If your main concern is performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive engineering, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with its AMD Ryzen processor and Vega graphics generally outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 equipped with an Intel i3 processor, especially in terms of gaming and engineering use. Despite the Lenovo IdeaPad having better battery life and being more portable due to its smaller screen and lighter weight, the Dell might save you some money and offers a larger screen, which could be more comfortable for long hours of work or entertainment. Neither choice will steer you wrong for general use and both come with a decent build quality and sufficient ports for everyday connectivity. Choose the Lenovo for a more versatile and portable experience, or opt for the Dell if budget and a larger screen are your priorities. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14".
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
Good for software development
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a better screen for content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" have panels with resolutions and brightness that meet the basic needs for general tasks like browsing and document editing but may lack the sharpness and clarity desired for high-quality visuals. For engineering and design, their screens don't fully cover professional color gamuts, leading to less accurate color representation which is essential for detailed and color-sensitive work. Lastly, for gaming and 3D applications, their refresh rates are lower than what is typically desired for a smooth visual experience, while their resolutions and panel types don't deliver the best graphical fidelity for immersive experiences.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 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
3.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$335
$390
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $390.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" both offer balanced features, providing adequate performance for everyday tasks with their mid-tier CPUs and standard RAM, while the former's larger screen favors desktop use and the latter's higher portability and longer battery life cater to on-the-go usage. While both laptops have sufficient storage and good screen resolution, the Dell Inspiron leans towards better heat management, and the Lenovo IdeaPad stands out with a better portability score and longer battery life, making them suitable for different preferences in general use scenarios.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.0/10
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
9.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers decent capabilities for gaming and 3D applications due to its higher screen refresh rate and integrated graphics; however, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" compromises on refresh rate for potentially better CPU performance and higher screen quality which also supports modest gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for engineering and design.
Both the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offer fair performance for engineering and design due to their adequate CPUs and GPUs, enough RAM for basic tasks, and reasonable screen quality. However, factors like moderate portability, keyboard and speaker quality, and operating noise do not notably detract from their core engineering and design capabilities.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
6.7/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" compare to other laptops
"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 low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
96,795
Recommendations made
20,973
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.