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Updated January 12, 2024·
For better performance, especially in tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the Lenovo Slim 7 16, with its AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX graphics card, will be more capable than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 which has an Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics. However, the Lenovo is also heavier and has a larger screen, which may affect portability compared to the lighter and smaller Dell. In terms of battery life, the Lenovo's larger battery provides longer usage on a single charge. While the Lenovo is generally more expensive, it also offers a higher resolution screen and a professional version of Windows, which may justify the cost for professional or power users. The Dell, being less expensive, offers a budget-friendly option for general use with satisfactory performance and is also suitable for everyday tasks. 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 Slim 7 16.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim 7 16
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
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
500.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with its fair screen quality, provides an adequate image for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming but lacks sharpness and vibrancy needed for detailed engineering designs and falls short in the high refresh rates required for smooth gaming and 3D rendering. The Lenovo Slim 7 16, boasting very good screen quality, excels with clearer and brighter visuals for both general use and precise color work in engineering thanks to its wider color gamut, however, it too doesn't offer the high refresh rates that gamers and 3D creators seek for fluid motion. With neither being optimal for gaming or 3D work due to their refresh rates, the Lenovo stands out for tasks that demand color accuracy and clarity.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has 9.5 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.
Build Quality
6.2
7.8
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 with substantial RAM and a solid-state drive excels in multitasking and storage, whereas the Lenovo Slim 7 16 benefits from a more powerful CPU, superior RAM, and high-resolution display, catering to demanding applications and crisp visuals. While the Dell is lighter for greater portability, the Lenovo provides longer battery life and better screen quality, making it more suitable for extended use away from power sources and for users who prioritize visual fidelity.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo Slim 7 16 are both fair for gaming and 3D; the Dell's strength lies in its adequate integrated GPU and standard refresh rate, which can handle casual gaming, but its screen quality and refresh rate are not optimal for intensive gaming. On the other hand, the Lenovo comes with a more potent dedicated GPU and a higher refresh rate display, offering better gaming and 3D performance, yet its better specs are reflected in its being less affordable and slightly heavier, which may impact portability.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.5
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.6
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
7.2/10
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 Slim 7 16 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
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Lenovo Slim 7 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$591
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the Lenovo Slim 7 16 costs $591.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Lenovo Slim 7 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | Lenovo Slim 7 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $591 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.69'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 4.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 9.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 75 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 | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
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 Slim 7 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | March 2022
"At $1,011, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro is a real bargain among full-sized laptops, with a handsome 16-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio touch screen, a speedy CPU, a comfortable keyboard, ample memory, and a roomy solid-state drive. It's not a blazing gaming rig or mobile workstation, but it doesn't pretend to be. Its biggest negative is that it may be hard to find—during our review, it sold out and was marked "Temporarily Unavailable" on Lenovo's site."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Lenovo Slim 7 16
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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