The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers more storage and a better processor, which makes it more suitable for intensive tasks, but it's more expensive. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is more affordable and still capable of general use, though it has less storage and a slightly inferior processor. If your needs include higher performance and capacity, and the cost is justifiable, the Dell might be your choice; if you are budget-conscious and primarily do everyday tasks, Lenovo could offer the better value. 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
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3511.
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers a superior experience for general use due to its more powerful CPU, significantly greater RAM, and higher-quality IPS screen with better resolution; these factors contribute to faster performance and clearer images. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a weaker CPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution TN display, which could result in slower performance and less vibrant visuals, but it is very slightly more portable and manages heat better.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
5.8/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
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 15" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 stands out for engineering and design tasks with its superior CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality IPS screen with better resolution, making it capable of handling complex calculations and displaying detailed visuals more effectively. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a less powerful CPU and GPU, less RAM, and a lower-quality TN screen with a lower resolution, which may hinder performance and visual fidelity crucial for engineering software and detailed design work.
Content Creation
7.5/10
6.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
6.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 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
6.0/10
5.2/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511's display offers acceptable clarity and brightness, making it suitable for browsing and streaming, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 3's lower resolution and dimmer screen may cause eye strain over time. When it comes to engineering and design, the Dell's moderate color accuracy covers more of the color gamuts needed for precise work than the Lenovo, which may not represent colors as true-to-life, potentially impacting design tasks. For gaming and 3D applications, the Dell, while lacking a high refresh rate, still provides a better visual experience than the Lenovo, whose lower-quality display could hinder the immersive and fluid visuals required by these applications.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 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.
Cost
$580
$370
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $370.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3511 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 provides a fair experience for gaming and 3D because it sports a more capable Iris Xe GPU which is stronger for such tasks compared to the entry-level Intel UHD Xe G4 GPU in the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15". Additionally, the Dell has a higher screen resolution which contributes to better screen quality, though both laptops offer the same screen refresh rate, making them less ideal for high-end gaming that benefits from faster screen updates.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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 15" 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 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 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 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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