A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
When comparing the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip, consider performance and functionality versus cost and basic needs. The Dell is more budget-friendly and sufficient for everyday tasks, with decent specs and battery life, making it a solid choice for general use. On the other hand, the MSI offers higher performance with better CPU, graphics, and a higher resolution touchscreen that flips, catering to more intensive tasks like 3D design, machine learning, or gaming. It's more expensive but also has a higher quality build and features suitable for professionals or creators needing power and versatility on the go. The larger battery in the MSI is a plus, but it also means it's heavier and less portable than the Dell. Therefore, if you require advanced features and top-tier performance and are willing to invest more, the MSI should be your pick; otherwise, for everyday computing at a more affordable price, the Dell is a reliable option. 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 MSI Summit E16 Flip.
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip offers a stronger gaming and 3D performance because it has a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, enhancing motion clarity and providing a more fluid visual experience.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.7
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers a good balance for engineering and design with generous RAM and an adequate processor, but with integrated graphics, it's less suitable for graphically intensive tasks compared to the MSI Summit E16 Flip, which has a higher-end processor, dedicated GPU, and superior screen quality, making it a powerful choice for demanding engineering software and design work, but it's less portable and potentially noisier under load.
Screen Quality
6.0
8.0
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The MSI Summit E16 Flip has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the Dell Inspiron's fair screen attributes are decent for everyday tasks, but the MSI Summit E16 Flip, with higher resolution and brightness, offers a clearer and more vibrant display. For engineering and design work where accurate colors are critical, the MSI's wider color gamuts make it a better choice for professionals needing precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications, despite their better resolution and panel types, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth and responsive visuals.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
7.4
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
$1,413
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $580 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,413.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is suitable for general use with its adequate CPU, ample RAM, and decent screen quality, bolstered by a reasonable weight for portability and a fair battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E16 Flip offers superior performance due to its more powerful CPU and better graphics, a high-quality touchscreen display with a higher resolution and brightness, while maintaining good portability and offering longer battery life, though it is heavier and likely more expensive.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and MSI Summit E16 Flip both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | MSI Summit E16 Flip |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,413 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 4.19 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 82 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 | 294 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
See more
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."
MSI Summit E16 Flip
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | October 2022
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3511 vs. Acer Aspire 5 15
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3511 vs. Acer Swift X (2021)
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3511 vs. Lenovo V15
VS
Compare MSI Summit E16 Flip vs. ASUS ROG Strix G15
VS
Compare MSI Summit E16 Flip vs. Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (2024)
VS
Compare MSI Summit E16 Flip vs. Acer Nitro 17
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
96,795
Recommendations made
20,973
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
