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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize high performance for engineering, 3D rendering, or other intensive tasks and are willing to pay significantly more, the Dell Precision 5470, with its better processor and graphics capabilities, is a strong choice. However, its battery life might not be as long as the Inspiron 15 3511. The Inspiron 15 3511 offers a more cost-effective option that covers general use scenarios adequately, but it isn't as well-suited for demanding applications. It's also larger and heavier, making it less portable than the Precision 5470, which might be a consideration if you often carry your laptop with you. 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 Precision 5470.
Advantages of the Dell Precision 5470
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.7
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
The Dell Precision 5470 offers superior gaming and 3D performance thanks to its Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU, which is more capable than the integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU in the Dell Inspiron 15 3511. Additionally, the Precision 5470 features a brighter, higher resolution screen, enhancing visual quality for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Inspiron's display.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.8
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.0
7.3
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 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 15's screen may provide adequate resolution and brightness, but the Precision 5470 offers higher resolution and brightness, making text and images sharper and easier to see in various lighting conditions. In engineering and design, the Precision 5470's screen shows colors more true to life due to better coverage of professional color gamuts, which is essential for precise visual work. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, both laptops' screens fall short as they lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth motion, though their resolution and panel type may still deliver acceptable visual clarity.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The Dell Precision 5470 has very 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
$1,669
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Dell Precision 5470 costs $1,669.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is praised for general use due to its larger screen, ample RAM, and satisfactory performance from its CPU and integrated graphics; however, its portability and battery life are limited. On the other hand, the Dell Precision 5470 offers superior processing power, better screen quality, and longer battery life, making it more suitable for demanding tasks, but it comes with less storage and RAM, which could affect multitasking and data-intensive applications.
Content Creation
7.5
7.8
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
7.7
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Dell Precision 5470 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | Dell Precision 5470 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,669 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 12.2'' x 8.3'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 3.26 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.22" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 230 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 4 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"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."
Dell Precision 5470
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Brian Westover | August 2022
"The Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Dell Precision 5470
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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