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Inspiron 15 3520
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Latitude 14 7490
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What we think

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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·

The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a budget-friendly option with a large 15.6-inch screen but has a lower-end Intel i3 processor and basic integrated graphics, making it suitable for general use like web browsing, office applications, or streaming. The battery life is moderate, and it's slightly heavier, which may impact portability. In comparison, the Dell Latitude 14 7490, despite being a bit older, comes with a stronger Intel i7 processor and offers more memory and storage, providing better performance for more demanding tasks including business applications. Its smaller 14-inch screen and lighter weight also make it more suitable for travel; plus, it includes additional features like a backlit keyboard and better battery life. If you prioritize performance, especially for multitasking and business-oriented work, and value portability, the Dell Latitude is a stronger choice. 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 14 7490.
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 14 7490
  • Good for general use
  • Good for software development
  • Good overall build quality
  • Very good portability
  • Very good speakers
  • Good keyboard

Key differences

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Screen Quality

6.8
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
6.7
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a better screen for engineering and design, content creation, and software development.

Battery

6.5 Hours
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
9.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life.

Build Quality

6.2
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
7.4
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities

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General Use

6.9
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.

Gaming and AI

6.0
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
5.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3520 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.

Engineering and Design

6.3
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
6.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for engineering and design.

Content Creation

7.0
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation.

Software Development

6.7
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
7.1
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to be good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.

Portability

Good
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to have very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.

Cost

$315
Inspiron 15 3520
Latitude 14 7490
$300
Product imageProduct image

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

$450

The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $315 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $300.

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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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Dell Inspiron 15 3520Dell Latitude 14 7490
Dell Inspiron 15 3520Dell Latitude 14 7490

GENERAL

Price
$315
$300
Release Date
May 1, 2022April 1, 2018
Overall Dimensions
14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83''13'' x 8.7'' x 0.8''
Weight
3.65 lbs3.11 lbs
Width
14.11"13"
Depth
9.27"8.7"

INTERNAL

Processor
Intel i3-1215UIntel i7-8650U
RAM
8 GB16 GB
DDR Memory Version
44
RAM Slots
22
Storage
256 GB512 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
6.5 Hours9.5 Hours
Battery Capacity
41 Wh60 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
15.6"14"
Display Technology
IPSIPS
Resolution
1920 x 10801920 x 1080
Refresh Rate
120Hz60Hz
Display Brightness
259 nits305 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
6.3/107.4/10
Portability Score
7.7/108.2/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
NoNo
Premium Business Laptop
NoYes
Fan Noise Score
7.5/108.8/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
6.5/107/10
Speaker Quality Score
6.5/108/10
Webcam
720p720p
Fingerprint Reader
NoYes
Backlit Keyboard
NoYes
Number Pad
YesNo

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
23
USB-C ports
11
USB-C Charging
NoNo
Display Outputs
12
Thunderbolt Version
N/A3

Shopping

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Dell Inspiron 15 3520

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Dig into reviews and images

PCMag

Mark Knapp | January 2023
"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."

Dell Latitude 14 7490

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Dig into reviews and images

LaptopMag

Henry T. Casey | April 2018
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."

Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Dell Latitude 14 7490

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.

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Why trust us

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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

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Laptops evaluated
48,640
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Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
125,295
Recommendations made
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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.

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