If portability is crucial to you and you often carry your laptop around, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, with its smaller 14-inch screen, is more lightweight and compact. However, if you need a larger screen for multitasking or prefer a more spacious view, the larger 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron 15 3511 may be more suitable despite being heavier. The Dell might also offer better performance for intensive tasks like engineering software or multitasking, justifying a higher price. Use case is essential – the Lenovo could be a better fit for general usage with its portability, while the Dell may be advantageous for performance-heavy tasks despite being less portable and more expensive. Consider battery life as well; a longer-lasting battery means less frequent charging, which is vital if you're often away from power outlets. 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 general use
Good for engineering and design
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is better for general use due to its higher RAM, which enables smoother multitasking, and a powerful CPU for efficient performance in everyday tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" offers better portability with a lighter weight and longer battery life, but has less RAM and a less capable CPU, which may slow down performance with heavier workloads.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
6.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is more suitable for engineering and design use due to its more powerful Intel i5 processor, higher amount of RAM, and integrated Iris Xe graphics, providing superior computation and multitasking capabilities vital for demanding tasks.
Screen Quality
6.0/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 both offer screens that are adequate for everyday tasks and engineering applications, where users typically need decent resolution and brightness to handle documents, web browsing, and static images; however, the screens don't stand out in color reproduction which is crucial for precise engineering and design work that relies on accurate color representations. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack high refresh rates that contribute to smoother visual experiences, and their modest resolution and panel types do not deliver the sharpness and clarity desired by enthusiasts and professionals in these fields. Essentially, while these laptops are serviceable for general productivity and non-demanding technical tasks, their displays are not optimized for the high-color fidelity or the fluid motion graphics that specialized users might require.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 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
3.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$390
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $390.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with an Intel Iris Xe graphics unit and a standard 60Hz refresh rate screen, which is suitable for casual gaming and some 3D applications; however, serious gamers and 3D designers may find these specs lacking. Similarly, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" uses an integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 graphics chip and also offers a 60Hz refresh rate display, providing a fair experience for light gaming and 3D tasks but not aimed at high-end gaming or professional 3D work.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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 low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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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