Choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 depends on your priorities. The Inspiron 15 3511 is lighter and usually costs less, making it suitable if you want something more affordable and easier to carry. However, the Inspiron 16 5630 boasts a more powerful processor, a larger display with a higher resolution, and it comes with Windows 11 Pro rather than Home, offering a bit more in terms of features and performance. If you often tackle demanding tasks like video editing or heavy multitasking, the Inspiron 16 5630 could be worth the extra investment. On the other hand, for everyday tasks like browsing, office applications, and media consumption, the Inspiron 15 3511 should suffice. Consider how these factors align with your budget and computing needs to make your decision. 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 Inspiron 15 3511
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 16 5630.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is considered very good for general use due to its superior processor, better screen quality with higher brightness and color coverage, and longer battery life when compared to Dell Inspiron 15 3511. While the Inspiron 15 3511 is still good for general use with ample RAM and CPU power, the Inspiron 16 5630's added portability and screen aspect ratio provide a more versatile and enjoyable user experience.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with more RAM which is beneficial for multitasking and memory-intensive engineering tasks, while its Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics support essential design work; however, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630's more advanced Intel i7 CPU and higher screen resolution make it better suited for complex engineering simulations and detailed design work, though it has less RAM.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
7.3/10
7.9/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is somewhat better.
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
6.0/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Inspiron 16 5630's screen offers a clearer and more vibrant display due to its higher resolution and brightness, which enhances everyday activities like browsing and watching videos, whereas the Inspiron 15 3511 has a decent display that may not be as sharp or bright. In the context of engineering and design work, the Inspiron 16 5630 provides more accurate color representation with wider color gamuts, aiding in detailed and color-critical tasks, while the Inspiron 15 3511's display may not render colors as precisely. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops may fall short as their screens lack high refresh rates, which is vital for smooth motion and gameplay responsiveness, though the Inspiron 16 5630 still offers better resolution and panel quality, giving a somewhat improved experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has 8 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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
$580
$849
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 costs $849.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 are considered fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated Intel Iris Xe GPUs, which offer decent graphics performance but are not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, and both laptops have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is sufficient for casual gaming but not ideal for more competitive or high-frame-rate gaming expectations. While both laptops have solid CPUs and screen quality, these factors alone aren't enough to compensate for the limitations of their GPUs and refresh rates for more demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Dell Inspiron 16 5630 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 compare to other laptops
"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 Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
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
95,895
Recommendations made
20,778
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.