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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, consider how you'll use the device. The Inspiron offers good value for everyday tasks and is budget-friendly. On the other hand, the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is pricier but brings a premium build, more powerful performance suited for demanding applications, a sleek design, and added versatility with its Yoga feature, making it suitable for presentations or use as a tablet. The ThinkPad is likely to have better battery life and portability but at a higher cost. If your workload involves complex software or you need a hybrid device, the ThinkPad may be worth the investment. Otherwise, for general use, the Inspiron should suffice. 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 ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Software Development
6.7
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga 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
7.3
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
451.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has fair screen quality for general use due to its decent resolution and adequate brightness, but falls short for engineering and design due to limited color gamut coverage. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga offers sharper visuals and better brightness which benefits general use and more accurate color reproduction for engineering work, but lacks the high refresh rate needed for smooth Gaming and 3D applications. Neither model is ideal for gaming or 3D because of their lower refresh rates, despite resolution and panel type being acceptable.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga has 8 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
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.4in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
8.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga has very 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
$329
$725
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga costs $725.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.9
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
451.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga offers better performance for general use with a stronger processor, double the RAM, and a higher resolution touchscreen, which contributes to a sharper and more interactive display. Additionally, its lighter weight and longer battery life compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 make it more portable, while still offering better CPU and screen quality, which are highly important for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is better for smoother gameplay, but its integrated GPU is not as powerful as a dedicated gaming GPU. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga has a more powerful integrated GPU than typical office laptops, but its lower screen refresh rate and premium features focused on business use make it less optimal for gaming and 3D applications compared to dedicated gaming laptops.
Engineering and Design
6.3
6.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a moderate CPU and GPU, smaller RAM, and a fair screen quality, making it acceptable for engineering and design but not ideal for demanding tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga shines with a better CPU and GPU, double the RAM, excellent screen quality which significantly enhances its performance for engineering and design, albeit with a slightly higher price and less portability due to its 2-in-1 convertible nature.
Content Creation
7.0
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $725 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 11.7'' x 9.2'' x 0.45'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 2.54 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 11.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.16" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i5-1130G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 44.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 451 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 9.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | April 2021
"The ThinkPad X1 Titanium is a showcase of what Lenovo thinks business computing will look like in the near future. People want thinner, lighter laptops with high-quality screens and enough computing power to get their work done. The X1 Titanium achieves these goals with some controversial but innovative design choices, including a redesigned keyboard and a pared-down port selection."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
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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