The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a more budget-friendly option, offering satisfactory general use with its decent build quality and performance for everyday tasks; however, its lower power may not hold up as well for engineering applications or intensive tasks. In contrast, the Gigabyte A7 costs more but provides significantly better performance, especially for 3D applications, machine learning, and engineering, partly due to a more powerful processor and superior graphics card. The A7 also has a larger screen and better quality speakers, but it is heavier and less portable, with a shorter battery life than the Dell, making it less ideal for frequent travel. The choice hinges on whether you prioritize cost and portability, or performance 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
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Gigabyte A7
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Gigabyte A7 offers a superior gaming and 3D experience due to its Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics unit and a higher screen refresh rate, which are very important for smooth and detailed visuals; in contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 includes a more basic Intel UHD Graphics GPU and a lower refresh rate, leading to less optimal performance for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte A7 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel i3 processor and basic integrated graphics, is fair for engineering and design because it has moderate processing power and graphics capabilities which may struggle with demanding tasks. The Gigabyte A7, on the other hand, is good for such uses as it boasts a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics, which make it better suited for intensive engineering applications and design work that require substantial computational and graphical performance.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
7.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
The Gigabyte A7 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520's screen provides ample resolution and decent brightness for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, which is why it's adequate for general use. For engineering and design, the screen covers enough of the color gamuts to show accurate colors, but it's not the top choice for precision work. However, its refresh rate isn't high, leading to a less than ideal experience for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability, while the Gigabyte A7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.2/10
The Gigabyte A7 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
$940
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Gigabyte A7 costs $940.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A7 to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a balance suitable for general use, with a lower-end CPU and adequate RAM supporting everyday tasks, but its smaller battery, lower screen resolution, and lighter weight make it more portable while sacrificing some performance and screen quality. In contrast, the Gigabyte A7, equipped with a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher quality screen, is better for demanding tasks but less portable due to its larger size and shorter battery life.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte A7 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
6.7/10
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A7 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Gigabyte A7 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."
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Gigabyte A7
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 Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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