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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the HP Stream 14", consider your needs. If you prefer a larger screen with better resolution and viewing angles, the Dell with its 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display is superior to the HP's 14-inch standard HD TN display. For performance, the Dell's Intel i3 processor is more robust than the HP's Intel Celeron, making the Dell a better fit for more demanding tasks and multitasking. However, if weight is a concern for you, the HP is slightly lighter and may be more portable. Both laptops have Windows 11 Home and similar battery specs, so expect comparable usage time between charges. Ultimately, if price is not a deciding factor since both are similarly priced, choose the Dell for better performance and display or the HP for a bit more portability and a compact size. 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 for content creation
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
- Very good portability
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.3
5.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel i3 processor and UHD Graphics, is better suited for engineering and design tasks compared to the HP Stream 14" which uses a more basic Intel Celeron processor and weaker UHD Graphics 600, signaling poorer performance for software used in those fields. Additionally, the Inspiron's higher screen resolution contributes to clearer visuals which are critical for such tasks, whereas the Stream's lower resolution and poorer screen technology might be a disadvantage for detailed design work.
Screen Quality
6.8
5.2
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a decent balance with its display, providing adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and enough color accuracy for entry-level engineering and design work, but lacks the high refresh rate needed for smooth 3D gaming experiences. The HP Stream 14" falls short in screen quality due to limited resolution and low brightness, making it less than ideal for any demanding visual tasks including general use, and its restricted color range hinders any serious design or engineering-related activities. Moreover, its lower refresh rate and less impressive display specifications do not support the fast-paced and immersive visuals essential for gaming or 3D applications.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" 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
5.5
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$349
$299
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
$500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $349 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.9
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and HP Stream 14" are both only fair for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with an Intel i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a sharper full HD IPS screen, offers reasonable performance and screen quality for general use but is slightly less portable due to its larger size and weight. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has more RAM at 16 GB and is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter build, but it has a lower-resolution TN screen and a less powerful Intel Celeron processor, meaning it might struggle with more demanding tasks and offers poorer viewing angles.
Gaming and AI
6.0
5.7
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3520 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers better gaming and 3D performance because it has a higher screen refresh rate and more capable integrated graphics compared to the HP Stream 14". In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has a lower resolution TN panel with a reduced color range, which along with less powerful graphics, makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.0
6.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3520 to be good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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
6.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and HP Stream 14" are both only fair for software development.
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
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | HP Stream 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$349 | $299 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 12.8'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.76" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel Celeron N4120 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 320 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
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 Stream 14"
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the HP Stream 14"
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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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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