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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is more affordable and lighter, making it suitable for everyday use and easier to carry around. It has decent battery life for general tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 7 is more expensive and heavier, but it offers significantly better performance for gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering applications. It also has a higher-resolution screen and a robust build, ideal for intensive tasks and multimedia consumption. You'll need to decide if the higher cost and less portability of the Lenovo Legion 7 are worth its enhanced capabilities for your specific needs. 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 Legion 7.
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 7
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 7 excels in gaming and 3D tasks due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 165Hz, providing smoother visuals and better performance in fast-paced games compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, which houses a less powerful Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate. Additionally, while the Dell has a capable CPU and good screen quality, the Legion 7's higher-end AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and taller resolution screen offer advantages for both gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 7 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 7 is considered very good for engineering and design due to a stronger CPU and GPU, better screen resolution, and higher quality in terms of brightness and color space coverage, which is essential for detailed visual work, compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3511; however, the Dell Inspiron offers more RAM and slightly better portability due to its lower weight. While both laptops are suitable for engineering tasks, the higher performance features of the Lenovo make it a preferred choice for more intensive engineering and design projects, though it may sacrifice a bit of portability and weigh more.
Screen Quality
6.0
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
469.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 7 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers an adequate display, but the Lenovo Legion 7 stands out with a higher resolution and brighter screen, making images and text crisper and easier to view in various lighting conditions. In engineering and design, the Legion's wider color gamut ensures more accurate color representation, which is critical for visually-intensive tasks, while the Inspiron's fair screen means colors may not be as vibrant or precise. However, for gaming and 3D applications where the refresh rate is imperative, both the Inspiron and Legion may fall short, as neither is designed with a high refresh rate typically required for smooth motion.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo Legion 7 both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The Lenovo Legion 7 has very 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
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo Legion 7 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
469.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 7 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with an efficient CPU and ample RAM for multitasking, making it well-suited for general use, and its lighter weight combined with reasonable battery life enhances its portability for everyday tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 7 also serves general use well with a more powerful CPU and high-quality screen, addressing intensive tasks and providing an immersive visual experience, though it is heavier and might not be as easy to carry around.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 7 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
7.6
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 7 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.
Battery
6.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 7 has 6.5 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Lenovo Legion 7 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | Lenovo Legion 7 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 14'' x 10.3'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 5.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 10.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 230 nits | 469 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"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."
Lenovo Legion 7
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | September 2022
"The Lenovo Legion 7 is a fast 16-inch gamer with 165 Hz display. The new Lenovo Legion 7 is a very good gaming notebook that, despite its comparatively compact compact 16-inch case, does not have to do without the most powerful components. Thanks to good cooling, no compromises are made in terms of performance. Both the Core i9-12900HX and the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti perform at a very high level."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo Legion 7
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.
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