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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is more expensive but offers higher performance with more storage, more memory, and a more powerful processor and graphics card, making it suitable for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. It also has a higher resolution OLED touchscreen with better color accuracy but is heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is much more affordable, lighter for better portability, and sufficient for general use, but has less storage, memory, weaker processor and graphics, and a lower resolution IPS non-touchscreen, making it less suitable for heavy workloads. 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 Pro 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Key differences
General Use
8.3
6.9
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a superior OLED screen compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's less powerful CPU, half the RAM, and standard IPS screen, making the Zenbook better suited for demanding tasks and providing a richer visual experience.
Gaming and AI
7.5
6.0
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is better for gaming and 3D applications because it has a high-performance Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's Intel i3-1215U UHD Graphics lags behind in graphical capability. Additionally, the ASUS's screen refresh rate isn't specified but the GPU can handle high frame rates crucial for a smooth gaming experience, while the Dell Inspiron has a screen with a higher refresh rate, but it's limited by the less powerful integrated graphics.
Engineering and Design
8.6
6.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
8.5
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is good.
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
8.2
6.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very 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
8.3
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Asus Zenbook Pro 16X stands out with a vibrant, high-resolution display with ample brightness, offering clarity and comfort for everyday tasks, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's less impressive resolution and brightness provide a satisfactory but less remarkable visual experience. When it comes to engineering and design, the Asus's wider color gamuts ensure precise color fidelity crucial for professional editing and modeling, a feature where the Dell, with its narrower gamut range, falls short. However, for gaming and 3D applications requiring fluid motion, the Asus might not be ideal due to a lower refresh rate, whereas the Dell, while also lacking in this area, doesn't position itself as a high-performance option, making the Asus's limitation more significant for users with that particular interest.
Build Quality
7.6
6.2
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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
$1,300
$329
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $329.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $329 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 3.65 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i3-1215U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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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. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
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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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