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What we think
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
Screen Quality
6.8
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.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's screen may be adequate due to satisfactory resolution and brightness, but the panel type may not be the highest quality, affecting viewing angles and color consistency. The Dell Latitude 14 7490, with a better panel type and brightness, offers sharper and more consistent visuals, crucial for detailed engineering and design work which require precise color representation supported by its wider color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. However, both laptops have screens with lower refresh rates, making them less ideal for 3D applications and gaming where smoother motion and quicker image updates are crucial for an optimal experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
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.
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 Dell Latitude 14 7490 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
$349
$294
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
$500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $349 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $294.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.9
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.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a fair experience for general use with an Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a decent screen, but it falls short in battery life and has a lesser portability score, making it less suited for users on the go compared to the Dell Latitude 14 7490.
Gaming and AI
6.0
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.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is better for smooth gameplay, but both laptops come with integrated graphics cards that provide only moderate gaming and 3D capabilities. The Dell Latitude 14 7490, on the other hand, has an older integrated graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate, which may result in less fluid visuals during gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.3
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.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is equipped with a less powerful processor, less RAM, and a lower-quality GPU which may hinder performance in demanding engineering and design software, although it has a larger screen that might be preferred for such tasks. The Dell Latitude 14 7490, on the other hand, features a more powerful processor, more RAM, and a premium build, offering better performance and build quality for engineering and design use, but it has a smaller display, which could be a drawback for those tasks.
Content Creation
7.0
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | Dell Latitude 14 7490 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$349 | $294 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2018 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 13'' x 8.7'' x 0.8'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.11 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.7" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i7-8650U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 9.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 60 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 3 | |
Shopping
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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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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About the laptop team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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