For tasks such as general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a budget-friendly option with a solid screen size and battery life, suitable for daily activities. If you prioritize longer battery life, a larger screen with a higher resolution, better performance for engineering or intensive tasks, and are okay with a slightly higher price, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 with its more powerful processor and double the RAM and storage may be the better choice, although it is slightly heavier which could affect portability. 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 3520
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 16 5625.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 offers higher performance for general use primarily due to its more powerful CPU and double the RAM, enhancing multitasking capabilities and overall responsiveness, coupled with a better quality touchscreen and a larger, more color-accurate screen. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, while lighter, which adds to its portability, lags slightly behind in performance because of its less powerful CPU and half the RAM, and it has a lower quality non-touchscreen display, but it still maintains good battery life and heat management.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is less suitable for engineering and design tasks due to its lower-tier Intel i3 processor, less RAM, and less powerful integrated graphics, which may struggle with demanding software, whereas the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, with its higher-end AMD Ryzen 7 processor, double the RAM, and better Vega 8 graphics, offers improved performance that's beneficial for more intensive tasks. Additionally, the Inspiron 16 5625 has a somewhat better screen quality with higher resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio for more vertical space, which can be advantageous for design work, despite being slightly less portable and having a bit more weight.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is somewhat better.
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
6.7/10
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the panel type, resolution, and brightness on both the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the 16 5625 offer a sufficient viewing experience, but may not stand out in terms of sharpness or luminosity. For engineering and design tasks, the fair screen quality on these laptops indicates they provide adequate coverage of color gamuts for moderate design work, but professionals requiring precise color accuracy may find them lacking. In the realm of gaming and 3D applications, the importance of a high refresh rate is not met by either laptop, leading to a less fluid visual experience, while resolution and panel type also contribute to the overall poor suitability for these demanding visual tasks.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$335
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 costs $1,000.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 compare to other laptops
"Dell's Inspiron 15 (3525) is a peppy-enough and affordable-enough home or remote work machine, but it's not very ambitious; it does little to go beyond the basics. More the concern: It’s readily overshadowed by a number of machines that outperform and outclass it. Even if the Inspiron can get the job done today, its competition has the mettle to keep doing the job tomorrow in a way the Inspiron simply can’t promise. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
"I think there is fair value in the Inspiron 16 this year. Very little has changed with the laptop and my opinion hasn’t really changed either. In other words, I like it. Overall, I think the pros far outweigh the cons of this laptop and the price is certainly justifiable. I found this to be a great typer and I could potentially work all day on this machine, provided I don’t need a graphics card."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
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.
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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