shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
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 ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are considered fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated GPUs, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Vega 8 and AMD Ryzen 5 5625U Vega 7 respectively, which perform decently but aren't as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, and both have a maximum screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for general use but low for high frame rate gaming. Additionally, while the ASUS has a better CPU, screen quality with an OLED panel, and full coverage of various color spectrums, these factors are somewhat important compared to the GPU and refresh rate for gaming and 3D purposes.
Content Creation
7.6
7.1
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
6.9
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook 13 to be good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 13 | Dell Inspiron 15 3525 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$890 | $400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.55 lbs | 3.71 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.99" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 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 | 259 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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
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 3525
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | January 2023
"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. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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