The HP 17" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3511.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.0/10
6.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a better screen than the HP 17" Laptop for software development, and content creation, while the HP 17" Laptop has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you're mainly browsing the web, working with documents, or streaming video, both the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" laptop will suffice since their screens offer acceptable resolution and brightness. For engineering and design work, the importance of accurate colors means their fair screen quality won't be ideal, as they likely don't cover the wider color gamuts professionals need. Gamers and those working with 3D content will find the refresh rates on these models limiting, as they do not support the smoother visuals achieved with higher refresh rate displays, despite having adequate resolution and panel types for moderate needs.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with its ample RAM and solid-state drive, caters well to multitasking and responsive application loading, making it good for general use, while its average screen quality, portability, and battery life balance everyday mobility and use-duration needs. Conversely, the HP 17" Laptop, while offering less RAM and storage, provides a larger screen and improved screen and speaker quality, enhancing visual and audio experiences for general tasks; however, it's slightly less portable and has shorter battery life, making it a bit more stationary.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop are considered fair for gaming and 3D primarily due to their integrated graphics solutions, the Intel Iris Xe and AMD Vega 8 respectively, which provide sufficient capabilities for casual gaming but not for high-end games or complex 3D tasks. Both laptops have a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for everyday use but may not offer the smooth visuals preferred for competitive gaming or detailed 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
6.8/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3511 to be good for engineering and design, while the HP 17" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with a strong CPU, ample RAM, and integrated graphics, along with a quality IPS display, is well-suited for engineering and design tasks, yet its lighter weight and smaller screen size make it more portable compared to the HP. The HP 17" Laptop, on the other hand, boasts a large screen and a powerful AMD CPU with better integrated graphics, providing a more spacious and vivid workspace for design, although it is less portable and has less RAM than the Dell, potentially limiting its multitasking capabilities.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop 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
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop 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.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 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
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP 17" Laptop both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$560
$550
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $560 and the HP 17" Laptop costs $550.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the HP 17" Laptop 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."
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the HP 17" Laptop
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.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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
123,795
Recommendations made
26,823
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.