If you prioritize affordability and a lightweight design suitable for general use with an above-average battery life, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 might be the better choice. However, if you require a laptop with higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering applications, and are willing to accommodate a slightly heavier device and higher cost, the Lenovo LOQ 16 would better suit your needs. It also has a higher quality display and superior battery capacity, making it more capable for intensive gaming and higher workloads. 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 portability
Advantages of the Lenovo LOQ 16
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a less advanced processor and half the memory of the Lenovo LOQ 16, which impacts its speed and multitasking capabilities. Although both have quality IPS screens, the Lenovo offers a higher resolution and more vibrant colors, contributing to better screen quality; it also has significantly more battery capacity for longer use between charges, but is heavier, which may affect its portability.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Lenovo LOQ 16 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its higher-tier Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and faster screen refresh rate of 144Hz, compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which has an Intel i3-1215U UHD Graphics and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Alongside this, the Lenovo has a more powerful CPU, which, while somewhat important, further contributes to its superior performance in these tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo LOQ 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Lenovo LOQ 16 is better suited for engineering and design due to its superior AMD Ryzen 7 processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, enhancing performance for demanding tasks, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a basic Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, making it less capable for such intensive work. Although both have similar screen resolutions, the Lenovo's higher screen quality and refresh rate contribute to a clearer and more fluid visual experience, important for detailed engineering and design work, but it is heavier and might be less convenient to carry around.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo LOQ 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo LOQ 16 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
6.7/10
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 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
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Lenovo LOQ 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520's screen may not offer the clarity and brightness that is preferred for general use, and its range of colors may fall short for detailed engineering and design work. The Lenovo LOQ 16's display provides a more vivid and accurate visual experience suitable for both general tasks and professional design applications, though its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for fast-paced 3D gaming. For both laptops, the less-than-optimal refresh rates undermine their performance in gaming, where fluid motion and quick screen updates are key.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability, while the Lenovo LOQ 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 has 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
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Lenovo LOQ 16 costs $1,000.
"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."
"Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060 are available starting from about 1,000 Euros (~$1,060), even in 16-inch format. For the supposedly affordable Lenovo LOQ 16 (1,500 Euros, ~$1,591), the manufacturer particularly saves in the equipment and materials compared to the more expensive Legion series. In addition, the LOQ is slightly heavier and more bulky. What remains is anything but a laptop full of difficult compromises. Instead, this is a more than solid gaming laptop that focusses on the 3D performance.Q is slightly heavier and more bulky."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Lenovo LOQ 16
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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