If you prioritize a lower price and a device that still offers good performance for general use, consider the Dell Inspiron 15 3511. However, if you're looking for a laptop with a better display, longer battery life, and additional modern features, and don't mind spending more, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i may be the better option despite its higher cost. Keep in mind the Lenovo's larger battery can contribute to a higher weight, which might affect portability. The Dell, being less expensive, could cut costs in areas such as storage space and build quality, but it provides a balance between cost and functionality for everyday tasks. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.0/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offer screens that provide adequate resolution and brightness, but they don't have the high-end panel types that would make their displays stand out. In engineering and design, their fair screen quality stems from the sufficient resolution for detail, but they lack the wider color gamuts necessary to accurately represent a broad spectrum of colors. When it comes to gaming and 3D, their lower refresh rates limit the smoothness of motion, though their resolution and panel types could still offer a decent visual experience for less demanding tasks.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 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 Slim 5i 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
$828
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for general use.
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.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 IdeaPad Slim 5i and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both equipped with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, providing only modest gaming and 3D capabilities when compared to laptops with dedicated graphics cards. They also have standard 60Hz refresh rates, which means they won't provide the super-smooth visuals you would get from screens with higher refresh rates that are often favored for fast-paced gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.0/10
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 Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 stands out for engineering and design due to its larger RAM, which facilitates complex tasks and multitasking, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a higher-resolution screen with a taller aspect ratio, beneficial for design work and editing. However, the IdeaPad Slim 5i is lighter and more portable with better keyboard and speaker quality, making it a versatile choice for on-the-go use, whereas the Inspiron has a quieter operating noise that may be preferred in quiet working environments.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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 device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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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