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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the HP Pavilion 15, consider that the Dell has a stronger processor, which makes it better for more demanding tasks, but it usually comes at a higher price. The Dell also has a higher quality display, which is better for viewing angles and color accuracy, and a backlit keyboard, making it usable in low-light conditions. On the other hand, the HP has a larger battery, potentially offering longer use between charges, and it's slightly lighter, which could be more convenient for mobility. Both laptops offer similar storage and have Windows 11 Home. If you prioritize performance and display quality for tasks like photo editing or multitasking and don't mind a higher price, the Dell might be the way to go. However, if you're looking for a laptop for basic tasks with better battery life and portability at a more affordable price, the HP could be a satisfactory choice. 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
- Good for software development
- Good battery life
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
- The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3511.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with a more powerful CPU and GPU, and double the RAM compared to the HP Pavilion 15, which translates to higher efficiency and better handles for engineering and design software. Additionally, the Dell's superior screen quality with better brightness and color accuracy offers a more vibrant visual experience, an important aspect for design-related tasks.
Software Development
7.3
6.6
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
6.0
5.3
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers a fair screen quality for general use, with a balance of resolution and brightness that manages everyday tasks well, but it lacks the vibrant colors and wider color gamuts necessary for precise engineering and design work. Although the brightness and resolution are adequate for the HP Pavilion 15 in general scenarios, its display falls short due to lower quality visuals impacting overall user experience. For gaming and 3D applications, where rapid on-screen movements are common, both laptops underperform as they don't offer high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced environments.
Battery
6.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 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.
Cost
$510
$456
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $510 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $456.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, offers a better GPU performance compared to the HP Pavilion 15's Intel UHD Graphics, which is crucial for gaming and 3D applications. Although both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, the Inspiron's slightly higher screen resolution and quality may give it a slight edge in visual fidelity during such activities.
Content Creation
7.5
7.1
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP Pavilion 15 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Pavilion 15 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.2
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and HP Pavilion 15 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$510 | $456 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 230 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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."
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the HP Pavilion 15
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.
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