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Updated January 10, 2024·
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 offers better performance for engineering tasks due to its more powerful processor and graphics, and has double the storage and RAM compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520. It also has a superior battery life, better keyboard and webcam quality, and a higher resolution display, which can be beneficial for productivity. However, the EliteBook comes with a higher price tag. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron is budget-friendly but with more modest performance, less storage, and a lower resolution display. It could be a sufficient choice for general use. The HP EliteBook is more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size. If your budget allows and you need a machine for more intensive tasks, the HP EliteBook would be the better option. If you are looking for a budget-friendly laptop that meets basic needs, the Dell Inspiron may be sufficient. 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 HP EliteBook 845 G9.
Advantages of the HP EliteBook 845 G9
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
402.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 is rated better for general use compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 mainly because it has a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, which significantly enhances multitasking and general performance. Additionally, the EliteBook boasts superior screen quality, better battery life, and greater portability due to its lighter weight and more compact size.
Engineering and Design
6.3
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 in engineering and design tasks due to its superior main processor and GPU, offering more efficient data processing and better graphics handling, which are very important for such tasks. Additionally, the EliteBook has a higher-quality screen with better color accuracy and resolution, along with more RAM, which contributes to better multitasking and overall performance, making it more suitable for technical and design work.
Content Creation
7.0
7.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the HP EliteBook 845 G9 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
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 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
7.1
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
402.0 nits
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a sharp and bright display for everyday tasks like browsing or watching videos, the HP EliteBook is preferable with its superior resolution and brightness. For engineering and design, color accuracy is crucial, and the HP EliteBook stands out with wider color gamut coverage. However, neither laptop is ideal for gaming or 3D applications as their refresh rates are not up to par with specialized gaming laptops, though the resolution and panel type may still provide a decent visual experience for less demanding games.
Battery
6.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has 12 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.0
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has very 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
$740
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the HP EliteBook 845 G9 costs $740.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.3
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 EliteBook 845 G9 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the HP EliteBook 845 G9 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | HP EliteBook 845 G9 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$335 | $740 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 12.4'' x 8.8'' x 0.76'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.09 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.42" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.82" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | AMD Ryzen 5 6650U | |
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 | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 402 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
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 EliteBook 845 G9
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | July 2022
"The high-end version of the HP EliteBook 845 G9 with a Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS, 32GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD packs a lot of power, but is still quiet and cool enough to operate in noise-sensitive environments. Quiet, cool and drawing on a massive 40 watts from the APU at the same time, however, is not possible. The 14-incher only has a single-fan solution and it only just manages to keep an near unthrottled Ryzen 9 in check."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the HP EliteBook 845 G9
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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