Opting for the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, being less expensive, provides solid performance for general use, a full HD display, and reasonable portability, given its 15.6-inch screen and weight. It favors a traditional laptop setup. Conversely, the Lenovo Flex 5 16, typically costing more, comes with a sharper QHD+ touchscreen display, better suited for tasks like media editing that benefit from higher resolution and the convenience of a 2-in-1 convertible form factor. Though it may have better performance capabilities, the added weight could be a downside for those who prioritize lightweight mobility. The choice hinges on your need for either a conventional laptop at a lower price or a convertible with higher performance and display quality at a higher cost. 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.0/10
7.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511's fair screen quality for general use is due to a balance between resolution and brightness, making it adequate for daily tasks, but the lack of high color accuracy and limited brightness might not suit detailed engineering work. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers a screen with better color reproduction and brighter display, aligning well with engineering and design needs where precise color representation is crucial. However, for gaming and 3D, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth visuals, making them less ideal for fast-paced or graphic-intensive applications.
Battery
6.5 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
$740
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 costs $740.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with substantial RAM and a solid CPU, offers smooth performance for general tasks, but its screen is less sharp and bright than the Lenovo Flex 5 16, which could make a difference in prolonged use or media consumption. Despite the Dell's good portability and sufficient battery life for day-to-day tasks, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 stands out with a higher-resolution touch screen and longer battery life, making it versatile for various environments and use cases like presentations or tablet-mode operation.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have integrated graphics which offer limited gaming and 3D capabilities as compared to dedicated GPUs, and both have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz which is basic for gaming needs. The Lenovo Flex 5 16, however, features a more powerful CPU and a higher resolution screen, which can provide some improvements in gaming and 3D applications over the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, but these characteristics still don't match the performance of specialized gaming laptops.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with a substantial amount of RAM and a capable CPU; however, its screen resolution is lower than the Lenovo Flex 5 16 which offers a sharper display with better color accuracy, ideal for detailed design work. While both share similar integrated graphics, the Lenovo stands out with its higher quality screen, but the Dell leads in memory capacity, which is crucial for heavy engineering tasks.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.3/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo Flex 5 16
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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