For general use with a focus on affordability, choose the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 as it's less expensive and provides reasonable performance. However, if you need better battery life, stronger performance, especially for engineering tasks, and additional features like premium business quality and a backlit keyboard, go for the Dell Latitude 5431, though it comes at a higher price. The Latitude also has a slightly smaller screen and is lighter, which improves portability, while the Inspiron's larger screen is beneficial for productivity and entertainment. Both have similar storage and screen resolutions, but the Latitude's superior processor and double the RAM make it a better choice for demanding applications. 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 Latitude 5431.
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 5431
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 5431 is regarded as good for general use largely due to a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, which helps with multitasking, a higher battery capacity resulting in longer usage times, and a slightly higher portability score despite the somewhat heavier weight. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers fair general use performance with a weaker CPU, less RAM, and shorter battery life, even though it has a less dense, larger screen and weighs less, which might appeal to those prioritizing a bigger display and lighter devices.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Latitude 5431 is somewhat better.
The Dell Latitude 5431 has a more advanced CPU and double the RAM compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which enhances its capacity to handle demanding engineering software, and it also comes with higher-tier integrated graphics, favoring design tasks that require more graphics processing. Additionally, while both have similar screen quality, the Latitude 5431's screen is slightly sharper, and it is also more lightweight and portable with a better battery life, making it preferable for on-the-go use despite the Inspiron 15's larger screen and better speaker quality.
Software Development
6.7/10
7.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 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
6.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5431 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Dell Latitude 5431 have screen qualities that suffice for everyday tasks due to adequate resolution and brightness, making text and images clear enough for typical browsing and office applications. Both laptops lack wider color gamuts, which are crucial for precision in engineering and design, meaning they can handle the work but won’t display colors as accurately as specialized screens. For gaming and 3D applications, where fast-moving visuals are common, these laptops fall short because their refresh rates are lower than what’s preferred by gamers and professionals working with motion graphics, which may result in less fluid motion and responsiveness.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 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
7.4/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 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
$950
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Dell Latitude 5431 costs $950.
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a UHD Graphics GPU with a higher screen refresh rate, which aids smoother visual performance, making it fair for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has a stronger Iris Xe GPU which is better for graphics processing, it offers a lower screen refresh rate suggesting less fluid motion display during fast-paced gaming or 3D rendering.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Latitude 5431 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 Latitude 5431 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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Dell Latitude 5431
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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