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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a budget-friendly option, less expensive, with modest processing and graphics capabilities suitable for general use. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aorus 7 comes at a higher cost but offers significantly better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming due to a more powerful CPU and dedicated graphics card. It also has a larger screen, but as a tradeoff, it is heavier, which may impact portability. For engineering tasks or intensive gaming, the Aorus 7 is more suitable, while for basic tasks and those seeking a lighter and more affordable laptop, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is appropriate. 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
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 7
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
351.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is equipped with a lower-end processor, less RAM, and a less color-accurate screen, factors that limit its performance and user experience compared to the Gigabyte Aorus 7, which offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM for smoother multitasking, and a brighter, more color-rich display. However, the Aorus 7 is bulkier and has a shorter battery life, making it less convenient for on-the-go use than the more portable and longer-lasting battery of the Dell Inspiron.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 offers better gaming and 3D performance than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 because it has a significantly more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 360 Hz, compared to the Dell's Intel UHD Graphics with a 120 Hz refresh rate. These factors contribute to smoother, more responsive visuals and the ability to handle more graphically intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.3
8.1
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 stands out for engineering and design due to its superior Intel i5 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, which provide better performance for demanding applications compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics; plus, the Aorus 7 has double the RAM and a significantly better-quality screen. While the Inspiron 15 is more portable and has quieter operating noise, the tradeoff for the Aorus 7's high performance is its larger size and potentially louder fan.
Content Creation
7.0
7.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is somewhat better.
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
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
351.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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 display offers adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing but may lack the wide color coverage needed for precision in engineering and design work, and its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for smooth visuals in gaming or 3D modeling. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aorus 7 provides a vibrant and sharp display for general use, and its better color gamut support makes it suitable for engineering and design applications that demand color accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D work, despite good resolution and color, the Aorus 7's screen may not refresh fast enough for the most fluid motion and responsiveness.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.4
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
$329
$1,190
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the Gigabyte Aorus 7 costs $1,190.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has 6 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Gigabyte Aorus 7 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | Gigabyte Aorus 7 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $1,190 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 15.7'' x 10'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 5.95 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 10" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i5-12500H | |
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 | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 351 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
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."
Gigabyte Aorus 7
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Matt Hanson | July 2020
"The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is a gaming laptop that is pitched at perhaps the hardest market to get right: the mid-range. So, unlike high-end gaming laptops that can throw the latest and greatest components together in a bid to attract gamers with plenty of money to spend, or budget gaming laptops that can make wise cuts that are justified as long as the price is low enough, mid-rangers like the Gigabyte Aorus 7 have to balance the two."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Gigabyte Aorus 7
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.
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