The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers a newer generation processor and better integrated graphics compared to the Dell Latitude 14 7490, so it is better suited for moderate gaming and multimedia tasks; however, it comes at a higher price. The Latitude 7490, while less expensive, is an older model with a previous generation processor, which may be perfectly adequate for everyday tasks such as web browsing, office productivity, and video streaming. If long battery life is crucial for you, the Latitude has a higher battery capacity. The Inspiron has a larger 15.6-inch display, which is better for productivity and entertainment, but the smaller 14-inch screen on the Latitude makes it more portable. The Latitude also runs Windows 10 Pro, offering business features that might be beneficial for commercial users, whereas the Inspiron comes with Windows 11 Home which is more consumer-oriented. 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
Good for engineering and design
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 14 7490
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
6.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is geared more towards engineering and design work due to its superior integrated GPU (Iris Xe) and double the RAM for handling complex tasks, whereas the Dell Latitude 14 7490, despite having a capable CPU, is held back by its less powerful UHD Graphics 620 GPU and less RAM, making it more suitable for less demanding engineering work.
Screen Quality
6.0/10
6.7/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for content creation, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Inspiron 15 has a display that offers satisfactory resolution and brightness for activities like browsing and document editing, while the Latitude 14 provides similar qualities but may offer a bit better color accuracy. The Latitude 14's superior color gamuts make it suitable for engineering and design work, where precise color representation is crucial. However, both laptops have screens that lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth 3D rendering or an immersive gaming experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.4/10
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 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
$300
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $300.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is favored for general use due to its ample RAM and storage, satisfactory screen quality, and decent portability, despite having a battery life shorter than the Dell Latitude 14 7490, which offers better battery longevity and higher portability, complemented by a robust built quality and higher screen resolution due to its smaller screen size, making it a solid choice for mobility-oriented users who also need good performance for general tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
5.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3511 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 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
7.3/10
7.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to have very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 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."
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Dell Latitude 14 7490
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.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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