If portability is important to you, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is lighter and might be easier for you to carry around. However, it has a shorter battery life, which could be less convenient if you are often on the go without access to a power outlet. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro offers a longer battery life and a higher-resolution screen with a faster refresh rate, which could be better for activities such as video editing or gaming. Additionally, the Lenovo has a more powerful graphics card, making it more suitable for demanding graphic tasks or gaming. If these features align with your needs and you don't mind a slightly heavier laptop, the Lenovo could be the better choice for you. 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 IdeaPad 5 Pro.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.0/10
7.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
When selecting between the Dell Inspiron and the Lenovo IdeaPad for general use, the IdeaPad may be more suitable due to its higher resolution and brighter display, providing a crisper and more vivid viewing experience. For engineering and design tasks, the IdeaPad's better coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB ensures more accurate color representation, which is crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, both laptops are limited for gaming and 3D applications because of their lower refresh rates, although the IdeaPad may still edge out slightly due to its better resolution and panel type.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
$1,162
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro costs $1,162.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is suitable for general use due to its generous RAM and solid-state storage, which lend to smooth multitasking and quick data access, alongside a respectable battery life and a modest weight that support moderate portability. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, while slightly heavier, offers a sharper screen with higher resolution and better color accuracy, a more powerful CPU and GPU for demanding tasks, and a significantly longer battery life, making it a strong choice for both general and more intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is less suited for gaming and 3D applications than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro because the Dell has an integrated GPU and a standard refresh rate screen while the Lenovo comes with a dedicated Nvidia GPU which is better for gaming, and a higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals. Additionally, the Lenovo's screen has better quality metrics, contributing to sharper and more vibrant images, making it more suitable for visually intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is suited for engineering and design use with ample RAM, a capable CPU, and integrated graphics that support everyday design tasks, along with a standard quality screen. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, offering a higher resolution and brighter screen, along with a powerful CPU, dedicated graphics, and greater battery capacity, caters to more intensive engineering and design applications, although it is slightly heavier and hence less portable.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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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