Choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Inspiron 16 5635 involves weighing factors like budget, performance needs, and screen preferences. If staying within a tighter budget is essential and you primarily engage in general use tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and light media consumption, the Inspiron 15 3520 would suffice. It's also slightly lighter, enhancing portability. However, if you require higher performance for tasks like photo editing, programming, or multitasking with more robust applications, the Inspiron 16 5635, with its superior processor, more memory, and larger, higher-resolution screen, would be advantageous, although it comes at a higher cost and is a bit 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 5635.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5635
Very 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
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 in general use primarily because it has a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and double the RAM, which substantially improves multitasking and overall performance. Additionally, the Inspiron 16 5635 provides a better screen quality with a higher resolution and larger display, along with superior battery life, enhancing the user experience for most tasks despite being slightly less portable due to increased size and weight.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a basic Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and integrated graphics which are sufficient for entry-level engineering tasks but may struggle with more demanding design work. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor, twice the RAM, and stronger integrated graphics, making it better suited for more intensive engineering and design applications, though it is slightly heavier which impacts its portability.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
7.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
6.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 5635 for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 15 and 16 have screens that offer enough clarity and brightness for everyday tasks like browsing, document editing, and video streaming, but they may lack the higher resolution and superior panel types that make text crisper and colors more vibrant. When considering engineering and design, their screens provide adequate performance as they cover a reasonable range of colors, but professionals might miss the broader color gamuts necessary for precision work that requires true-to-life color reproduction. In gaming and 3D applications, where quick on-screen action is common, the lower refresh rates of these models' screens can result in less fluid motion and a less immersive experience compared to laptops with higher refresh rates that offer smoother visuals.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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 5635 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
$735
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 costs $735.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is better for gaming smoothness, whereas the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a more powerful GPU and CPU, which is crucial for gaming performance and 3D rendering, but a lower screen refresh rate. Both have decent screen quality, with the Inspiron 16 5635 boasting a higher resolution, but gaming and 3D efficiency favor the Inspiron 15 3520's refresh rate and the Inspiron 16 5635's computing power.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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 5635 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."
"Compared to the previous year’s Inspiron, Dell upgraded the screen aspect ratio on this generation, but also transitioned to a more minimalistic centered keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers. The 16-inch screen is huge plus and I really appreciate the extra real estate without sacrificing the footprint much. This year’s model is a little larger than last, though, as the former model was already very small for a 15 incher."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5635
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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