If budget is a primary concern and you need a laptop for general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14 may be a preferable choice due to its lower price. On the other hand, if you require higher performance for tasks such as intensive engineering work, gaming, or 3D modeling, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, although more costly, may better serve your needs. Consider that the Dell model may have a bigger screen which can be beneficial for multimedia and productivity, but it may be heavier and less portable than the sleeker Zenbook. The battery life is also a consideration; typically, smaller laptops like the Zenbook might offer longer battery life, which is advantageous if you're often on the go. 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 14
Good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 14.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
6.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering design because its panel offers higher resolution and brightness, which enhances clarity and visibility, and it covers a wide range of color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction that's crucial for design work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where a smoother visual experience is needed to avoid motion blur. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 provides fair screen quality due to its adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but the color gamut coverage and refresh rate may not satisfy professionals in engineering design and gaming.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 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
$300
$699
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $699.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Zenbook 14 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
6.1/10
6.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both equipped with similar integrated GPUs, not specifically designed for high-end gaming or 3D performance, and they feature maximum screen refresh rates conducive to a fair gaming experience. However, the Zenbook's superior screen quality and color accuracy might offer a better visual experience at the cost of a higher price, while the Inspiron offers a larger screen and a faster refresh rate, making it more favorable for fast-paced gaming despite having a lower color accuracy and screen quality.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
6.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook 14 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.3/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Zenbook 14 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
7.2/10
7.2/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and ASUS Zenbook 14 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 compare to other laptops
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.