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Updated January 12, 2024·
When comparing the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 with the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15", consider these points: If you value a higher resolution and potentially better display quality, the Dell comes with a Full HD screen, whereas the Lenovo has a lower resolution display. The Dell has a slightly newer processor model, which may offer a performance edge. For portability, the Lenovo is marginally lighter, but the difference is minimal. In terms of graphics, they both have integrated Intel graphics, so they are on par for casual gaming or light graphics work. The Dell Inspiron is a newer model, which might translate into longer support and updates. If you often use peripheral devices, the available ports might be a deciding factor; the Dell offers a slightly different port selection and has one more USB port than the Lenovo. Finally, consider the aesthetics and build quality, as these could affect your daily use and satisfaction with the laptop. 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
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3520.
Key differences
General Use
6.9
6.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" are both only fair for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a higher resolution IPS display which provides better screen quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" comes with a lower resolution TN panel that may not be as color accurate or have wide viewing angles. Both laptops have similar CPU and RAM enough for general use, but the Inspiron has a slightly better battery life and heat management, while the IdeaPad is a bit more portable and has superior operating noise management.
Engineering and Design
6.3
5.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a higher screen resolution, potentially offering clearer visuals for engineering design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" uses a lower-quality TN panel with a lower resolution, which may not be as suitable for detail-oriented work. The Dell also provides a more powerful CPU and integrated graphics, which can better handle the demands of engineering software, compared to the Lenovo's less capable processing units.
Content Creation
7.0
6.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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.
Screen Quality
6.8
5.2
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you're primarily using your laptop for general tasks such as browsing, office work, or streaming, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 with its fair screen quality will offer a more satisfactory experience due to its superior panel type, resolution, and brightness. For engineering and design work, where color accuracy is crucial, the Dell still leads with its fair capabilities, including a broader color gamut coverage which is essential for precise color work. Gamers and those into 3D will find the Dell lacking due to its lower refresh rate, although it's more suitable than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 which doesn't meet the mark for neither refresh rate, resolution, nor panel quality for this use case.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 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.
Cost
$335
$370
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $370.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
5.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3520 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a higher screen refresh rate and an IPS display with better resolution, which improves the visual gaming and 3D experience compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" with its lower-refresh TN panel and lower resolution. Additionally, the Dell's GPU, though not designed for high-end gaming, is slightly more capable for light gaming tasks than the GPU in the Lenovo, which impacts the rendering of graphics in games and 3D applications.
Software Development
6.7
6.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$335 | $370 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.26" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 35 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 0 | |
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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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.
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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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About the laptop team
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