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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize savings and you're looking for a device that can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, and office applications, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 might be a suitable choice due to its lower cost. However, if you often engage in tasks that demand larger screens like detailed graphic work or multitasking with multiple windows open, the larger display of the HP 17" Laptop might justify the extra cost. The HP's larger size could also mean better cooling and potentially more power for demanding applications, but it will be heavier and less convenient to carry around compared to the more compact Dell. Keep in mind that for extensive mobile use, battery life is crucial, and larger laptops like the HP typically have bigger batteries but may also consume more power. Consider your most common tasks and environments when making your decision. 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 battery life
Advantages of the HP 17" Laptop
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8
6.6
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the HP 17" Laptop for gaming and AI, while the HP 17" Laptop has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the HP 17" Laptop offer screens that are adequately bright and clear with resolutions suitable for everyday tasks, although neither may stand out in terms of sharpness or color vibrancy. When it comes to engineering and design, the same screens may lack the wider color gamuts needed for precise color work, meaning colors might not be as accurate or consistent as required. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops' screen refresh rates are lower, resulting in less fluid motion and responsiveness, which can detract from an immersive experience.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and HP 17" Laptop both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$335
$550
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the HP 17" Laptop costs $550.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.9
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP 17" Laptop to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The HP 17" Laptop has twice the RAM and a larger, higher quality screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which contributes to its better performance and visual experience for general use, but it is also heavier and has a shorter battery life affecting its portability. Additionally, the HP features a more powerful AMD processor compared to the Dell's Intel i3, further improving performance at the cost of generating more heat, and has a larger storage capacity, which could be beneficial for users needing to store more data.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
8.0/10
The HP 17" Laptop and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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
6.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP 17" Laptop and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The HP 17" Laptop offers better performance for engineering and design use due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor with Vega 8 graphics, and double the RAM of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which has an Intel i3 processor with UHD Graphics and less RAM. While both have similar battery capacity, the HP's larger screen provides a more extensive workspace, which can be preferable for design tasks, albeit with a slight tradeoff in portability compared to the smaller Dell model.
Content Creation
7.0
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP 17" Laptop 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
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP 17" Laptop 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.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 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
6.0
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and HP 17" Laptop both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the HP 17" Laptop compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | HP 17" Laptop |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$335 | $550 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 15.8'' x 10.2'' x 0.81'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 4.58 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 15.78" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 41 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 287 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
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 | 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 | 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."
HP 17" Laptop
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | November 2022
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the HP 17" Laptop
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
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
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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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