Given your needs, if price is a major concern and you're looking for a basic laptop for everyday tasks, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 may suit you well as it is less expensive and provides reasonable performance for general use. However, if you're looking for higher performance suitable for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, and are willing to invest more, the Gigabyte Aero 16, with its superior processor, graphics card, and display quality, would be a better choice. The Aero 16 also has a larger battery capacity which can translate into longer usage times, but keep in mind it will be heavier and less portable than the Dell option. 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 Gigabyte Aero 16.
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has an Intel i3 processor and 8GB of RAM making it capable for basic tasks, but with the Gigabyte Aero 16's Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, it's better equipped for more demanding applications. While the Inspiron offers decent portability and a fair battery life, the Aero 16 shines with its high-quality OLED screen and longer battery life, though it's less portable due to its heavier weight.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
8.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is equipped with an entry-level CPU and integrated graphics, making it less powerful for demanding engineering software compared to the Gigabyte Aero 16, which has a high-end CPU and advanced dedicated GPU, crucial for tasks like 3D modeling and simulations.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is good.
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
7.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 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
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 16 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, with its baseline screen features, offers sufficient clarity and brightness for everyday tasks but lacks the wide color range and sharpness needed for detailed engineering work, and its slow refresh rate hinders the smooth visuals crucial for gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16 boasts a high-resolution display with vibrant color accuracy and wide gamuts, making it ideal for color-sensitive engineering and design projects, yet its lower refresh rate may detract from the immersive experience in fast-paced games and 3D simulations. Users must weigh their need for color precision and detail against their desire for fluid motion graphics when selecting between these two laptops.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Gigabyte Aero 16 both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.8/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 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
$1,260
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 costs $1,260.
"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."
"The Gigabyte Aero 16 is a workstation laptop for light gaming. It's design is still muted, with a silver chassis alongside a black keyboard and trackpad that provides some contrast. The Gigabyte Aero’s full-size chiclet-style keyboard is enjoyable to type on thanks to its snappy feel and responsiveness. The 4K+ AMOLED display is good, but it could be better. It doesn’t handle true black very well and suffers from strong reflections and glare. The Gigabyte Aero excels at productivity performance and can keep up with other gaming laptops in 1080p. But it has very few ports and its refresh rate leaves a bit to be desired."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Gigabyte Aero 16
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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