The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is more portable and provides a better refresh rate for smooth visuals, making it suitable for general use and some light multimedia tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers more storage space and a larger screen, which might be preferable for productivity tasks that benefit from a bigger display. It also has a slightly longer battery life but is less portable due to its larger size. Both laptops are similar in memory capacity and processor performance, geared towards general use, but neither are designed for intensive gaming or high-powered engineering software. 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 17".
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
Good for general use
Good for software development
Key differences
Software Development
6.7/10
7.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
6.8/10
6.7/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron may offer sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but its limited color range and modest panel quality mean it's not optimal for color-sensitive engineering work or the high visual demands of modern gaming. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad boasts a higher-quality display with better color accuracy and a larger screen, enhancing the experience for design and engineering professionals who depend on precise color representation, yet its lower refresh rate doesn’t suit the fast-paced action of advanced 3D gaming. Lastly, neither laptop has a high enough refresh rate to satisfy serious gamers who require smooth motion clarity for an immersive gaming experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
$784
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.1/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both considered fair for gaming and 3D work because they have integrated graphics, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, and lower screen refresh rates which are not optimal for fast-paced games. The Dell has a higher refresh rate, which can offer smoother visuals, while the Lenovo offers a slightly larger screen and slightly better screen quality, but both are limited by their 60Hz refresh rate caps.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel i3 processor and integrated UHD Graphics, is decent for engineering tasks but may struggle with intensive design work; it's commendable for having an IPS screen with a fair resolution, yet a moderate CPU and GPU limit its performance potential.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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 17" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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.
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