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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell G15 5520 is more expensive because it's optimized for gaming and high-performance tasks with powerful graphics and processing capabilities, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is more affordable and offers respectable performance for everyday tasks, with a lighter weight and longer battery life, though it has less power which might not suit demanding software or games. If budget is a concern and you're not into intensive tasks, the Inspiron might be your choice, while if you need high performance and engage in gaming or heavy software use, the G15 justifies its cost. 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 Dell G15 5520
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
251.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell G15 5520 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use, though the Dell G15 5520 is somewhat better.
The Dell G15 5520 offers superior processing power and graphics performance with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, making it a strong option for more demanding tasks, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a less powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor and integrated graphics, which are sufficient for typical tasks but may fall short for intensive applications. With higher RAM, the G15 5520 can handle multitasking better, but it is heavier and less portable than the lightweight Inspiron 15 3525, which also offers a touchscreen and better portability, although both laptops have similar battery life and screen quality.
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.0
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell G15 5520 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Dell G15 5520 is better for gaming and 3D applications because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, which leads to smoother visuals and better responsiveness in fast-paced games. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 uses an integrated AMD Vega 7 GPU which is less capable, and it has a lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2
6.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell G15 5520 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Dell G15 5520 is ideal for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, and dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card, which provide strong performance for demanding applications, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a more modest AMD Ryzen 5 processor with integrated graphics and 8GB of RAM, making it less capable for intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.9
7.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell G15 5520 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for content creation, though the Dell G15 5520 is somewhat better.
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
7.5
6.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell G15 5520 is 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.
Screen Quality
7.1
6.3
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 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 Dell G15 5520 offers a vibrant display with crisp resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, its screen displays a wide range of colors accurately, facilitating precise visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the G15's lower refresh rate may result in less fluid motion, while the Inspiron 15 3525's modest screen capabilities can handle general tasks and some engineering work but may not offer the same color fidelity or visual detail, and its gaming performance is similarly limited due to a basic refresh rate.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has good portability, while the Dell G15 5520 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.2
The Dell G15 5520 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
$1,000
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 costs $400.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 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.
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How the Dell G15 5520 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell G15 5520 | Dell Inspiron 15 3525 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.7'' x 1.06'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.55 lbs | 3.71 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.06" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.74" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 251 nits | 259 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 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 | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell G15 5520
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | April 2023
"The Dell G15 (2022) is a 15.6-inch budget gaming laptop, and is great for gaming. You can configure the laptop with powerful Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and various NVIDIA dedicated GPUs, all of which deliver a smooth gaming experience at 1080p. There's also a QHD 240Hz display option if you want better visuals, though you'll have to pair it with the top-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti to get good frame rates. It doesn't get overly hot or loud under load, and there's no noticeable throttling on the CPU or GPU. Unfortunately, the 120Hz panel has a slow response time, causing noticeable ghosting, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate."
Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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 Dell G15 5520 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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