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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
When deciding between the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Gateway 14.1", consider your needs carefully. The Dell has a larger screen and more robust performance with a better processor and more storage and RAM, suited for tasks like engineering and more intensive general use. However, the Gateway is more portable and offers longer battery life, which could be beneficial if you're on the go often but is limited by lower storage capacity and memory, making it suitable primarily for basic tasks. Additionally, the Dell has a higher quality display, but the Gateway is significantly more affordable. Depending on the balance between performance and portability you're looking for, and how much you're willing to spend, one of these laptops may align better with your requirements. 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
- Good for content creation
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
6.9
5.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its stronger CPU and more RAM, offers smoother performance and can handle more tasks at once compared to the Gateway 14.1", which may lag under heavier use. Additionally, the Dell has a better screen quality for a more pleasant viewing experience, and its longer battery life allows for extended use without needing to be plugged in, giving it an edge over the Gateway for general usage where these factors are very important.
Gaming and AI
6.0
5.4
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
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a better gaming and 3D experience than the Gateway 14.1" because it has a more capable internal graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate. While both devices have similar screen quality, the Dell's higher-performing components provide an enhanced visual experience, which is key for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.3
5.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers more storage, double the RAM, a higher-end CPU, and better integrated graphics, which are crucial for handling the demands of engineering applications and multitasking. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" has less storage, less RAM, and a lower tier CPU with less powerful graphics, significantly limiting its ability to run engineering software smoothly and efficiently.
Content Creation
7.0
5.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
5.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
6.0
15.6in
SIZE
14.1in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Gateway 14.1" have screens that are satisfactory for everyday tasks due to acceptable resolution and brightness, but they're not top-tier in image sharpness or color vibrancy. For engineering and design, their panels likely offer limited color coverage, meaning professionals working with color-critical applications may find the colors less accurate. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short as they likely have lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid motion and a less immersive experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" 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
5.1
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$335
$99
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.1in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 14.1" 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 Gateway 14.1" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | Gateway 14.1" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$335 | $99 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 13.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.35 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 13.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14.1" | |
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 | 208 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Gateway 14.1"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | September 2021
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Gateway 14.1"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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